Óscar de Toro beat 19 other competitors in the Estrella Galicia Beer Pulling Contest that was held this morning at the Hotel Méndez Núñez in Lugo, with Gustavo Rey, from O Encontro in Ribadumia coming second. The winner and runner-up will represent Galicia in the Estrella Galicia National Beer Pulling Championship to be held on 7 May within the Salón de Gourmets in Madrid.
The Hotel Méndez Núñez in the very centre of Lugo was the venue for V Campeonato Estrella Galicia de Tiraje de Cerveza. A total of 20 aspirants, from the four provinces of Galicia competed against each other in different stages for the title of Best Beer Puller in Galicia.
After competing in the different stages during which they had to demonstrate their skill at serving both draught and bottled beer, and answering different questions about the world of beer, Óscar de Toro Santos from Venecia Café de Santiago, was awarded the title of Best Beer Puller in Galicia.The runner up was Gustavo Rey from O Encontro in Ribadumia.
Both will represent Galicia in the National Championship that will take place on 7 May within the Salón de Gourmets in Madrid.
Óscar de Toro admitted to being extremely happy to have won the contest that he competed in with great calm. With regards to the national contest, he reaffirmed that he would push himself even more and increase preparation in the face of the pressure of representing Galicia.
The winner and runner up competed in the final stage against three other aspirants: José Manuel Sánchez from il Farabuto in Lugo, Antonio Fernández from A Xanela Gastronómica in Ponteareas and Raúl Vidal from La Perfecta in Bueu.
The five finalists won their weight in beer and a cash prize. The winner was given €600, the runner-up €400, and the other three finalists €150. They also received a diploma certifying their participation and result.
The participants were judged by an expert jury made up of beer serving, catering and gastronomy experts: Rubén Vilariño, current Galician Champion; Jesús Rodriguez, service tutor at the I.E.S San Xillao catering college in Lugo; Adrián Felípez, Chef at Restaurante Miga in A Coruña with Xabier Cubillo, Beer Culture expert presiding over the jury. All of them had to work hard to evaluate the quality, efficiency and speed of the serve, as well as the aspirants’ knowledge about the beer world.
The aim of the championship is to promote beer culture and acknowledge the work of barmen as a fundamental link in the distribution chain of Estrella Galicia products. Professionalism when serving is crucial in order to offer final consumers all the possibilities that beer has to offer.
