The winner beat 19 other competitors in the contest held this morning at Granada Gourmet, with Javier Ibáñez from La Bodeguita del Casino in Lucena, Córdoba, coming second. Adrián Torres from Dixtinto in Jaén, Sergio Sánchez from Círculo Lucentino in Lucena, Córdoba and Modesto Zambrano from Malahermosa in Málaga were the three runners-up.
The Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Granada (Granada Exhibition and Congress Centre), within the frame of Granada Gourmet, was the setting for the VI Campeonato de Tiraje de Cerveza Estrella Galicia(VI Estrella Galicia Beer Pulling Championship) of Andalusia. A total of 20 aspirants competed against each other for the title of Best Beer Puller, supported by the public present at the event.
After going through different tests during which they had to demonstrate their skills at serving both draught and bottled beer, and answering a range of questions about the world of beer, Adrián Hermida, from the bar restaurant Picnic in Málaga, won the title of Best Beer Puller in Andalusia.
Javier Ibáñez from La Bodeguita del Casino en Lucena, Córdoba was named runner-up. Both will represent Andalusia in the Spanish Championship which will take place in May within the Salón de Gourmets de Madrid. In addition to the winner and runner-up, there were three other finalists in the last stage of the contest: Adrián Torres from Dixtinto in Jaén, Sergio Sánchez from Círculo Lucentino in Lucena, Córdoba and Modesto Zambrano from Malahermosa in Málaga.
The five finalists won their weight in beer, and a cash prize. The winner received €600, the runner-up €400, and there were three consolation prizes of €150 each. In addition, they all received a diploma certifying their participation.
The participants’ performance was judged by an expert jury presided over by Xabier Cubillo, Beer Culture Expert at Hijos de Rivera,and had to evaluate the quality, efficacy and speed of service, as well as the aspirants’ knowledge about the world of beer. The remaining members of the jury were: Alfredo Fernández Velasco, teacher of Restaurant Services at the Granada Hurtado de Mendoza College of Catering and Tourism; Javier Morales, Coordinator of the gastronomy section of the Ideal newspaper; and Desirée Carrera, current Andalusia champion.
The aim of the championship is to promote beer culture and reward the work carried out by bartenders as an essential part of our Estrella Galicia brand. The professionalism demonstrated by establishments when serving is essential in order to be able to offer our consumers all the possibilities that our beer has to offer.
