The winner beat 19 other aspirants in the competition held this morning in Mérida, and in which Nicolás Grecco, from NicoBar in Cáceres, was named runner-up.
Javier Tierno, from Restaurante Sudeste in Cáceres, Juan Antonio Tejeda from Kiosko Malabar in Mérida and Francisco José Fuentes from Iroko, also in Mérida were the other three finalists.
Both winner and runner-up will represent Estremadura in the Campeonato Nacional de Tiraje de Cerveza Estrella Galicia (Estrella Galicia National Beer Pulling Competition) to be held within the frame of the Salón de Gourmets in Madrid.
The Plaza de España in Mérida was the setting for the VI Campeonato de Tiraje de Cerveza Estrella Galicia (Estrella Galicia Beer Pulling Competition) in Extremadura. A total of 20 aspirants competed in different rounds for the title of Best Beer Puller, supported by the attendees at the event.
After different phases during which they had to demonstrate their skill serving both draught and bottled, and answering a range of questions about the world of beer, Eloy Becerra, from Cervecería Munich in Mérida, has won the title of Best Beer Puller in Estremadura.
Nicolás Grecco, from NicoBar in Cáceres was the runner-up. Both will represent Estremadura in the Spain Championship that will take place in May within the Salón de Gourmets in Madrid.
“I am extremely happy to have won this contest which recognizes the work that we bartenders do on a daily basis, and in which being able to have prime raw materials plays such an important role,” stated Eloy Becerra, the Estremadura champion.
Both champion and runner-up competed against each other along with another three aspirants: Javier Tierno, from Restaurante Sudeste in Cáceres, Juan Antonio Tejeda from Kiosko Malabar in Mérida and Francisco José Fuentes from Iroko, also in Mérida.
The five finalists took home their weight in beer as well as a cash prize. The winner won €600, the runner-up, €400 and other three finalists, €150 each. They were all also given a diploma certifying their participation.
The participants’ performance was judged by an expert jury presided over by Fernando Iglesias, Head of Beer Culture 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 David Tena, current Estremadura; Esther Ferreira and Manuel Domínguez Hernández, teachers of Restaurant Services at the Badajoz Catering College in San Fernando College.
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.
