Few dare to take on the challenge. Even fewer succeed. But the chance to be the Stella Artois Draught Master Champion now looms for one lucky South African savant.
South Africa is taking part in the search for the Stella Artois World Draught Master for the very first time this year. The South African champion will have the opportunity to compete for the title of World Draught Master. As such Stella Artois is looking for a South African champion to master the art of pouring the perfect Stella Artois draught.
Anyone can pour a decent draught. But Stella Artois is no ordinary draught – she needs to be handled with care. The World’s premium beer requires strict adherence to a nine step pouring ritual, that when performed correctly, results in perfection.
The steps may sound simple to the uninitiated, but the nine-step ritual is far more challenging than it may appear:
1. The Purification – Use a clean and rinsed branded glass.
2. The Sacrifice – Open the tap in one quick action and let the first drops of beer flow away
3. The Liquid Alchemy – Hold the glass just under the tap without touching it at a 45° angle
4. The Head, although ‘Crown’ would be more appropriate – Lower the glass to allow the natural formation of the foam head
5. The Removal – Close the tap quickly and move the glass away so beer doesn’t drip into the glass
6. The Beheading – While the head foams up and overflows the side of the glass, smooth it gently with a head cutter
7. The Cleansing – Clean the bottom and sides of the glass
8. The Judgement – The right amount of foam is usually about 2 fingers
9. The Bestowal – Present the beer on a clean beer coaster with the logo facing the consumer
For a more practical demonstration, aspiring champions can see a visual demonstration of the nine step pouring ritual, by clicking on the following link.
“Stella Artois is looking forward to seeing aspiring South African champions step up to the plate. Pouring the perfect Stella Artois draught is an art and we’re hoping to see some excellent competitors. Who knows, we might just have a South African World Draught Master this year,” said Ryan Bayliss-Lane of DGB, the South African distributor of Stella Artois.
South Africans who feel that they might have what it takes to beat out hopefuls to become the South African Draught Master Champion are invited to throw down the gauntlet at www.stellasa.co.za. The top 8 finalists will be announced on the 30th of September, followed by a final showdown on the 06th of October – to determine who will take the title of South African Draught Master.
The South African champion will win the title, an exclusive Stella Artois hamper and an all-expenses paid trip to take part in the Stella Artois World Draught Master Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the 26th of October 2011. According to international liquor law, the competition is open to anyone who is 21 years old or over.
For more information on the Stella Artois World Draught Master Competition, visit www.stellaartois.com.
Stella Artois is enjoyed globally and can be found at all premium bottle stores across South Africa. Stella Artois is distributed locally by DGB.
