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Did you know there are 9, count ‘em NINE steps to properly pouring a Stella Artois? ELV didn’t, but we got a quick lesson in the finer points as we prepared to judge the Stella Artois Draught Masters Contest held at the Hard Rock Hotel last week.

Here are those nine steps….

…which are not as easy to execute as you might think….especially with a crowd cheering and pesky, nitpicking judges looking over your every move.

FYI: the regional competition was won by Scott Ast of Henderson, with a wild card entry: Sarah Arnold coming in second. Both will be traveling to Boston (Massachusetts, not Indiana), for the US Nationals on Sept. 17th.

In ‘o8, Las Vegas’ own Anthony Alba won the National competition and represented the U.S.of A. in the international finals held in Leuven, Belgium.

Alba helped ELV with the judging duties, and taught us all there is sooo much more to pouring a brewski, than making sure there isn’t a lipstick mark on the glass.

Good luck to Scott and Sarah…we at ELV hope to be there in Boston cheering them on!