Las Vegas Bartender Captures U.S. Draught Master Title, Heads to Belgium for Finals

LAS VEGAS (Mar. 4, 2009) – It’s a competition that starts with a “Purification,” includes a “Sacrifice,” “Beheading” and “Judgment; and for Las Vegas bartender Greg Black, it ended with a “Championship.”  A bartender since 1997, Black, best mastered the nine-step Belgian beer pouring ritual Tuesday night to win the Stella Artois Draught Master Competition held at Lavo Nightclub.

Black will now represent the U.S. against more than 30 other countries at the World Draught Master Competition in Leuven, Belgium this October.

“Cracking open a can or popping the cap off a bottle is easy, but preparing a beer following the strict standards of the Belgian Pouring Ritual takes a lot more care and attention to detail,” said Black.  “At the Draught Master Competition you know every step of the pouring ritual will be highly scrutinized.  To be named champion and able to represent the U.S. in Belgium is incredible.”

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