The Grand Champion of the third nationwide SAB Draught Quality League Pour Off competition is Steve Marumb from Cobblestone’s Pub in Montecasino, who won a total of R140 000 for the outlet and himself, from an initial field of about 3 000 outlets around the country. The finals – with 13 finalists – were held at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg in May.
Steve Marumb – Champion Draught Pourer
The aim of the SAB Draught Quality League is to find the best barmen and outlets in the country and to build strong relationships with all of its loyal customers. “The DQL programme was created to educate outlet owners and barmen in order to reduce wastage, increase outlets’ profits, and improve the consumers’ draught experience – to help outlet owners improve their businesses,” says SAB Trade Brewer, Kate Jones.
This year the SAB Draught Quality League increased from a participation level of 250 outlets in the competition to over 3 000. The competition runs over nine months, divided into three phases when outlets and barmen competed regionally for cash prizes. The winning outlet received a R40 000 advertising campaign as well as their cash prize, and qualified to take part in the final Pour Off.
Cobblestone Pub won Phase 1 in their region and received a cash prize as well as exposure via a large billboard, and they were invited to take part in the Final Pour Off. At this final stage, the top 13 outlets from around the country competed for a cash prize of R140 000, split between the barman and the winning outlet.
“This is the third year I have judged in the DQL pour off and the standard just keeps getting higher!” says Jones. “The barmen are put into an extremely stressful position of having to pour the perfect pint in front of a team of experienced judges, on a stage, with an audience of over 100 watching their every move.
“There are several criteria that the candidates are judged on when pouring. Steve Marumb from Cobblestones matched all of these criteria and while doing so, he engaged with the judges in a friendly manner, showing a depth of knowledge on the beer that he was pouring.”
Marumb, who has been a barman at Montecasino since 2008 and takes great pride in being a good listener and a good barman, could not believe he made it through to the finals and was then even more surprised to know he had won the competition. “I was very nervous during the competition, but the comedian made me laugh and helped me relax. Then when I went through to the finals, I thought, just let me pour the beer exactly how SAB taught me, and while I was doing that, I chatted about the beer and how it tastes. I think it was those details that helped us win. Etienne, our manager, was also tested, and together we went through with the winning score.
“I am so privileged that I was able to represent Montecasino, which is my second family, and even my home province, Gauteng, at this SAB competition and take home the trophy,” adds Marumb.
Outlets are judged according to three criteria: volume growth, education and a consumer rating. Education and consumer rating was done through an innovative digital platform that worked as the central communication hub of the league. Outlets and barmen were required to complete tests online to prove how much they knew about SAB Draught Beer, and consumers were driven to rate any bar’s SAB Draught Beer via their mobile phones.
“It came as no surprise that Cobblestones won, as it has embraced the whole DQL concept and their standards have been consistently high over the year, paying attention to the little details that result in a superbly poured draught at the right temperature and freshness,” says Jones, who adds that a surprise manager test incorporated into the Final Pour Off, which contributed 10% to their final score, highlights that this was definitely a team effort from Cobblestones.
Cobblestones is a popular Irish-themed pub in Montecasino that features live bands and a weekly Wednesday Quiz Night.
“We are exceptionally proud of Steve and the whole Cobblestones team for this auspicious achievement,” says Glenn Joseph, GM of Montecasino. “They have always embraced the Montecasino ethos of ensuring that every experience at our entertainment destination is a memorable one – and they consistently provide quality service and products with great enthusiasm to all their customers. I’m sure this win will inspire them to even greater heights of delivering the best experience.”
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