Stella Artois® Crowns 2010 World Draught Masters U.S. Champion

Wisconsin's Chris Myers Masters Stella Artois 9-Step Pouring Ritual, Qualifying for the World Finals in London

BOSTON (Sept. 21, 2010) - Among hundreds of spectators and a multitude of media, Chris Myers was crowned the 2010 Stella Artois World Draught Masters U.S. Champion on Friday, Sept. 17 at The Liberty Hotel in Boston.

The 32-year-old web developer qualified in Madison, Wisc., before winning the New York City regional competition. He now heads to London Oct. 28 for the 2010 Stella Artois World Draught Masters Finals, where he will again demonstrate his beer-pouring prowess before a panel of distinguished judges who will carefully scrutinize each and every phase of the essential Stella Artois 9-Step Pouring Ritual.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to win the 2010 Stella Artois World Draught Masters U.S Championship-my hours and hours of practice paid off," said Myers. "I had an incredible time in Boston and look forward to representing the United States next month, and hopefully Stella Artois as the global winner. To represent such a respected brand would be an honor."

Now in its 14th year, the annual competition epitomizes Stella Artois' dedication to delivering superior beer the world over and showcases the unique Belgian beer experience that Stella Artois aficionados have enjoyed for more than six centuries.

Before the American judging panel of Marc Stroobandt (Master Beer Sommelier), Avril Maxwell (2009 Stella Artois World Draught Master), Ashley Daley (NESN-TV Reporter) and Gregg Glaser (Beer Writer/Editor - All About Beer & Yankee Brew News), Myers defeated Washington, D.C.'s Brady Locher during the final match of the night. Las Vegas' Scott Ast finished a close third.

Among the 16 U.S. finalists, 15 were top finishers in eight regional semi-final markets-Tampa, Orlando, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, Washington D.C., New York City and Boston-and one was a wild-card participant randomly chosen from the top 25 national scorers in the interactive 9-Step Pouring Ritual game found at www.DraughtMasterUSA.com. Over the course of the night, each competitor demonstrated their mastery of the 9-Step Pouring Ritual.

• William Huetz , Tampa
• Chuck Rogers, Tampa
• Grant Huff, Orlando
• Sarah Arnold, Las Vegas
• Scott Ast, Las Vegas (3rd PLACE)
• Will Schneider, Denver
• Therese Steiner, Boston
• Aimee Chambers, Washington, D.C.
• Brady Locher, Washington, D.C. (2nd PLACE)

• John Van Bockern, Denver
• Ryan Petro, Phoenix
• Chris Myers, New York (1st PLACE)
• Ryann Wietecha, Boston
• Jerome Eno, Boston
• Nate Garel, Boston
• David Silverman, New York City, "What's Your Pour Score" wildcard

"A perfect pour is fundamental to experiencing the perfect Stella Artois," said Alexander Lambrecht, global marketing manager for Stella Artois. "The brand's time-honored 9-step Pouring Ritual helps ensure all adults around the world are served as they have been in Belgium for more than 600 years. Belgium's gold-standard lager should only be poured one way, and it is important that all those who enjoy Stella Artois pay as much attention to serving it as we do to making it."

Next month, Myers will rendezvous in London with the other 31 individual competition winners from around the world to perform the centuries-old Belgian Pouring Ritual and compete for the 2010 Stella Artois World Draught Masters title. The Draught Master crowned at this year''s global competition will embark on a quest during which he/she will visit more than 20 different countries as a Stella Artois brand ambassador and share his/her passion and dedication to the craft of the perfect pour.

For more information and to join the global Stella Artois community to begin your own personal quest for perfection, visit www.DraughtMasterUSA.com.