The final of the 19th edition of the prestigious competition for the best bartender, Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender, is fast approaching. The competition will take place on 3 April at the Pilsner Brewery in Plzeň and on 4 April at the O₂ Universum in Prague.
This year, the competition will span two days: 3 April at the Pilsner Brewery site in Plzeň and 4 April in Prague. For the first time, the entire second final day, including the awards ceremony, will be open to the general public as part of the Makro Czech Gastro Festival at Prague’s O₂ Universum. Visitors will have the chance to witness live who will be crowned the best bartender of 2025, all while enjoying perfectly poured Pilsner Urquell.
Since 2006, the Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender competition has been promoting the development of Czech beer culture and raising the status of the bartender profession. The main goal is the training of bartenders who provide their guests with a comprehensive Pilsner Urquell experience—from the reception of the beer in restaurants and the maintenance of the entire beer system to the care of the beer glass, correct pouring, and service.
“In the brewery, we ensure that the taste of Pilsner Urquell always remains the same, just as people love it. This is why it is also important for beer sommeliers in restaurants to take good care of the beer,” says Václav Berka, emeritus master brewer of Pilsner Urquell.
The Path to the Final
The competition consists of three qualification rounds. The first phase includes an online knowledge test where participants demonstrate their knowledge of brewing, beer care, and the history of the Pilsner Urquell brand. This is followed by a mystery shopping round in the establishments where the beer sommeliers work, assessing not only the quality of the poured beer but also the appearance and professionalism of the sommeliers. The third round focuses on presentation skills, where participants introduce themselves and their venues in a video. In the end, the top 20 from the Czech Republic and 10 from Slovakia make it to the final. This year, a record-breaking 706 beer sommeliers have registered from both countries: 497 from the Czech Republic and 209 from Slovakia.
“The competition among beer sommeliers is very high each year, and the participants are true professionals. For the final, we select the best of the best, who will compete not only in our brewery in Plzeň but also, thanks to our collaboration with the Makro Czech Gastro Festival, at the O₂ Universum in front of a live audience,” adds Vojtěch Homolka, master brewer of Pilsner Urquell.
The Final Held in Front of an Audience for the First Time
The first final day will take place at the Pilsner Brewery site. Participants will be judged on disciplines that include pouring beer as well as serving from bottles. On the second day, 4 April, the competition will move to Prague and continue as part of the Makro Gastro Festival 2025 in front of a live audience.
In addition to glory and honour, the winner of the Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender competition will receive a symbolic cheque of €1,842, a trophy to keep for one year, and will represent Pilsner Urquell at various social events until the following year.
MAKRO Czech Gastro Fest 2025
The third edition of the national gastronomy festival, MAKRO Czech Gastro Fest, will take place on 4 and 5 April 2025 at the O₂ Universum in Prague. Thirteen themed areas, over 100 exhibitors, and more than 200 gastronomy experts will be showcased across 13,000 m² on four floors of the O₂ Universum. Visitors can look forward to samples from dozens of cooking shows and participate in expert lectures, discussions, talks, and interactive presentations in the MAKRO FORUM area.
makro Czech Gastro Fest 2025
04.04.2025 – 05.04.2025 | O₂ Universum, Prag
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