The Perfect Pour

It is not a secret that when it comes to providing the ultimate beer experience, Stella Artois inspires excellence and perfection at every stage, from brewing to staging the perfect pour to hosting the perfect party. (And this was evident with this party I attended recently.)

Detail is never overlooked when a glass of Stella Artois is being poured. That’s why the Belgian beer brand holds the yearly Draught Masters Championship, a competition that celebrates perfection, quality and passion — everything Stella Artois embodies.

The renowned beer brand scours each country for the most talented beer slingers on the planet. Jason Laurio rose among a pool of peers as he was announced the Philippine champion at the 2017 Stella Artois Asia Draught Masters competition. Laurio was judged on his passion, enthusiasm and skills on executing Stella Artois’ complex nine-step pouring ritual, a custom that epitomizes the brand’s continuous quest for perfection. This centuries-old tradition requires polished expertise in the art of pouring the perfect beer from the tap as well as the bottle, showcasing the brand’s dedication to delivering superior beer the world over and promoting the unique Belgian beer experience that many aficionados have enjoyed for more than 600 years. I just learned that Belgian beer doesn’t have too much “head” (a.k.a. beer foam) and the experts encourage “beheading” or removing the foam with a metal spatula!

Laurio showed off the exact way to pour Stella Artois at an intimate get-together at Pablo Bistro at The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences in Makati City. He explained the intricacies of each step of the pouring ritual along the way. The Belgian beer was paired with bites sent out by Pablo’s kitchen team.

Each of the items in Pablo’s cocktail menu mirrored the beer brand’s distinct taste. Hearty cheese-filled pizzettas and croquetas complemented the beer’s full-bodied flavor, while a sweet and salty chicken satay helped balance the beer’s bitter notes.

Watsons customer director Viki Encarnacion.

‘Beauty lies in the layers’

It was an afternoon of beauty and wellness when Watsons held an event at The Podium in Mandaluyong City to promote its bestselling Collagen by Watsons line.

During the program, hosted by Samantha Purvor, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Lindsay Gail Wilson Torralba-Garcia talked about the importance of collagen.

According to Torralba-Garcia, contrary to popular belief, collagen doesn’t just address skin aging. She says collagen is important in the battle against skin aging because as we grow older, the body’s ability to manufacture collagen declines. But collagen also gives skin elasticity, hair its strength and connective tissue the ability to hold everything in place. Collagen also helps moisturize the skin.

Collagen by Watsons came to the Philippines two years ago. It is also a successful line in Watsons China. The line is so successful that Watsons has introduced collagen drinks and other new products.

Collagen by Watsons’ tagline is “beauty lies in the layers.” This means going back to the basic foundation of the skin, which is collagen. The Nourishing range’s collagen-boosting system improves the skin’s elasticity to keep it moisturized, firm and supple. These are: White Regeneration, a whitening range made with Penta Lucent system that reportedly reduces dark spots and prevents melanin formation; Skin Renew, which repairs and restores skin cells to give a firmer and younger looking skin; and the Hydro Balance range that has smart water channel that infuses water deep into the skin, keeping it hydrated by locking in moisture to keep skin feeling fresh, soft and smooth.

(For SM Advantage Card members, get 40-percent off on selected Collagen by Watsons products until Nov. 22.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)