National team qualified for Beer Sommelier World Cup 2025
Linz (OTS) – May 31, 2024; The 6th Austrian Beer Sommelier National Championship took place in Linz today. After a long competition and an exciting finale, a top-class jury of experts named Oliver Klamminger from Salzburg as the new beer sommelier national champion. At the same time, the top ten qualified for the Austrian national team – they will compete for the beer country Austria at the 8th World Beer Sommelier Championship (Munich, September 2025).
The beer country of Austria is celebrating its new national champion! For the sixth time, Austria’s beer sommeliers and beer sommeliers took part in demanding theoretical and sensory tests under the patronage of the Association of Austrian Breweries under the organizational leadership of the Doemens Genussakademie (https://doemens.org/) from Gräfelfing, Germany, demonstrated their skills with the support of the Association of Certified Beer Sommeliers. In the grand finale, the best presented an unknown beer to a beer-loving audience as part of the Austrian Beer Challenge.
In the end, out of thirty participants, Oliver Klamminger prevailed against the strong competition. The Salzburg native showed himself to be extremely confident and offered an eloquent performance on stage. “The goal was to reach the top 10 again, the fact that it came to number one is absolutely unexpected, surprising but absolutely outstanding. Competing against the best sommeliers in Austria and this enormous density of quality is indescribable. I would like to thank my wife, who so professionally poured me training beers in advance, and of course all of my friends from the beer scene from whom I was able to learn so much over the years. For me, beer stands for absolute passion, enjoyment and pure emotion – these are exactly the attributes that have driven me in recent years,” said the newly crowned national champion. Karl Zuser, Jr. took second place. (Upper Austria), followed by Julian Selinger (Stemk.).
Beer Sommelier World Cup 2025 in Germany
For the top ten beer sommeliers, including one lady, it’s time to pack their bags next year. In September we are going to Munich for the 8th World Beer Sommelier Championship, which will take place as part of drinktec, the world’s leading trade fair for the brewing and beverage industry. “We’re really looking forward to that. After all, next year we will be competing with the crème de la crème of beer sommeliers,” said Karl Schwarz, chairman of the brewery association. “But first of all I would like to warmly congratulate Oliver Klamminger – and the entire national team!”
Austria is a pioneer of beer culture
With currently around 4,600 young beer sommeliers, beer sommeliers and qualified beer sommeliers, Austria is the world leader in beer knowledge and beer culture. Nowhere else are there so many proven beer experts. “The Brewers Association started the successful training program to become a certified beer sommelier in 2006. And this has now become a model for many other countries,” explains Florian Berger, managing director of the brewery association, in conclusion.
At a glance
The Austrian national team: (in alphabetic order)
- Reinhard Feigl, Vienna; IT project manager, traveling brewer
- Ursula Huber-Kainz, Lower Austria; Restorer of wooden objects, International Beer Judge
- Franz Jirovec, Vienna; System Administrator
- Clemens Kainradl, Burgenland; Manufactory beer dealer
- Johannes Keller, Wien; IT
- Oliver Klamminger, Salzburg; Marketing assistant, founder/CEO BierOK
- Markus Rüf, Vorarlberg; IT application consultant
- Martin Seidl, Upper Austria; Beer brewer, author “111 beers from Austria that you have to drink”
- Julian Selinger, Styria; research assistant at TU Graz
- Karl Zuser, Upper Austria; Beer owner, hotelier
The expert jury: (in alphabetical order)
- Mag. Florian Berger, Managing Director of the Association of Austrian Breweries
- DI Nicola Buchner, qualified beer sommelier, managing director of the association of qualified beer sommeliers
- Anton Gallistl, award-winning beer restaurateur,
Pöstlingberg Schlössl - Mag. Gabriela Maria Straka, EMBA, qualified beer sommelier, Director Corporate Affairs & ESG Sustainability Brau Union
- Dr. Michael Zepf, member of the Doemens management, head of the Doemens Genussakademie and responsible for international beer sommelier training
Photos from today’s event: www.Bierland-Österreich.at.
Questions & Contact:
Association of Austrian Breweries
Mag. Florian Berger
T +43 (0) 1 713 15 05 – 21
Annemarie Lautermüller, Bachelor of Arts.
T +43 (0) 1 713 15 05 – 19
tears@dielebensmittel.at
www.bierland-oesterreich.at