Pints, Pours, and Perfection: Five Points Hosts Epic Guinness Showdown!

Tuesday night, September 17, 2024, at Five Points Public House was all about the pour. We’re talking about the Best Guinness Pour in Central NY competition, where 12 of the area’s top bartenders went head-to-head for the title of Guinness Pour Master.

What was on tap? Three awesome challenges: The Perfect Pint, The Flawless Half & Half, and the crowd-favorite, The Legendary Shamrock Etch. With celebrity judges like WKTV’s Steve McMurray, Utica Mayor Mike Galime, and State Senator Joe Griffo on hand, the pressure was on to see who could pour the best Guinness in town.

But this wasn’t just about showing off bar skills. Each year, the event raises money for charity, and this time, proceeds went to the Rome Rescue Mission, helping out after a summer tornado hit the area. As Patrick Roach from the Ancient Order of Hibernians said, “It’s all about having a good time and giving back to the community.”

The prize? A cool $500 cash and a $250 donation to a charity of the winner’s choice. And who took home the crown? None other than our own Carter Klumbach from Five Points, who nailed the pour and chose to donate to Anita’s Stevens Swan Humane Society. In 2nd place was another of our fantastic staff, Jessica Kingsley!

Great pints, great cause, and an unforgettable night—if you missed it, we’ll see you next year for more Guinness goodness!