Need not go to the doctor to get a prescription to heal, relax, watch the world go by before attending to the First International Beer Festival in the City of Gyula. Not-so-secret goal was by many beer and concert lover visitors to attend, taste the smooth craft and artisan beer enjoying their time. A 4 days event with good live music concerts, food, playground for children and most of all not just the official juries to jury the craft beers and breweries but the visitors were welcome to taste the smooth craft beers and to have a ball.
Gyula used to be the capital of the county, until the First World War. For mainly visiting Gyula in the first place is its healing hot spa and whilst in the city visiting other main attractions such as the Almássy Palace, the former home of count Almássy and the adjacent Medieval Castle. Since the 19th century in its current form, but the original structure dates back to the 17th century. The city was the main home of the Almássy Family until the World War II.. The size of the city is 255.8 km2 (98.8 sq miles) and the population is cca. 40 thousand. Taking into account of the size of Gyula, visitors beside visiting the so-called “liquid bread” i.e. beer, were most probably witnessing many touristic venues not even expected.
The fan off Thursday welcoming the audience was by Dr. Ernő Görgényi – major of Gyula and prominent members of the beer business. Within opening the festival spoke about the aim of the competition jointly with the festival to bring beer culture, a chance to introduce itself at Gyula. The goal was to get acquainted with several small breweries products and their members. At the opening ceremony was urged the prizes to be handed over to the beer winners award on Saturday. Also added that there are two breweries operating in Gyula and in Békés County at Békésszentandrás distillery as well, This beer festival from now on will also call the tourists visiting Gyula whilst healing at the hot spa to have an unforgettable memory happening at Gyula in Békés county. This tipical event was organized for 17 years at Békéscsaba. This year, the event will not take place there. The local government of Gyula was immediately next to having the beer festival. Therefore, to the new venue an agreement was made between the major of Gyula and Varga-Bora to organize the beer festival surrounding the Castle of Gyula. Most probably not on my own by saying there is no other Beer Festival in Hungary and maybe in Europe that is arranged in the heartbeat of a Medieval Castle, not to mention having its peaceful hot spa just steps away from the event and many other attraction.
The 4 days of the craft beer masterpieces and street food dishes were the focus of attention, as well as publication of the Central European Beer Awards 2018 competition. The beer competitors came from Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to participate in the international beer festival, namely small brewery breweries and homemade breweries in the competition. It was in 16 categories with 167 samples examined by international jury, with Czech, Slovakian and Hungarian members. Exactly 15 people tasted the liquid bread jointly 3-member commissions. The competition director was László Kovács from Slovakia who said, lot of very good quality beer had arrived. He explained that drinks were thoroughly criticized for fragrance, taste, overall impression and other aspects using a state-of-the-art computer program, according to an American system.
To be continued … part 2
report and snaps Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 
