By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Crowds flocked to The Beer Hog in Pelham to taste some of the best chili in Birmingham during the ninth annual Guinness Chili Cookoff on Saturday, Feb. 1.

The event ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and contestants in the contest were tasked with utilizing Guinness in their recipes to create a delectable dish worthy of being called the Grand Champion of the contest.

Along with the Grand Champion prize, teams also competed for Most Creative, which was awarded to the team who used Guinness the most creatively, and the People’s Choice award, which is a total tally of votes from the participating public.

Along with the chili, the cookoff provided live music entertainment, children’s activities and giveaways.

A majority of proceeds from the event benefit The Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation, which is a local nonprofit supporting families with terminally ill children.

Ian Johnson, the general manager of The Beer Hog, spoke on this year’s impressive turnout for the event.

“We had an amazing turnout,” Johnson said. “We had about 1,200 people that showed up to our event. It was definitely so far the biggest event of our year that we’ve had. It was received very well amidst the whole community.”

Johnson also said that Guinness was, as usual, an integral part of the Chili Cookoff experience.

“This year, we actually did a proper Guinness pouring booth with its own bar that was a pretty big hit,” Johnson said. “We gave away actual Guinness glasses, and we taught individuals that wanted to pay for the experience how to pour a proper Guinness.”

According to Johnson, 13 teams participated in this year’s cookoff, creating a competitive and enriching experience that showcased unparalleled cooking talents from the Magic City.

The Beer Hog is riding the wave of jubilation surrounding the Chili Cookoff, and are already planning another fan favorite event in the spring.

“On March 15, we’re doing the crawfish boil at The Beer Hog, and we’re going to tie it in with a tap takeover with Scofflaw out of Atlanta, Georgia,” Johnson said. “It is one of our biggest events that we do throughout the year. We do it with Til We Run Out Crawfish… there’s going to be music, there’s going to be games and it’s just going to be a good time for everyone.”

For more information on The Beer Hog, visit Thebeerhogal.com.