View from above at the National Building Museum |
From our friends at the Brewers Association...
Savoring Ten Flavorful Years at the Nation’s Premier Beer and Food Pairing Event
Celebrating a decade in DC, the 10th annual SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience presented by the Brewers Association offered expanded opportunity for an intimate crowd to discover craft beers produced by 86 budding and venerable small and independent breweries - 10 more breweries than in 2016. A new grand marketplace format allowed guests to sample 172 craft beers showcased alongside a carefully curated menu designed for perfect pairings.
IPAs and hop-forward craft beers were among the most poured and paired throughout the evening. The biggest newcomer to the overall beer list was the influx of session styles from hopped up Session Ales to German-Style Pilseners, Kölsch, Gose and more.
“For two beautiful nights, SAVOR was a beer pairing epicenter with the menu pushing the boundaries of beverage pairing like never before,” said Julia Herz, craft beer program director, Brewers Association. “According to a recent Nielsen survey, nearly half of craft drinkers say they drink beer with food ‘always’ or “often.’ SAVOR showcases how craft brewers are the source for advancing pairing menus and beer lovers’ palates.”
Two Roads Brewing Company |
SAVOR provided an occasion to elevate the conversation around the relationship between craft beer and food via a pairing menu designed by an expert tasting panel led by Chef Adam Dulye, executive chef at the Brewers Association, along with Kyle Mendenhall, BA chef consultant and chef of Arcana Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado. This year’s SAVOR also offered a selection of producer driven stations that featured outstanding purveyors paired with breweries. Producers include Nathan Miller Chocolate; Nathan Anda and Red Apron Butcher; American Cheese Society; Choptank Oyster Company and Monterey Fish Market.
Yards Brewing Company |
“Each year we look to explore not only new flavor profiles, but also new experiences for guests. As we created the menu for SAVOR, we coaxed flavors, moments and unfiltered impressions from our panel,” added Chef Dulye.
Toolbox Brewing Company |
With a commitment to small and independent businesses, the Brewers Association collaborated with likeminded small and independent farms, ranches and fish mongers to incorporate local and seasonal ingredients in as many menu items as possible.
SAVOR guests also received a take-home gift to enjoy after the event: a collaboration beer, SAVOR X, a robust Baltic porter brewed with hops and cocoa husks, courtesy of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and New Belgium Brewing Company.
Alesong Brewing & Blending |
Additional event details can be found on the SAVOR website. SAVOR is made possible by a number of generous supporters.
Half Acre Beer Company |
A gallery of SAVOR images can here found here. Follow the event on social media: #SAVORCraftBeer.
About the Brewers Association:
The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today's craft brewers and homebrewers.
Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA's American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.