Savor – An American Craft Beer & Food Experience

First off, I want to give a huge thank-you to Nahem Simon, the Beer Director at Jack Rose in DC (and our good friend) for gifting two tickets to us for the sold out and super fun Savor DC Craft Beer event!!!

So I wasn’t able to bring my camera into the event as only press was allowed to take photos so I’m using some official photos from the Savor Website (with the photo credits on there of course) and some of the photos from my phone. Anywhos, here’s what the event looked like from the top floor (Photo by: Eddie Arrossi). Being a sold out event, it was rather packed, but in a good way. It was held at the National Building Museum, which I had never been in before so it was quite the experience.

It was such a treat being able to attend! Definitely different from all the previous craft beer events we’ve attended, this one was much fancier and geared towards restauranteurs and real craft enthusiasts. It was nice getting to dress up and chat with different representatives from each brewery we made a stop at and learn more about each beer we tried.

Upon entering, everyone received a commemorative Savor 2014 tasting glass and a hefty event program that contains all of the breweries and supporters information as well as all of the beers featured along with the food pairings that accompanied them… yes I said FOOD! Each beer had a food pairing to compliment and bring out their different notes for a proper tasting experience. (You know me, where there’s snacks, there’s a happy me!)

So here’s the layout for the event. Each table features 4 different craft breweries from around the country, with the 16 supporting breweries all featured in the massive circular table in the center of the hall/auditorium. We meant to start at table 1 but got caught up in the Supporter Circle table first and then finally made our way to table 1 hehe.

Here’s the list of all the beers we tried with their food pairings… ready? (we only got through half which are not listed) :

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA Website

Snow Wit and the 7 Dwarf Hops (IPA) paired with Fresh Chevre on a Honey Tuile with Orange, Fennel and Pork Cracklings : The seven dwarves have their work cut out for them to clean away a touch of sweet, a dash of herbal notes and the richness of the cracklin. They do it all in harmony, leaving a clean citrus finish.
Barrel-Aged Porter w/ Vanilla and Cocoa (Porter) paired with Rice pudding : Rice pudding pulls forward the notes of barrel aging and the vanilla in the beer adds another level of depth to the dish.

Schlafly Beer, Saint Louis, MO Website

Schlafly Kolsch (Kolsch) paired with Golden Citrus Beet with Lemon Verbana, Marscarpone, and Honey Powder : Lemon verbena adds to the aroma of the beer while the natural sugar of the beet brings out the hops to carry away the marscarpone.
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale (Pumpkin Ale) paired with Pecan Hushpuppies : Caramel malt notes are matched with pecan and caramelization from frying the hushpuppy. Pumpkin notes are brought forward by the pecan.

Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth, NH Website

Bouncy House (Session Ale) paired with Guinea Hen Confit on Wonton Crisps : Guinea hen matches the hops nicely and allows a pleasing orange finish to address the palate.
Satchmo (Field Beer) paired with Cocoa-Braised Beef on Potato Crisps : The earthiness of this beer is made even richer by the cocoa notes in the braised beef. Spicy hops come in to cleanse before that earthy quality returns at the end.

Allagash Brewing Company, Portland ME Website

Coolship Red (Wild/Sour Ale) paired with Roast Duck with Pink Peppercorns and Oilo Nuovo : The fattiness of the duck is cleaned away by the bite of this beer, and pink peppercorns play with the back and forth of spice and tart.
Saison (Saison) paired with Cured Salmon with Lardo Butter and Powdered Lemon : Look for the salmon to hold off the carbonation just long enough for the citrus and grassy notes to come through before the palate is refreshed.

Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY Website

Brooklyn Black Ops (Imperial Stout) paired with Sticky Toffee Pudding : Rich toffee notes are complimented by the dark notes in this beer, and the high carbonation cleanses the rich pastry from the palate.
Brooklyn Kriek (Wild/Sour Ale) paired with Smoked Bison and Pickled Plum on Savory Corn Financier : Pickled plum picks up on the classic kriek notes and the age of this beer complements the iron in the bison.

Oakshire Brewing, Eugene, OR Website

Hermanne 1882 (Wild/Sour Ale) paired with Lemon Flatbread Crisp with Anchovy Butter and Spicy Cress : Salt from the anchovy and a hint of natural pepper from the cress let the beer shine through to cleanse the palate.
Overcast Espresso Stout (Stout) paired with Smoked Brisket on Yucca Chip : Notes of espresso add a richness to the brisket and the yucca lets the dark malt notes rest gently on the palate.

Evolution Craft Brewing Co., Salisbury, MD Website

Lot #6 (Imperial IPA) paired with Brie Tartlet : The pastry helps hold the hops back for just a bit and a touch of brown sugar added to the tart matches the sweetness of the beer.
Lucky 7 (Porter) paired with Turkey Braised in Mole : Stronger-than-expected coffee notes in the beer are complemented nicely by a rich mole with gentle notes of spice.

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA Website

Daytime (Session) paired with Fava Bean, English Pea and Porcini Crostini : Aromas of tangerine and lemon complement the fava and English pea, while the porcini clears the hops and leads to a clean, dry finish.
Sucks (Imperial IPA) paired with Charred Masala Cauliflower with Dates : Huge hop aromas are calmed by the cauliflower and the date matches the thick coating on the palate before the hops come back in with a citrus cleanse.

Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, Lexington, KY Website

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale (Strong Ale) paired with Sticky Toffee Pudding : With a rich base of dates and brown sugar, this dish is taken to even richer heights as it pulls out the barrel notes in this beer.
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout (Stout) paired with Turkey Braised Mole : Cocoa notes in the beer beg for a touch of heat, and the pumpkin seeds help bring the malt forward to balance this bite.

Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, CO Website

Milk Stout (Stout) paired with Espresso-Crusted Bison on Black Bread : The iron in the bison cuts through the lactic notes of the Milk Stout, while the espresso crust deepens the notes of roast in the beer.
Polestar Pilsner (Pilsner) paired with Salmon Ceviche : Crisp and clean pilsner needs nothing other than bright ceviche with a hint of lime to shine through for a crisp, herbal finish.

Surly Brewing, Brooklyn Center, MN Website

Coffee Bender (Brown Ale) paired with Espresso-Crusted Bison on Black Bread : The espresso crust helps tie the dish to this coffee bomb, while the bison cuts through to a touch of bitter.
Pentagram (Wild/Sour Ale) paired with Foie Gras with Lingonberry : Flavors of sour cherry, oak and tobacco combine with the richness of duck liver for a near sensory overload before the sour notes pull it all off the palate.

KelSo Beer Company, Brooklyn NY Website

Industrial IPA (Imperial IPA) paired with Scallop Crudo with Citrus Fruits : Citrus notes hang in the aroma while the scallop brings out a gentle brine that is cleansed by the hops.
Nut Brown Lager (Brown Lager) paired with Sticky Toffee Pudding : Brown sugar and date notes come from both broth the beer and the bite. The toffee affords a sweet finish.

Pinthouse Pizza, Austin, TX Website

Calma Muerta (Session Ale) paired with Brussels Sprout Cups with Miso, Green Apple and Cashew : Green apple notes on the palate connect the hops to the gentle malt, and the Brussels sprouts help carry the hops aroma to the palate.
Nitro Jaguar Shark (Stout) paired with Broccoli Rab and Pancetta Stuffed Mushrooms : Rich, roasty malts are held on the palate by the mushrooms while the saltiness of the pancetta cuts through the nitrogen lacing.

Strangeways Brewing, Richmond, VA Website

Martian Spring (Biére de Mars) paired with Hamachi Crudo : The clean cucumber and hamachi let the citrus notes of the beer complete the bite before the radish comes in to help scrape the palate.
WHAP! Sorachi Sour (Wild/Sour Ale) paired with Brie Tartlet : Subtle notes of saffron and brown sugar in the tart allow the sour notes to wash over the brie.

Rahr & Sons Brewing, Fort Worth, TX Website

Rahr’s ANGRY GOAT (Imperial Weizen Doppelbock) paired with Sticky Toffee Pudding : Aromas of caramelized sugar are met on the palate with sweet dates and rich toffee. A touch of a bourbon is noted in the finish.
Rahr’s IRON THISTLE (Scotch Ale) paired with Pecan Hushpuppies : A huge caramel aroma is met with notes of pecan on the palate and the pecan helps cut though the rich mouthfeel of the beer.

Reuben’s Brews LLC, Seattle, WA Website

Cream Ale (Cream Ale) paired with Guinea Hen Confit on Wonton Crisps : A light touch of bitterness at the finish is just the right match to scrape the mild guinea hen and wonton from the palate.
Imperial Rye IPA (Imperial IPA) paired with Smoked Brisket on Yucca Chip : The smoke and the brisket help masquerade the intense hops and rye, while the yucca brings out a subtle orange finish.

Funkwerks, Inc. , Fort Collins, CO Website

Deceit Aged In Cognac Barrels (Belgian Style Ale) paired with Foie Gras with Lingonberry : This pairing offers notes of cognac and duck liver with hints of fruit. The barrel-aged qualities of the beer help cleanse the palate of the foie gras.
Funkwerks’ Saison (Saison) paired with Cured Salmon with Lardo Butter and Powdered Lemon : The higher carbonation in this beer cleanses the palate; this pairing finishes with a clean lemon note.

Confluence Brewing Company, Des Moines, IA Website

ChewBOCKa Winter Bock (Bock) paired with Duck Sausage : Gentle caramel notes pay homage to a classic sausage pairing, and the cherry notes help pull out the hops to balance the bite.
Thomas Beck Black IPA (American Black Ale) paired with Cheddar Wafers with Stilton and Red Currant : Dark roasted malts and hops combine to match the richness of Stilton.

Deschutes Brewery , Bend, OR Website

Fresh Squeezed IPA (IPA) paired with Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta Stuffed Mushrooms : Caramel malt is pulled to the start of thte bite by the umami in the mushroom; then the hops and broccoli take over to wash the richness away.
Not the Stoic (Belgian Style Ale) paired with Duck Confit : A bit higher alcohol helps pull the fat away from the duck and brings out the light game notes.

Coronado Brewing Company , Coronado, CA Website

Barrel Aged Oldscallywag (Barleywine) paired with Cheddar Wafers with Stilton and Red Currant : Barrel-aged qualities in the beer help calm the richness of the Stilton while red currant carries the flavor profile of the beer to the end of the bite.
Jurata (Porter) paired with Lamb Keftah : The spice and grilled lamb help pull out gentle notes of smoke in the rest of this beer.

Sun King Brewing Company , Indianapolis, IN Website

Hop Up Off of that Brett (Wild/Sour Ale) paired with Clams on the Half Shell : The Brett adds a cleansing bite at the finish that matches the salt brine of the clam.
Lonesome Dove (Barrel-Aged Strong Beer) paired with Spice Cake : Notes of bourbon from the barrel aging combine with the sweetness to not only complement the bite but cleanse the palate as well.

Baxter Brewing Co. , Lewiston, ME Website

Summer Swelter Ale (Wheat Ale) paired with Duo of Compressed Melon with Yuzu : The gentle sweetness of the melon and clean crisp profile of this beer go right to refreshing the palate and awakening the senses.
Tarnation California Style Lager (California Common) paired with Hamachi Crudo : Radish as a garnish brings out the malt and the classic California Common flavor profile. The hamachi acts as a vessel to keep the palate clean.

No-Li Brewhouse , Spokane, WA Website

Born & Raised IPA (IPA) paired with Smoked Brisket on Yucca Chip : through the smoke come the hops to cleanse the palate of the brisket; the yucca stays calm enough to allow the malt to shine as well.
Spin Cycle Red Ale (Extra Special Bitter) paired with Duck Sausage : Sweet cherry notes are calmed by the red ale and the hops cut through the richness of the duck.

Elysian Brewing Co. , Seattle, WA Website

Dayglow (IPA) paired with Scallop Crudo with Citrus Fruits : Gentle sea salt notes in the scallop let this sessionable beer shine through while citurs-on-citrus notes awaken the palate for the next bite.
Dragonstooth (Stout) paired with Turkey Braised in Mole : The oatmeal in this beer ties all the spices and pumpkinseed notes into one long, rich bite.

NOLA Brewing Company, New Orleans, LA Website

Hopitoulas(IPA) paired with Fava Bean, English PEa and Porcini Crostini : Fava beans accentuate the hops, while the sweetness of the english peas and porcini mushroom round out a complete bite.
Irish Channel Stout (Stout) paired with Smoked Brisket on Yucca Chip : Smoked brisket brings out dark roasted malts and the yucca chip helps bring out a palate-cleansing finish.

Whew… that was a lot. They were all so yummy! (And that’s less than half of the breweries in attendance)

Here’s a picture of us at the event… Brendan was a little squinty from the lights and well, after that long list, well we were feeling pretty cheerful haha.

Every event attendee received a Savor commemorative ale, the Hydra Cuvée, as an exit gift. The Hydra Cuvée is a collaboration between Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and Flying Dog Brewery. “In true East meets West fashion, the breweries crafted a small batch porter with a rich malt bill balanced by a distinct blend of British and American hops. then each brewery selected two distinct bourbon barrel-aged beers and blended all three to make a one-of-a-kind offering for Savor.”