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Craft Beer and Food Pairings Take Flight at SAVORSM: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience

Washington, D.C. • May 10, 2014—Given its expansive variety of styles, flavors and components, craft beer is among the most approachable beverages to pair with food. This was tastily on display at the seventh annual SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience held at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. on May 9 and 10. Presented by the Brewers Association (BA), SAVOR is the nation’s marquee craft beer and food pairing event.

Over the course of two nights, 4,000 attendees sampled a selection of craft beers from 76 small and independent brewers, delectably paired with a menu designed by BA culinary consultants Chefs Adam Dulye and Kyle Mendenhall. Attendees were personally served by the faces behind the brands.

“Craft beer has evolved the food arts world and SAVOR is the perfect platform to portray this evolution,” said Julia Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association. “As the beer culture in America continues to advance, U.S. foodies and beer lovers alike are thirsty for the pairing experience that SAVOR delivers.”

To ensure all of the pairings purr, the SAVOR food menu is meticulously planned by an expert tasting panel led by Chef Dulye, chef/owner of The Monk’s Kettle and The Abbott’s Cellar in San Francisco, and Chef Mendenhall, executive chef at The Kitchen in Boulder and Denver. The chefs marry their impressions of the craft beers with feedback from the panel to devise the strategically paired menu.

“SAVOR provides us with a remarkable opportunity to show how well craft beer and food harmonize with each other, while really drawing out the full flavor of each of the craft beers presented,” said Dulye. “It’s an astounding experience to stand in the nation’s capital and showcase the full potential of these beers from local brewers around the country complemented by food from local purveyors.”

All food items presented at this year’s SAVOR were locally sourced, supporting natural, small and independent farms and ranches as much as possible. All of the proteins and seafood used in the menu were from small and independent ranches, farms and fish mongers that support sustainability. All produce came from natural or organic farms. Not a single ingredient on the food menu was from any land that uses or promotes the use of GMOs or pesticides.

Additional event details can be found on the SAVOR website. SAVOR is made possible by a number of the generous supporters.

Contact: Abby Berman (on behalf of the Brewers Association), 646.695.7044

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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 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.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.