SAVOR Highlights Craft Beer & Food Pairing Trend

06.09.10

Brewers Association Launches "30 Pairings in 30 Days" Feature on CraftBeer.com

Boulder, CO • June 9, 2010 From all levels of the culinary world, a revolution is brewing: pairing food with craft beer. With the United States now boasting more than 1,500 breweries—the highest number since the pre-Prohibition era—the choice and diversity of craft beer has propelled increased interest in cooking with beer and pairing it with food.

This trend was apparent this past Saturday, June 5, when 2,000 beer enthusiasts and 70 craft breweries descended on Washington, D.C., for the sold-out SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience. SAVOR is considered the premier beer and food pairing event in the nation, with the Washington Post (see article) declaring "SAVOR lives up to its name."

An online extension of SAVOR, 30 Pairings in 30 Days, launched today on CraftBeer.com. This month-long daily feature will highlight craft beer and food pairings from SAVOR, helping beer lovers discover new ways to enjoy their styles of choice at home.

"It’s exciting to watch today’s small and independent craft brewers help reclaim beer’s place at the dinner table, from restaurants to kitchens across America. Plain and simple, when it comes to pairing with food craft beer picks up where wine leaves off by both complementing and contrasting, and the food world is beginning to take notice," stated Julia Herz, spokesperson for the Brewers Association.

Of the 35 sweet and savory appetizers paired with 140 craft beers at SAVOR, some of the favorites, as found by a post-event poll conducted by the Brewers Association, include (in no particular order):

Brown's Brewing Whiskey Porter with Maytag Blue Cheese
Florida Beer Co. IPA Paired with Buffalo Chili with Mini-Cheddar Chive Biscuit (See full recipe!)
SweetWater Brewing Co. BSP Belgian Quad with Oatmeal Stout Chocolate Truffles
The Bruery Coton with Salted Dark Chocolate Caramel Truffles

Savor Asian BBQ

30 Pairings in 30 Days: Asian BBQ salmon with sesame paired with a craft beer.
Photo © 2010 Eddie Arrossi.
Download a high resolution version of this image.

Further Resources

Website for SAVOR
SAVOR Facebook page
Resources on hosting a craft beer tasting at home

SAVOR Supporters

Host Supporter: Reyes Beverage Group. Partner Supporters: The Boston Beer Company, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, CraftBeer.com. Supporting Breweries: Brewery Ommegang, The Brooklyn Brewery, Flying Dog Brewery, New Belgium Brewing Company, Rogue Ales, Saranac/The F.X. Matt Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada, Southampton Publick House. Supporters: DRAFT Magazine, GreatBrewers.com, Oak Beverages, Inc.

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Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade and education association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Visit BrewersAssociation.org to learn more. The association's activities include events and publishing: CraftBeer.com, World Beer Cup®; Great American Beer Festival℠; Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®; National Homebrewers Conference; National Homebrew Competition; SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience; American Craft Beer Week; Zymurgy magazine; The New Brewer magazine; and books on beer and brewing. The Brewers Association has an additional membership division of 20,000+ homebrewers: American Homebrewers Association.

Consumers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com