SAVOR 2011

Last night I had the opportunity to accompany my husband to SAVOR.  SAVOR is an American Craft Beer and Food Experience showcasing the art of craft beer.  Held at the National Building Museum in Washington DC and in it's fourth year, SAVOR offers an opportunity to meet and talk with the owners and brewers of the participating breweries while sampling their beers.
 
Selling out in only minutes last year (we didn't get a ticket, sniff sniff) - we were poised and ready once tickets went on sale this year and coupled with the fact that SAVOR expanded the event to two evenings, we bettered our chances to be two of the lucky few to partake in one of the most prestigious evenings for the American craft brew.  So, along with 1998 of our closest friends (SAVOR again sold out in minutes for both nights, with 2000 attendees per evening), we waited in line, I.D.'s and tickets in hand, for the doors to open.  Now, my husband has a sense of humor unlike anyone I have ever known and he started a little running inside joke several years back; when we visited the Troeg's Brewery, in Pennsylvania, where he says he can actually hear angels singing - demonstrating that he has reached the pearly gates.  So in true fashion, as we entered the event last night - he paused and outstretched his arms as if to once again embrace those angels welcoming him "home".  Of course, no one understands that gesticulation but me, and I snicker each and every time. 

"On Tap" last night were 72 craft breweries each with 2 of their favorites (144 for those of you not counting) and my husband had his list.  His mission: to visit breweries that don't distribute to our area.  So, armed with nearly 30, we worked our way from the furthest points west and traveled across North America, beer by beer.  Now, I am not the beer connoisseur my husband is, fortunately he married a designated driver, so I enjoyed some of the evenings savory samplings.  Not only were there food pairings, but SAVOR 2011 included an oyster bar, an artisanal cheese display and sushi.

I read the SAVOR tally from last night and see that they estimated 82,000 pieces of menu prepared items to pair with over 1,705 gallons of craft beer and 20,000 lbs of ice to cool it. 
 
We are already looking forward to SAVOR 2012; with anticipation of another two night event and hoping to be fortunate to get tickets for each night, since one really needs the time to savor SAVOR fully.

My husband says he can already hear the angels.