The Craft industry is filled with one-of-a-kind experiences; but very now and then you get to be a part of something really special. One of those Very Special Events is the yearly gathering of Brewers and tasty bites called SAVOR. The video below features some very talented folk matching incredible beer with outrageously great food (and now I'm out of adjectives, srsly...)
Our top ten favorite pairings from this year's tasting are HERE.
Now click play... and have a drool napkin handy!
PHOTO © 2014 Eddie Arrossi
First of all, it's criminal that we had to narrow this down to 10. Because out of the 140+ food and Craft Beer pairing available on the blessed day of Friday, May 9th at the National Building Museum in DC, there wasn't a single clinker in the lot. (Not that I had them all, I would have exploded. But the entire Happy Hour team was in on this one!)
SAVOR, The Craft Beer and Food Pairing experience put on by the Brewers Association is, for us, one of the most anticipated Beer Events of the year. The food, the beer, the setting, the people... it was a night or the ages. Enjoy the pairings that were so good they almost took the top of our heads off:
Sour Heaven.
1. Cigar City Brewing Guava Grove Sour Saison, paired with Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
2. Devil's Backbone Brewing Danzig Porter, paired with Espresso-Crusted Bison on Black Bread
3. Bell's Brewery Bear Hug Imperial Stout, paired with Foie Gras with Lingonberry
4. Odell Brewing Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA, paired with and Pickled Shishito Pepper, Lemongrass, Thai Mussels on the Half Shell with Coconut
5. Founders Brewing Company Backwoods Bastard Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, paired with Duck Sausage
6. Country Boy Brewing Papaw’s Red, paired with Rice Pudding
What was better, the name or the pairing?
7. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Snow Wit and the 7 Dwarf Hops IPA, paired with Fresh Chevre on a Honey Tuile with Orange, Fennel and Pork Crackings
8. Reuben's Brews Imperial Rye IPA, paired with Smoked Brisket on Yucca Chips
9. New Belgium Brewing Company Le Terroir Wild/Sour Ale, paired with Coconut Cheesecake with Coconut Meringue
10. Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Gingerbread Imperial Stout, paired with Dark Chocolate Budino
Thank you, SAVOR. Thank you. Everyone, you may register your curses in the comments below. ;)
Yes. Yes. YES.
Oh, and one of Jimmy's favorite seminars happened to be about Craft Beer and Doughnuts.
Don't hate.
Mark and Jimmy hang out with Dave Engbers of Founders Brewing, to chat about pairing up the formidable Scotch Ale Dirty Bastard with a burger on the Bagger Dave's menu. Enjoy!
Snow in October at Stone Barns.Fancy Artsy = Fartsy? I'm bringin' class to McGlass! Artsy Guy here. For a long afternoon last week, I became Fancy Guy. Some friends and I splurged on the best meal I've ever experienced: Blue Hill at Stone Barns. If you can get to Westchester County (just north of NYC) and want a singular dining experience featuring the freshest and most innovative cuisine, get thee hither anon! A transformative experience in many ways.
But where the rubber met the road in regard to THHG Nation purposes came when we added the wine pairing to our experience. As anticipated, we were treated to many amazing local wines (and a pinot noir from near my hometown in Oregon). But what really caught my attention was that the pairings included beer. Our bread course (an heirloom grain brioche with spinach puree and ricotta cheese) was paired with a wonderful Belgian-style triple from up-and-coming Defiant Brewing from just down the road. One astounding thing about this pairing was that the heirloom grains used in the bread were used in the brewing of this beer. And upon request a course of varied cuts of pork was paired with a doppelbock from Les Trois Mousquetaires out of Quebec, Canada (a fine bottle that's evidently difficult to get in NY). 
Heirloom grain brioche and a Belgian-style trippel from Defiant.We've all heard of the synchronicity of pairing wine with food. But it's exciting to witness the finest dining establishments exploring the infinite possibilities of pairing finely crafted beers with cuisine. Very cool!
Stone Barns in on the forefront of sustainable agriculture and the education of the same. We were given a tour of the greenhouse and learned they've begun growing hops on the estate. In cooperation with craft brewers Kelso and Captain Lawrence, around 200 rhizomes were planted three years ago, and the plants are just beginning to yield significant amounts. New York state once saw hop farming as a significant industry, it's great to see this as one of the steps to bring it back.
Some of the fresh bounty... and where it came from.Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Brilliant! They're what's HOPpenin', y'all!
