We’re proud to announce that for the second year in a row, we’ve been chosen to showcase our beer at SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience. Organized by the Brewers Association, which describes the gathering as “the nation’s premier beer and food pairing event,” SAVOR will be held June 8-9 at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.

A total of 160 craft brewers entered a lottery to participate in this year’s coveted affair, and Standing Stone is one of just 74 breweries chosen! Last year, we were joined by Caldera Brewery in representing Oregon on the national stage. This year, we’ll be joined by Oakshire Brewing and Ninkasi Brewing Company of Eugene, and Deschutes Brewery of Bend to showcase our state’s contribution to the craft beer world.

At SAVOR, guests will sample breweries’ prized ales and lagers paired with sweet and savory fare. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend educational classes and private tasting salons, enhancing an in-depth learning and tasting experience.

Our own brewmaster, Larry Chase, will be pouring and speaking for the occasion. Here’s what he’ll be serving up:

Double IPA: This customer favorite boasts light copper color and a medium body. Unfiltered and dry hopped twice, this ale has an intense floral and fruity aroma, spicy flavor and bitterness. 7.7% abv. The hoppy and dry characteristics make this ale perfect for pairing with Asparagus and Mushroom Tart with Fontina.

Noble Stout: Brewed with 100 pounds of oats to provide a silky smooth mouthfeel, then hit with a healthy dose of Noble Coffee Roaster’s Mokha Java Blend, this is a rich, black beer with great local flavor. Its espresso and chocolate nuances complement the Butterscotch Cheesecake matched for its pairing.

We’re also sending our Beer and Food Pairing Team, Danielle Amarotico, Ashley Nunes, Melza Quinn and Meg Dias. They plan to bring back new and exciting pairing ideas to try here at the restaurant, so be on the lookout on our specials board for upcoming perfect matches.

This year, we have the additional honor of being hand-picked to serve brews for one of the event’s private tasting salons, where select ticket holders get the opportunity to meet and interact with brewmasters in a more intimate setting. Just for the occasion, we brewed a new specialty beer made entirely with ingredients from Oregon – Backyard Brew. Come in and check it out at the restaurant while it lasts, and see what folks across the country will be savoring! We’ll present at the salon along with Matt Van Wyk of Oakshire Brewing, and talk about beer flavor, ingredients, and how to create perfect pairings with cheeses from Rogue Creamery of Central Point, OR.

If you’re one of the lucky ticket holders to this sold-out event, we toast your good fortune and we hope to see you there! If you’re in Ashland, come in a savor a pairing of your own. We have all the brews we’re featuring across the country on tap here at the brewpub, and we recommend trying them with Rogue Creamery Blue Cheese and Stout Cheddar for a true SAVOR experience. Or ask your server or bartender for pairing suggestions with other menu items. We’ll make a call to the capital for guidance if we need to.