Hot Topic: Beer and Food Pairings

All of a sudden, you can't swing a six-pack without hitting a story praising the merits of beer and food pairings.

The June issue of Food & Wine pits beer against wine in a food-pairing smackdown with lots of great recipes. Chow examines beer and cheese pairings, and locally, Melissa McCart reports on the same in May's DC magazine. McCart highlights two noteworthy beer-pairing proponents, CityZen sommelier Andy Myers and Rustico beer director Greg Engert, as well as beer and cheese matches at Brasserie Beck and Zaytinya.

To learn more about the potential harmony between beer and food, check out this weekend's Savor: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience. The reception-style event, held May 16 and 17 at DC's Mellon Auditorium, will offers samples of more than 35 sweet and savory appetizers and 96 craft beers from 48 breweries. Also on the schedule are talks given by brewers, journalists and chefs who have helped advance the American craft beer revolution.

For tickets and details, click here.

(Photo by Souders Studios, as seen in "The Best of American Beer and Food.")