I’ve gone 3 times (’11,’12,’14) and plan on going again this year.
I thought that 2014’s SAVOR event was probably the best one I’ve attended so far. This time most breweries brought brewpub exclusives or new (or almost new) beers to the event, which was nice instead of seeing a lot of common shelf-beer from breweries that should know better.
Most people are nicely dressed (professional-looking business casual to dresses and suits). Types of people range from well versed in craft beer to people who just have a lot of money to drop on the event. Very few bros (probably because no bottle shares in line outside the venue).
I was able to chat with Garrett Oliver and Sam Calagione among countless other brewers and owners at all the various breweries while they poured me their beers. I also got to chat with Charlie Papazian while walking around the floor. The conversations I liked the most were from the guys lucky enough to make it there, who were as awestruck as I was talking to the big guys in the industry.
The Salons always sound interesting, but the ones that occur during the event (instead of the ones that start early) are probably best to be avoided if you want to maximize the time you have walking around.
You get a commemorative glass as well as a bottle of beer brewed exclusively for the event:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/savor-flowers/146533/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/boulevard--sierra-nevada-terra-incognita/176318/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/firestone-walker--flying-dog-hydra-cuvee/257681/
Travlr is right about the great events around DC that week, some which are or are almost as good SAVOR itself.
With that said, I would probably discourage anyone from outside of the immediate DC area from coming (unless you’ll already be in town). The price on the event itself is pretty high, and I’m not sure a plane ticket, gas and the price of a hotel room tacked onto that high price tag really makes it worth it. I skipped it the year it was in New York City, mostly because of that.
