Not all beer fests are created equally. In fact many — we’re not pointing fingers — tend to leave you overwhelmed by crowds and underwhelmed by the beers poured and the overall experience.

Thankfully, that is not the situation at SAVOR.

Trust us, we’ve been to our fare share of these festivals, and can speak from experience.

This year for the Brewer’s Association’s big beer and food pairing event’s return to the nation’s capital on May 9 and 10, more than 75 breweries from all over the country are onboard. Each will pour some of their finest brews to be paired with an endless array of positively delicious small plates that range from savory to sweet.

More than 60 percent of this year’s breweries were not at SAVOR in 2012, the last time it was held in Washington, D.C., and even more will be different from those lined up for last year’s event in New York. This year’s breweries will represent 29 different states from all regions of the U.S. They include big names like Dogfish Head and New Belgium as well as still emerging brewers like D.C.’s Bluejacket and Colorado’s Crazy Mountain.

Chef Adam Dulye, who comes from San Francisco’s highly regarded The Monk’s Kettle, developed the vast menu in collaboration with Occasions Caterers. You can check out what’s being served here.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 26 (Members-only pre-sale on Tues., March 25) at noon, and run $135 - $155. Get them here, before they are all sold out.