The Preservation Society Spring '25 Tasting Guide
Welcome to this quarter’s Preservation Society guided tasting—your roadmap to exploring four standout brews crafted for nuance, flavor, and memorable moments. Whether you’re hosting a laid-back bottle share or enjoying a quiet night in, this curated experience will walk you through how to enjoy these beers in the optimal order, what to expect as you taste them, and what simple bites to pair alongside.
We’re starting light and floral and building toward big, bold, decadent. Let’s dive in.
Girl Grey
Belgian-style Ale with Milk Sugar,
Almonds, Earl Grey Tea, and Vanilla
ABV: 8.5%
This elegant, tea-inspired ale is our warm-up act—and for good reason. Visually, it pours a pale golden hue with a lacy, creamy white foam. Bring the glass to your nose and you’ll find notes of Earl Grey tea and lemon peel, conjuring up a steamy cup of a London Fog. With your first sip, you'll experience a delicate milky tea character, layered with subtle almond sweetness, citrus zest, and a dry, floral finish that lingers without overstaying its welcome.
Girl Grey sets the tone with complexity that doesn’t overwhelm. That’s why it belongs at the start of your tasting journey: it’s refreshing, lightly sweet, and texturally smooth, prepping your palate without fatiguing it.
Simple Pairing: Lemon shortbread cookies. The buttery crunch balances the tea-like dryness, while lemon zest in the cookie mirrors the citrus notes in the beer.
April Showers
Dry-hopped Oaked Imperial
Belgian-style Golden Ale
ABV: 12.5%
Next up is a dry-hopped imperial Belgian-style golden ale aged on oak, a beer that ups the ante in both strength and structure. It pours a pale golden straw with fine, creamy foam, offering aromas of floral hops, citrus peel, and earthiness. On the palate, it walks a fine line between earthy Belgian esters, white pepper, and subtle oak tannin, finishing dry with just enough bitter snap to refresh.
Why second? Because April Showers brings hops, oak, and spice to the party—traits that would be overshadowed if placed after a dark or sweeter beer. It’s dry yet layered, transitioning us into stronger territory while still remaining bright and spry.
Simple Pairing: Herbed goat cheese on seeded crackers. The creaminess of the cheese smooths out the hop bitterness while the herbal profile complements the beer’s floral, peppery notes.
Bakery: Sticky Bun
Imperial Stout with Pecans,
Maple Syrup, Cinnamon, and Vanilla
ABV: 9.3%
Get ready for dessert—first course. Bakery: Sticky Bun is a classic pastry stout reimagined with layers of toasted pecans, cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla. It pours a deep black with tan foam and wafts with warm, nutty aromatics and hints of roasted malt. The first sip is a swirl of maple sweetness, roastiness, and cozy baking spices. It finishes semi-sweet, leaving you wanting another bite—or sip.
This beer marks our pivot into rich, decadent territory. Its flavors are big but not bombastic, which is why it’s the perfect prelude to the final heavy-hitter. The cinnamon and maple keep things spiced and spirited, while the medium-full mouthfeel makes this a standout on its own or with food.
Simple Pairing: Pecan sticky bun from your local bakery (we’re not joking). But if that’s too on the nose, try maple-glazed bacon or even cinnamon sugar churros for a quick pairing hit.
Cherry Chocolate Reign
Double Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with
Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, and Tart Cherries
ABV: 21.9%
We’ve reached the finale—and it’s as bold as it gets. Cherry Chocolate Reign is built on the back of double-barreled Black Tuesday, aged in Buffalo Trace barrels with cacao nibs and vanilla beans added directly into the barrels. It pours inky black with ruby edges and opens with powerful aromas of chocolate cake, black cherry, and warming bourbon. The flavor is rich and indulgent: tart cherry cuts through waves of dark chocolate and vanilla, all wrapped in a warming, boozy blanket.
Why end here? This beer is intense in both ABV and flavor profile. It’s dessert on its own, and its sheer presence would drown out any beer that followed. It’s the kind of beer you sip slowly, savoring its complexity and letting it evolve as it warms in the glass.
Simple Pairing: Flourless chocolate cake with cherry compote. The dense chocolate mirrors the beer’s richness, while the compote enhances its fruit notes. Or—keep it easy—with a cherry cordial or dark chocolate truffle.
Cheers to Thoughtful Tasting
We hope this tasting guide brings a little extra intentionality (and fun) to your Preservation Society experience. Whether you follow the full tasting order or just crack open one bottle tonight, remember: the best beer is one shared with friends, paired with something delicious, and savored with curiosity.
Be sure to tag us @thebruery and use #BrueryCheers if you host your own guided tasting—we love seeing your setups, spreads, and tasting notes.
Until next time, happy sipping!