The Society Dish
Culinary Companions for The Bruery’s Monthly Releases
October 2025 Edition
October at The Bruery brings some of our biggest, boldest releases of the year—none more iconic than Black Tuesday. But this month’s lineup doesn’t stop there. From a rye barrel collab with More Brewing to a community-designed cherry-laced barleywine, there’s no shortage of complexity to explore.
As always, we’re offering you the tools to enjoy these beers to their fullest—one bite at a time. Whether you’re in the mood to cook something elegant or grab a treat from your local bakery, these pairing suggestions are here to inspire your next tasting.
Black Tuesday (2025)
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout | 19.1% ABV
The beer that started it all returns with poise and power. Aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, Black Tuesday (2025) pours jet-black with ruby edges and delivers a decadent array of poached fig, malted milk balls, vanilla, and oak. Despite its formidable ABV, the mouthfeel is elegant—rich and warm with a long, layered finish that makes it ideal for sipping and savoring.
Elevated Pairing: Braised Short Ribs with Black Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This slow-braised dish delivers richness to match Black Tuesday’s decadent profile. The short ribs, simmered in red wine and aromatics, bring out the beer’s deep malt and fig notes. The sweet umami of black garlic mashed potatoes highlights the stout’s malted milk ball and vanilla layers. A touch of char from the sear harmonizes with the barrel's oak character.
Simple Pairing: Nicaraguan Cigar
Pairing Black Tuesday with a bold Nicaraguan cigar transforms an already indulgent ritual into something extraordinary. The cigar’s earthy spice and robust body amplify the stout’s layers of chocolate, vanilla, and oak, while its slow, easy burn mirrors Black Tuesday’s long, warming finish.
Cigars have always marked moments of celebration—victories, milestones, reflections with friends—but when you add Black Tuesday to the ritual, it becomes something greater. Whether you’re alone with your thoughts or reminiscing with your closest circle, this pairing turns any occasion into one worth remembering.
Black Tuesday: Blender's Choice (2025)
Blended Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout | 19.9% ABV
Each year, our brewing team selects standout barrels for this expression of Black Tuesday. The 2025 blend includes casks from Peerless Rye, Four Gate Bourbon, Ruby Port, and Zinfandel, lending amplified layers of dark fruit leather, chocolate, and tannic structure. It's familiar in tone, but singular in execution—an embodiment of craftsmanship and nuance.
Elevated Pairing: Duck Breast with Cherry-Port Reduction
The richness of duck is a perfect match for this curated BT blend. The cherry-port sauce syncs effortlessly with the Zinfandel and ruby port barrel influence, enhancing dark fruit leather and vanilla in the beer. A crisped duck skin brings an umami snap that deepens the roast character.
Simple Pairing: Cherry-Cacao Biscotti
This crisp, coffee shop staple is an easy way to echo the stout’s profile. The almond flour crunch provides texture, while the dried cherries and chocolate chunks pull forward the beer’s dessert-like tendencies.
Tart of Darkness: Cherry Nocturne
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Sour Stout with Black Cherries and Vanilla | 9.5% ABV
Tart of Darkness, everyone’s “first sour stout,” makes its return with a riff on the classic base beer. Cherry Nocturne is a special treatment of Tart of Darkness, a beer with infamous beginnings in that it was aged in bourbon barrels previously holding Black Tuesday. We’ve added black cherries and vanilla to this rendition. The result is a sour stout that walks the line between tart and roasty, with bright cherry acidity layered over chocolate and subtle barrel sweetness.
Elevated Pairing: Duck Confit Salad with Cherry Gastrique
The tart-sweet interplay of cherry gastrique balances the fatty richness of duck confit, making this a high-impact match for the beer’s cherry and sour stout base. Vanilla in the beer rounds off the acidity, while the greens add a crisp contrast.
Simple Pairing: Chocolate-Dipped Cherry Cordials
This nostalgic treat amplifies the beer’s core ingredients—tart cherry, dark chocolate, and vanilla—in one bite. The candy’s syrupy interior meets the beer’s sour snap, turning a simple indulgence into a layered flavor echo.
Midnight Autumn Maple
Imperial Dark Ale with Sweet Potatoes, Maple Syrup, Vanilla, and Spices | 9% ABV
Think of this as the darker, moodier sibling to Autumn Maple. Midnight Autumn Maple combines roasted malts with warm baking spices, maple sweetness, and a smooth hit of yam richness. Creamy and medium-bodied, it channels cozy, fireside comfort in liquid form.
Elevated Pairing: Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Purée and Spiced Apple Relish
This fall-focused entrée brings the beer’s maple and baking spice notes to life. The tender pork picks up the caramelized richness of the malt, while the sweet potato purée ties into the base ingredient of the beer. The spiced apple relish adds a welcome brightness to contrast the stout's smooth finish.
Simple Pairing: Pumpkin Muffin with Maple Glaze
Pick one up at your local bakery and enjoy a seamless pairing. The spiced crumb matches the beer’s cinnamon and nutmeg tones, while the maple glaze brings out the brew’s sticky sweetness. The beer’s carbonation clears the palate, keeping each bite fresh.
The Pact
Blended Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout | 13.9% ABV
Born from a collaboration with More Brewing, The Pact blends their Henna Stout with our Monster Stout, aged in Sagamore Double Oak Rye and Henry McKenna Bourbon barrels. With notes of toffee, tobacco, brown sugar, and dark chocolate, this full-bodied beer carries weight, warmth, and unexpected savory spice.
Elevated Pairing: Smoked Brisket with Molasses BBQ Sauce
The complexity of this stout—with notes of tobacco, toffee, and dark chocolate—demands a pairing that brings both boldness and depth. Enter brisket. The smoke elevates the stout’s oak and spice, while the molasses BBQ sauce intertwines with the beer’s umami and brown sugar character.
Simple Pairing: Salted Toffee Pretzel Bark
Crunchy, sweet, and just a little salty—this treat matches The Pact’s layered flavors beautifully. The toasted pretzel and buttery toffee mirror the beer’s malt backbone while salt contrasts the richness and draws out subtle rye spice from the barrel
Crafted by Society: Cherry Grateful
English-Style Barleywine Ale with Cherries, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla, and Sea Salt | 11.3% ABV
A member-created concept come to life, this English-style barleywine balances fudge-like sweetness with cherry brightness and gentle salt. Inspired by Cherry Garcia ice cream, it features rich malt, dark chocolate, and fruit-forward complexity that lingers sip after sip.
Elevated Pairing: Roasted Duck with Cherry Chocolate Mole
A showstopper dish worthy of a society-designed beer. The mole—rich with cocoa, spice, and cherry—ties directly into the beer’s chocolate fudge, cherry compote, and vanilla sea salt profile. The duck’s gamey flavor deepens the pairing, while crispy skin adds needed texture.
Simple Pairing: Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream
A scoop of this from your favorite local shop is all you need. The tart cherry and chocolate flavors sync directly with the beer’s dessert-forward character, making this one of the most intuitive, indulgent pairings of the month.
Whether you’re hosting friends, planning a tasting night, or just raiding the pantry for inspiration, this month’s releases offer a wealth of pairing possibilities. October kicks off a season of richness, and there’s no better lineup to showcase that than this month's releases.