Black and tan

This article is about beer blends. For the British armed body in Ireland, see Black and Tans.

File:Black&TanBeer.jpg

Black and Tan is a drink made from a blend of pale ale and a dark beer such as a stout or porter. Sometimes a pale lager is used instead of ale; this is more usually called a half and half. In Ireland both Stout and Ale drinkers may order a black and tan for variety. Contrary to popular belief, however, Black and Tan is not a drink commonly consumed in Ireland.

History

A blend of Guinness and Bass

A blend of Guinness and Harp

The style is believed to have originated in pubs in Britain with drinkers ordering a mix of dark stout and draught bitter. The name is first recorded in 1889 , though an earlier origin of an 18th century blend of porter and pale ale has been conjectured. Several American breweries currently make premixed Black and Tan, and it is a popular blend at American bars. One of the oldest and best known commercial examples is Yuengling's Original Black and Tan.

The name "black and tan" had earlier been applied to dogs, such as the black and tan coon-hound. It was later used as a nickname for the Black and Tans paramilitary reserve during the Irish War of Independence. In March 2006, Ben and Jerry's released an ice cream flavor in the United States for Saint Patrick's Day inspired by the drink; the name offended Irish nationalists because of the paramilitary association. Ben and Jerry's has since apologized. A spokesman told Reuters, "Any reference on our part to the British Army unit was absolutely unintentional and no ill-will was ever intended."

The two most common types of Black and Tan in the United States use Guinness Draught (not Extra Stout) and either Bass, or Harp Lager. The Guinness is "layered" on top of the ale, taking advantage of the fact that Guinness is "carbonated" (nitrogenated) with a nitrogen and carbon dioxide mixture that is less dense than pure carbon dioxide. The density of nitrogen gas (N₂) at STP is 28g/mole but is 44g/mole for carbon dioxide (CO₂).

File:Black-and-tan spoon.jpg

A Black-and-Tan Spoon

To prepare a Black and Tan in the American way, first fill a glass halfway with the ale, then add the Guinness Draught (from the can, bottle, or tap). The top layer is best poured slowly over an upside-down tablespoon placed over the glass to avoid splashing and mixing the layers. A specially designed black-and-tan spoon is bent in the middle so that it can balance on the edge of the pint-glass for easier pouring.

In the United Kingdom, another way of preparing a Black and Tan is to pour half a pint of dark stout into a pint glass and then top up with draught bitter, so that both beers are thoroughly mixed together.

In the Republic of Ireland a Black and Tan is normally made from a half pint of Smithwick's topped off with Guinness. During the summer months, and some time for variety, stout drinkers may order a black and tan due to its lighter texture. Likewise ale drinkers may order a Smithwick's with a Guinness head. This is an ordinary pint of Smithwick's with the last inch or so topped off with Guinness.

In Australia, specifically New South Wales, a Black and Tan is made from half a schooner (425ml) of Tooheys New (a pale lager) and then topped up with Tooheys Old (a dark ale)

Variations

Half and half

In Ireland, a traditional Half and Half consists of half warm or room temperature Guinness and half chilled Guinness. In the early days, refrigeration was of course unavailable. As refrigeration came into existence in the 20th century, it was found that a mixture of the two temperatures created the perfect drinking temperature for Guinness. Most Guinness poured in Ireland is served at about this temperature, roughly 44 degrees Fahrenheit (6° Celsius). In the United States, Half and Half consists of Harp's Lager topped with Guinness. Half and half implies that both ales come from the Guinness Brewery.

Black Honey (Invented by Alex Cather and Alex Heimbuch)

Half Guinness and Half Honey Brown.

Black and White

Stout with any light colored beer.

Black and Blue

Stout with Blue Moon Belgian White, or stout and blueberry ale, Guinness and Pabst Blue Ribbon, Guinness and Labatt Blue. Typically, this refers to any variation of stout coupled with blueberry-flavored ales or brands with the name "Blue" in them.

Black & Sam

Guinness stout and Samuel Adams Boston Lager (also called a Patriot Pint or Boston Half & Half)

Black & Cherry

Guinness stout and Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

Black and Orange

Stout and pumpkin ale (Also known as a "Black & Blumpkin", or a "Black-O-Blumpkin"[The Gilded Otter Brewpub in New Paltz, New York calls this mixture a Stumpkin])

Black Sap

Stout and Sapporo

All Irish Black & Tan a.k.a. Pint of Special a.k.a Blacksmith

Guinness Stout and Smithwick's Irish Ale

Pint of Special or sometimes called a 99

Similar to the all Irish Black and Tan served mostly in the west of Ireland. Made with more than 75% Smithwick's topped up with a Guinness head

Garnet and Black

Guinness and Killian's Irish Red. This is a regional variation in South Carolina, named after the school colors of the University of South Carolina.

Old Dirty Englishman

Half Guinness and half Tetley's

Sweet Black and Tan

Sweetheart Stout and any light ale (i.e. 60 shilling)

Philadelphia Black & Tan

Half Guinness Stout and half Yuengling Lager

Black & Gold

Half Guinness Stout and half hard cider (e.g., Westons or Woodchuck). Sometimes incorrectly referred to as a snakebite, which is actually a mixture of half lager and half cider. When made specifically with Woodchuck Cider it is also called a Stout Woody

Black Christmas (or Kwanzaa)

Guinness draught over Christmas Ale.

Black & Red

Half chocolate stout over half raspberry or cherry lambic

Black & Red

Half Guinness and half Red Stripe

Black Hoe

Half Guinness and half Hoegaarden.

Thistle & Shamrock

Beamish & McEwan's

Irish American

Half Guinness and half Budweiser.

Irish Canadian

Half Guinness and half Molson Canadian

Black Castle

Half Guinness and half Newcastle Brown Ale.

San Patricios

Half Guinness and half any Mexican beer (Corona, Pacifico, Dos Equis, Negro Modelo)

Black Tire

Half Guinness and half New Belgium Fat Tire

Irish Anarchist

Any Irish stout atop any Irish red ale. The name is a reference to the anarchist-syndicalist flag, which is black and red.

The Greatness : Half Guinness and Half Great White. (Great White is from Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, Ca.)

Eclipse/Black Moon

Half Guinness and Half Blue Moon

Black Girl

Half Guinness and St. Pauli Girl

Tetness

Half Guinness and half Tetley's

Tetness Shot

Part Guinness and part Tetley's and part Starbucks Coffee Liqueur. Be careful; this one stings a bit!

Blacks on Blondes

Half Young's Double Chocolate Stout and half Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde

Innis & Guinness (invented by Brent Swallowell)

Half Innis & Gunn and half Guinness

Green Goblin (invented by Geoff Wayne)

Half Heineken and half Hobgoblin

Imperial Black & Tan (invented by David Hatling)

Half Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale and half Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout

Dark & Steamy (invented by Joe Fahrner)

Half Anchor Steam Beer and half Guinness

Black Magic

Half Guinness and Half Magic Hat #9

Dirty Bush (Traditional)

Half stout Guinness half Bush Light Mixed Seasonally.

Red Velvet

Half Guinness, Half Raspberry Cider Jack

See also

• Shandy : Beer cocktail mixed with lemonade, lemon-lime soda, or ginger ale.
• Diesel Shandy : Beer cocktail mixed with cola.
• Black Velvet Cocktail : This is traditionally made with Guinness and Champagne.

External links

• Ben and Jerry's flavor
• Ice cream, anyone? from the Irish Echo
• How to make an All-Irish Black and Tan from Google Video
• Dennis Judd: How to make a black and tan
• How to pour a perfect Black and Tan