Black and Tan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Black and Tan (disambiguation).

Black and Tan is a style of beer made from a blend of a 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. Although often regarded as an Irish drink, the Black and Tan is rarely, if ever, heard of in Ireland.

1 History
2 Variations
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

A blend of Guinness and Bass

The style is believed to have originated in pubs in the British Isles 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. However, it is not made in Irish or British breweries, and requesting the drink in pubs may be greeted with a certain degree of puzzlement as Guinness is not usually mixed with other beers or ales.

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 of 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 most common Black and Tan in the United States uses Guinness Draught (not Extra Stout) and Bass. The Guinness is "layered" on top of the ale, taking advantage of the fact that Guinness is carbonated (nitrogenated) with a (lighter gas) mixture of nitrogen (N₂ 28g/mole) and carbon dioxide (CO₂ 44g/mole), versus Bass being carbonated with only CO₂.

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, the correct way of preparing a Black and Tan is considered to be 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.

For those who do not know the history of the Black and Tans, one should never order a Black and Tan if vacationing in Ireland. The term "Black and Tan" can be very offensive in Ireland, since it refers to a British paramilitary formation used to quell growing unrest in Ireland in the early 1920's; the Black and Tans were accused of many arbitrary reprisals and atrocities against the Irish civilian population.

A Black-and-Tan Spoon

[edit] Variations

half and half: stout and lager (especially Harp Lager)
black and white: stout with any light colored beer.
black and blue: stout and blueberry Ale (such as Wachusett)
Black & Sam: Guinness stout and Sam Adam's Boston Lager
black and orange: stout and pumpkin Ale
black sap: stout and Sapporo
All Irish Black & Tan/Pint of Special: Guinness Stout and Smithwick's Irish Ale
Pint of Special: 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: A variation often found in Columbia, SC. Named after the school colors of the University of South Carolina, it features Killian's Irish Red and Guinness Stout.
Sweet Black and Tan: Sweetheart Stout and any light ale e.g. 70 or 80 shilling
Philadelphia Black & Tan: half Guinness Stout and half Yuengling Lager
black & gold: half Guinness Stout and half Westons or Woodchuck_cider cider