Black and Tan
Black and Tan is a drink made from a blend of pale ale, usually Bass Pale Ale, and a dark beer such as a stout or porter, most often Guinness. Sometimes a pale lager is used instead of ale; this is usually called a half and half. Contrary to popular belief, however, Black and Tan as a mixture of two beers is not a drink commonly consumed in Ireland. Indeed, the drink has image problems in parts of Ireland and elsewhere due to the association with the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force which was sent into Ireland in the early 1920s and nicknamed the Black and Tans.[1][2]
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[edit] History
The style is believed to have originated in pubs in Britain with drinkers ordering a mix of dark stout and draught bitter. The earliest recorded usage of the term in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1889, though an earlier origin of an 18th century blend of porter and pale ale has been conjectured.[citation needed] 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 most common type of Black and Tan in the United States uses Guinness Draught (not Extra Stout) and Bass, though variations using Harp Lager instead of Bass are referred to as Half and Half. Guinness and Newcastle is generally called a Black Castle. The "layering" of Guinness on top of the ale or lager is possible because the relative density of the Guinness is less than that of the ale or lager.
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.[citation needed] This version is also sometimes referred to as a "Pint Special" "Blacksmith" or a "Light and Bitter". During the summer months 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). In South Australia Cooper's Best Extra Stout and Cooper's Original Pale Ale are used.
[edit] 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 Lager topped with Guinness. Half and half implies that both beers come from the Guinness Brewery.
Stormy Pumpkin; Guiness poured over Shipyard Pumpkin Head Ale
Heaven & Hell; Dogfish Head Brewery World Wide Stout poured over 120 Minute IPA
Belgian Brunette: Guinness poured over Stella Artois
Black Castle: Guinness poured over Newcastle Brown Ale
Priest Collar: A priest collar is made in the same way as a black and tan except using a cider instead of a pale ale or pale lager. Another name for this combination is called a Snakebite in some parts of California, the midwest and southern Canada (elsewhere, Snakebite (shandy) includes blackcurrent).
Black and Blue: (aka "Dark Side of the Moon" or "Eclipse" ) Guinness layered over Blue Moon (beer) in place of pale ale or pale lager. For those who are in New Orleans, if you ask for a "Black and Blue" expect Guinness over Pabst Blue Ribbon not Blue Moon (beer).
Black and Brown: Guinness poured over Newcastle Brown Ale.
Black Velvet: A head of Guinness poured over cider ale, usually Strongbow Cider. Referred to as a Crown Float (or Crown Floater) in the Ottawa, Canada area.
Black Satin: Guinness Draught mixed with Guinness Black Lager. If Guinness Stout is used instead, this may be be somewhat insensitively refereed to as a Rwandan Genocide.
October Tan: Guinness poured atop Samuel Adams Octoberfest creating a well-bodied seasonal mix.
Black and Trash: Guinness poured on top of the American Budweiser lager.
Pennsylvania Tan: Yuengling and Guinness
Special: Smithwicks with a Guinness Head
Black Cherry: Sam Adams Cherry Wheat with Guinness
Black Raspberry: Guinness poured over Kawartha Lakes Brewery Raspberry Wheat
Black and Indy: Pabst Blue Ribbon with Guinness
Wilmington Delight: King Cobra and Pabst and a little Fortified Wine
Black and Gold: Murphy's Irish Stout poured over Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse, although Beamish or Guinness have been used
Black and White: Guinness poured over Great White
Black Czech: Guinness poured over Pilsner Urquell
Black Irish: Guinness poured over Estrella Damm (or Voll Damm)
Black Death: Guinness poured over Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Black Cow: Guinness poured over Spotted Cow (New Glarus Brewery, WI)
Dark Shark; Guinness poured over Dogfish Head
Outback Black; Guinness poured over Fosters
Black-e-tan; Guinness poured over Summit Extra Pale Ale (also referred to as The Black Lung)
D4 Special; Guinness poured over Heineken
Blaxican; Guinness poured over Modelo
Black and Tan Smooth; Guinness poured over Kilkenny
Banana Split; Young's Double Chocolate Stout poured over Well's Banana Beer
Golden Granny; Stella Artois poured over Woodchuck Granny Smith Cider
Brown and Bitter; Newcastle Brown Ale and Bass
911 Slow; Guinness poured over Warsteiner with a splash of sloe gin
Black Barrel; Guinness poured over Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
Black Magic; Guinness poured over Magic Hat #9
Scarecrow; Guinness poured over Fall Seasonal Hoptober By New Belgium
Black Belt; Guinness poured over Grain Belt Premium
Dark Side of the Moon; Guinness poured over Blue Moon
Ghetto Black And Tan; Guinness poured over Pabst Blue Ribbon
Black and Blueberry; Guinness poured over Wachusett Blueberry Ale
Sweet Black and Tan; Sweetheart stout over various Light ales. ( Mostly Scotland )
Black and Red: Guinness poured over Killians Irish Red
Black 8-Ball/Black 8; Guinness poured over Olde English 800 malt liquor. The hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks/Tha Liks make mention of this black and tan variation on some of their albums, to make a Black 8 40oz, drink the Olde English 40 oz down to the top of the label,and fill back up with Guinness.
Black Mick; Guinness poured over Mickey's Malt Liquor or Mickey's Ice Ale.
Black and Brogans; Murphy's Irish Stout poured over Żywiec (Poland)
Irish Heinie; Guinness poured over Heineken.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ In Search of Ireland's Heroes: Carmel McCaffrey
- ^ Black and Tan ice cream causes a chill in Ireland - The Telegraph, 21 April 2006
[edit] External links
- How to make an All-Irish Black and Tan from Google Video
- How to pour a perfect Black and Tan
