Black and tan
Blend of pale ale and a dark beer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A black and tan is a beer cocktail made by layering a pale beer (usually pale ale) and a dark beer (usually stout). In Ireland, the drink is called a half and half.
| |
| Type | Mixed drink |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | |
| Standard drinkware | Pint glass |
| Served | Neat: undiluted and without ice |
History
The term likely originated in England, where consumers have blended different beers since at least the 17th century.[1][2] The tradition of blending beers can be traced to London during the 1700s where beer blends or "three-threads" and "five-threads" were consumed. Each thread was a beer type that was blended into a drink.[3] Three threads was a form of mixed beer alehouses sold to avoid paying a higher tax on beer. By taking a strong beer taxed at a higher rate and mixing it with a small beer taxed at a lower-rate, brewers were able to turn a higher profit. This practice continued from the late 1690s to 1700s.[4] The earliest recorded usage of the term black and tan in the drink context is from 1881, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, in the American magazine Puck.[5] The first recorded British use of the term to describe a drink is from 1889.[5]
In Ireland, the drink's name is liable to be misconstrued as a reference to the Black and Tans, a notorious paramilitary force sent to the country by the British during the Irish War of Independence (1919–21).[1] In March 2006, Ben and Jerry's caused controversy by releasing an ice cream flavour inspired by the drink for Saint Patrick's Day.[6][7] The company apologised and a spokesman told Reuters, "Any reference on our part to the British Army [sic] unit was absolutely unintentional and no ill will was ever intended."[8] The drink's name was again in the news in March 2012, when Nike, as part of an Irish-themed set of designs, released a pair of shoes advertised as the "Black and Tan".[9]
In Australia, one can order a "Tooheys Recent", which uses Tooheys Old and Tooheys New for the dark and pale beers, respectively.[citation needed]
Preparation
A black and tan is prepared by filling a glass halfway with pale ale, then adding stout to fill the glass completely.[2] An upside-down tablespoon may be placed over the glass to avoid splashing and mixing the layers.[2] 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.[1][better source needed] The "layering" of Guinness on top of the pale ale or lager is possible because of the lower relative density of the Guinness.[1][2]
Several American breweries currently make premixed black and tan, for example Yuengling makes a drink called Yuengling's Original Black and Tan.[1][10]