I love Black and Tans

This past St. Patrick's Day was a fun time. We had a little gathering on Saturday and had some green beer on hand. We did the Saturday get-together just because it wasn't a school night and we thought more folks would come. The actual St. Patrick's Day was on a Wednesday this year.

We had green beer and Yuengling on tap for the party and the green beer was taken advantage of. So, the Yuengling was left over for later drinking and I thought about making Black and Tans on St. Patrick's Day. I'm sure everyone knows that Black and Tans are Nitro Guinness on top. But what do you use on bottom?

There are many different ways to make a Black and Tan, but my favorite is the way I was introduced. In 2001, my brother lived in Savannah, GA and I went to visit him and his family with my mother. We all went out to dinner and had family time and afterwards my brother introduced me to my first Black and Tan. We went to a bar (which I can't remember)and Trae asks,"have you had a Black and Tan?",I say,"no" and the rest is history, right? But the Black and Tan I received was Bass Pale Ale on the Bottom and Guinness on top. That, in my opinion, is the way a Black and Tan should be made. Now, I know there is some tradition involved with the Black and Tan, but whose to say what is true? If you go to Kevin Berry's in Savannah, they will only pour you a Black and Tan with Harp(which is a Guinness product) on bottom and Guinness on top. That is the typical Irish Black and Tan, but I believe it depends on the person. I have actually read that the real Irish Black and Tan is Smithwick's nearly filled to the top of a pint glass and a splash of Nitro Guinness on top to get the cascading head.

Whatever the case may be, Amy and I tried to make a couple of Black and Tans on St. Patrick's Day. The bottom beer was Yuengling and we used Guinness Extra Stout as the top.
As you can tell, there was plenty of mixing and no layering at all. I think you must to use the Nitro Guinness to get the real effect. I have made some pretty good Black and Tans in my day, but I was always using the Nitro Widget Guinness. You will notice in the picture, there was a little turtle in the glass. He belongs to one of my friends and he is to help with the Black and Tan process. He did not in this case.

Later, being I am who I am, I tried a couple of different combos with the idea that if the colors wouldn't work, then how about the flavors?
I poured a half pint of Dogfish Head Chicory Stout and Newcastle to see what would happen. I have to say, that combo is awesome! The chocolate flavors of the Newcastle with the coffee flavors of the chicory were great! According to Wikipedia, the Black and Tan isn't really an Irish drink anyway. It says, the Black and Tan is believed to be a British drink used by any Dark ale and Pale ale. Maybe the Bass was right on and that makes me feel better because I like making mine with different beers. All sorts of beers.

Because I can.

I'm an American, not an American't!