Black and tan

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 because in Ireland the term "black and tan" is considered to be offensive.[1]

For other uses, see Black and tan (disambiguation).
For the Royal Irish Constabulary auxiliary force, see Black and Tans.

Black and tan
Cocktail
A blend of Guinness stout and Bass pale ale
TypeMixed drink
ServedNeat: undiluted and without ice
Standard drinkware
Pint glass
Commonly used ingredientsPale ale or lager and stout or porter

History

The term likely originated in England, where consumers have blended different beers since at least the 17th century.[2][3] 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.[4] 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 afforded brewers a profit. This practice continued from the late 1690s to 1700s.[5] 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.[6] The first recorded British use of the term to describe a drink is from 1889.[6]

However, the name "black and tan" is not used in Ireland as a term for a mixture of two beers. The drink is instead referred to as a half and half.[2] In Ireland, the term "black and tan" is associated with the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, nicknamed the "Black and Tans", which was sent into Ireland in the early 1920s during the Irish War of Independence and resulted in violent outbreaks between the forces and the Irish people.[2][7]

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.[7] The branding of the flavor offended Irish nationalists because of the paramilitary association.[7][8] Ben and Jerry's 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."[9]

In March 2012, the drink's name was in the news again when Nike, as part of an Irish themed set of designs, released a pair of shoes advertised as the "Black and Tan". This line of shoes generated offense in Ireland for its naming, similar to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream.[10]

In Australia, one can order a "Toohey’s Recent", which uses Toohey’s Old and Toohey’s New for the dark and pale beers, respectively.

Preparation

A black and tan is prepared by filling a glass halfway with pale ale, then adding stout to fill the glass completely.[3] An upside-down tablespoon may be placed over the glass to avoid splashing and mixing the layers.[3] 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.[2] The "layering" of Guinness on top of the pale ale or lager is possible because of the lower relative density of the Guinness.[2][3]

Several American breweries currently make premixed black and tan, for example Yuengling makes a drink called Yuengling's Original Black and Tan.[2][11]

See also

References
  1. "Please Don't Order a Black and Tan in Ireland".
  2. Oliver, Garrett (2011). The Oxford Companion to Beer. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-19-536713-3. OCLC 706025045.
  3. "How to Make a Half-and-Half for St. Patrick's Day". Yahoo!. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. Mosher, Randy (2017). Tasting Beer, 2nd Edition. An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink. Storey Publishing. p. 334. ISBN 9781612127774. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  5. Mathias, Peter (1959). The Brewing Industry in England, 1700-1830. Cambridge University Press. p. 111. three threads.
  6. "black and tan". Oxford English Dictionary. (subscription required)
  7. McKittrick, David (21 April 2006). "Ireland's War of Independence: The Chilling Story of the Black and Tans". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  8. Peterkin, Tom (21 April 2006). "Black and Tan Ice Cream Causes a Chill in Ireland". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  9. "Ben & Jerry's sorry for Irish "Black & Tan" upset". 21 April 2006. Archived from the original on 24 April 2006.
  10. Boyd, Brian (10 March 2012). "Nike Puts Its Foot in It with 'Black and Tan' Sneaker". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. Manzullo, Brian. "Is Yuengling beer finally coming to Michigan in 2021?". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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