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How to Pour a Black & Tan
Updated: How to Pour a Black and Tan – Take 2
My previous article told you all about What is a Black and Tan; now you get to see one poured for yourself.
Pouring a black and tan is easy. The basic steps are:
- Pour half of a bottle of Bass Pale Ale in pint glass
- Gently, fill the glass the rest of the way with Guinness by pouring the stout over the back of a spoon.
The real trick is to get the Guinness in as gently as possible and the spoon helps accomplish this by dispersing the liquid. Traditionally, you use the back of the spoon like the “black and tan spoon” shown below. However, I have found the best means to get the Guinness in there without disturbing anything is to have it trickle lightly down the inside of the glass. Using the front side of the spoon in contact with the glass seems to do the same, if not better.
About the author
I have many passions, beer is just one. Cheers! You can reach me at ron [at] hop-talk.com.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Ron on November 16, 2006 at 3:00 AM, and is filed under Beer, Resources. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
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Beer fetching robot
about 1 month ago - 1 comment
I need one of these! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Cq0sy4TBs&feature=player_embedded submit_url = ‘http://hop-talk.com/2010/07/08/beer-fetching-robot/’; Related Posts:Breckinridge Brewery commercialBrewtargetLooking for a job sucksBeer Beer BeerHow to make a stealth beer canPowered by Contextual Related Posts Share and Enjoy:
Beer Beer Beer
about 2 months ago - 1 comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxINWXNrPA submit_url = ‘http://hop-talk.com/2010/06/12/beer-beer-beer/’; Related Posts:Looking for a job sucksBreckinridge Brewery commercialBeer fetching robotHow to make a stealth beer canOpen a Master Lock padlock with a beer canPowered by Contextual Related Posts Share and Enjoy:
Breckinridge Brewery commercial
about 4 months ago - No comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amQLy9rhz94 submit_url = ‘http://hop-talk.com/2010/04/08/breckinridge-brewery-commercial/’; Related Posts:BrewtargetBeer fetching robotBeer survival: open a beer bottle with a ringLooking for a job sucksBeer Beer BeerPowered by Contextual Related Posts Share and Enjoy:
Proof that Guinness bubbles go the wrong way
about 5 months ago - No comments
Telegraph: Bubbles in Guinness ‘go down not up’ say scientists Guinness, in the best Irish tradition, does things differently. The bubbles in a freshly poured pint appear to be cascading down the side of the glass – yet the creamy top which is the drink’s trademark remains. Members of the Royal Society of Chemistry set
Black and Tan videos
about 5 months ago - 1 comment
Ever since Ron posted his video on making a Black & Tan back in ’06 (then the updated version in ’08) “how to pour a black & tan” has been the most popular search term leading visitors to Hop Talk. Additionally, the traffic here really ramps up this time of year, peaking on St. Patrick’s
Guinness cupcakes
about 6 months ago - 4 comments
We had company over this evening, so the wife pulled out all the stops, including baking some cupcakes made with Guinness. Delicious. They were moist and delicious. My wife, who doesn’t like stout, loved them. We found the recipe at Big City, Little Kitchen cupcakes (makes about 2 dozen) 1 cup Guinness Stout 1 stick,
Perfect Black & Tans
about 6 months ago - 12 comments
I’ve been experimenting with different black and tans lately. I am looking for the perfect “tan” to go with the creamy, sweet, and not very strong tasting, Guinness. I’ve heard all the arguments between Harp, Bass, and what is “authentic”, but what I am looking for is what tastes the best. I have tried some
Oneupsmanship
about 9 months ago - No comments
From Tiger Beer in Malaysia, by Saatchi & Saatchi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfZta3CBppU submit_url = ‘http://hop-talk.com/2009/11/10/oneupsmanship/’; Related Posts:How to make a stealth beer canOpen a Master Lock padlock with a beer canNorth Korea’s first beer commercial promises to relieve your stressThe difference between men and womenLooking for a job sucksPowered by Contextual Related Posts Share and Enjoy:
Open a Master Lock padlock with a beer can
about 10 months ago - 2 comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXRUd63ycTU submit_url = ‘http://hop-talk.com/2009/10/08/open-a-master-lock-padlock-with-a-beer-can/’; Related Posts:How to make a stealth beer canOneupsmanshipNorth Korea’s first beer commercial promises to relieve your stressThe difference between men and womenLooking for a job sucksPowered by Contextual Related Posts Share and Enjoy:
Guinness 250th Anniversary Stout
about 1 year ago - No comments
Beer-a-Day #220 To mark the 250 year anniversary of the signing of the lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery by Arthur Guinness, we introduce a special commemorative stout. This premium recipe provides a refreshing taste, which underlies the complex flavor of stout. I guess I’m a little behind the times on this. Better late than
about 3 years ago
Happy St.Patricks Day, Thank you for posting this.For years I would patronize my buddys Irish Pub fore he truly pours the best black & tan and now I am able to pour them eith the mastery and skills alike.Erin Go’ Brah
about 3 years ago
Thanks. I’m sure Ron enjoyed the heck out of making this video. He never did tell me how many takes he needed to get it right.
about 3 years ago
First take, but I told my wife it took 6 tries.
about 3 years ago
Went through a 6 back of both before I got it. After 6 tries, went to the internet, followed your video and taadaa, got it in one. Thanks
about 3 years ago
We’re glad you found it helpful. Although, experimenting like you did doesn’t sound too bad, either.
about 3 years ago
Glad you liked it. I get a heck of a beating on You Tube comments for not turning the spoon upside down. My mug was not the best vessel to show off the separation either.
about 2 years ago
I tried this twice, and was not able to get it right. I used the large bottle of Guinness, not the Can or the bottle with the nitro ball thing… Is there a difference?
about 2 years ago
I see you make the traditional Bass/Guinness black and tan. I’m wondering if anybody else has tried variations with American brews. I’ve tried a number of combinations. My current favorite pairs Magic Hat #9 with Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout.
about 2 years ago
I tried this varient where I enjoyed the dark half, but not the light half as much:
http://hop-talk.com/2006/12/06/upside-down-black-tan/
about 2 years ago
Try this. Instead of the bass use a blueberry ale. Its called a black and blue and its F’ing great!!!
about 2 years ago
Sounds interesting. I’ll have to try that out.
about 1 year ago
good tip but be aware that no self respecting irishman would drink bass with his guinness. in the future please use a delicious harp
about 1 year ago
I doubt any self-respecting Irishman would drink a Black and Tan at all.
about 1 year ago
Where do I find that song,it is fantastic. Love the demo will be pouring many tonight!! Happy St. Patricks Day
about 1 year ago
That’s “All For Me Grog” a traditional Irish drinking song. You can find it all over the place. One such place is a CD creatively titled “Irish Drinking Songs”.
Irish Drinking Songs
about 1 year ago
I was wondering about temperature…does it make a difference. I enjoy my beer cold, also would a frosted mug discourage a fine poor?
about 1 year ago
REQUIRED: Guinness can Draught and Bass in bottle, 2 pilsner glasses and one table spoon.
Pour one half of one Bass into each Pilsner glass, holding them at a 45 degree angle. You should pour with the intent of ending with a head of beer approximately an inch tall and evenly divided between glasses.
Place glasses flat and open Guinness draught can. Hold spoon at low angle near side of glass and immediately begin to pour Guinness over the back of the spoon into the first glass. Quickly share between the two glasses. Finish each glass by pouring Guinness “up” the spoon by forcing the beer towards the handle and raising the can to get the Guinness to foam.
I have had it explained that Guinness is charged with nitrogen and other beers are carbonated and that makes for the viscosity difference. Regardless, I have poured hundreds of these and I can get two, distinctively cut, Black and Tans or Half and Halves using this method.
Maybe I will figure out how to post the video. I am old though and not that cool… until I pour a great Black and Tan and then everybody loves me.