Pour a Guinness Bass Black and Tan

There's something magical about the dark Guinness stout floating atop the lighter colored ale. These simple directions will help you recreate that magic for yourself and your friends. Enjoy!

Steps

Spoonless

  1. Hold your pint glass at an angle. Slowly fill just over halfway with Bass Ale. It'll look 2/3 full including the head.
    • Don't be afraid to get a nice, thick head on the beer. It'll help you separate your levels.
  2. Pour the Guinness on delicately. Slow the flow control of the Guinness down to a trickle. If you're using a can, make sure you're not pouring too slowly or it'll seep down the sides.
  3. Fill to the top, letting the Guinness hit the side of the glass. Once the head settles a bit, add a bit more.

With a Spoon

  1. Grab a glass. A transparent pint glass ideal, but a clear beer flute works, too. Anything you can see through that's big enough, really.
  2. Pour the Pale Ale at an angle into the glass. Pour until it's roughly 2/3 full with a thick head. When the head settles, it'll be close to 1/2 full.
  3. Hold a spoon upside-down over the glass. Pour the Guinness over the center of the upside-down spoon to dispense the flow. Pour slowly but confidently -- it needs to be a constant flow or else it'll end up flowing along the bottle or can and not over the spoon.
  4. Let surge and settle. Top off with a bit more Guinness if need be. Enjoy!



Tips

  • Consider using a two-stage pour. A two-stage pour allows for the creation of a denser and more creamy head that is more solid. This suits the coffee-like flavor of the stout.
  • You can substitute Bass Ale with Smithwick's, Harp Lager, cider, etc.
  • If you have never tasted Guinness, wait and go to Ireland because it tastes better there than anywhere in world. 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.
  • Pour in one slow, continuous motion with the glass tilted 45 degrees.
  • Stout should be poured slowly in order to allow its head to develop during the pouring. A head that grows too quickly can be prevented by stopping the pouring for a moment when you become aware of this happening.

Warnings

  • Do not drink and drive, even if your drink is layered and visually pleasant.
  • Not recommended for anyone under the legal drinking age.

Things You'll Need

  • Can or bottle of Guinness Draught (or poured from a tap)
  • Can or bottle of Bass Ale (or on tap)
  • Tablespoon or special "Black and Tan" spoon
  • Tulip-shaped pint glass (or other clear glass)

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Sources and Citations

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