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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
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1Hold 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.
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2Pour 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.Advertisement
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3Fill 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
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1Grab a glass. A transparent pint glass ideal, but a clear beer flute works, too. Anything you can see through that's big enough, really.
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2Pour 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.
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3Hold 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.
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4Let surge and settle. Top off with a bit more Guinness if need be. Enjoy!
Community Q&A
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QuestionDoes the beer have to be cold, or can warm beer work just the same?
Community AnswerIt must be cold. Put it in the fridge the night before, or at least three hours before usage.
Warnings
- Do not drink and drive, even if your drink is layered and visually pleasant.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Not recommended for anyone under the legal drinking age.⧼thumbs_response⧽
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)
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tan
- Michael Jackson, Ultimate Beer, p. 184, (1998), ISBN 1-55144-197-7 – research source
About This Article
To pour a Guinness Bass Black and Tan, start by pouring a Pale Ale into a pint glass so that the glass is about half full. Don’t let the foam dissipate, because the bubbles will help separate the levels in your drink. Next, hold a spoon upside-down over the glass. Then, slowly but steadily pour Guinness over the back of the spoon so that it’s distributed evenly into the glass and doesn’t blend with the pale ale. Finally, allow the foam to settle, then enjoy! For tips on creating a Black and Tan without using a spoon, read on!
