Black & Tan
Black and Tan is traditionally a mix of half a pint of stout or porter, with half a pint of pale ale. Unlike the American equivalents, which typically require pouring the stout (usually Guinness) over the back of spoon into the half of pale ale allowing for a pretty layered drink, a UK Black & Tan is simply mixed together. After all, what’s the point in putting the half pints in the same glass yet keep them apart? Mix them up to get the benefit of the taste!
And that’s exactly what customers of the Fox and Hounds in Houston – what sounds like a lovely wee pub with the added benefit of having the Houston Brewery being placed in the cellar – did. They mixed Warlock Stout and Killellan Bitter together to create a single brewery Black & Tan so good the brewery released it pre-mixed available on draft.
We travelled to Biggar, about 30 miles southwest of Edinburgh, and visited The Crown Inn for some food and a drink. Black & Tan was on tap and soon in my glass – the Warlock Stout providing the lion’s share of colour for the drink, and the initial rich taste, but the citrus zest flavour in the finish was characteristic of the Killellan Bitter. A very interesting pint – my first B & T – and one which I would enjoy having again. Or, perhaps when I am more brave, to create my own version…?
Posted: January 25th, 2009 under Beer, Houston.
Tags: cask