[Trev]

Originally Posted by Stacey_JoinRightNow

Black and Tan is a cocktail made from equal parts English bitter and Irish stout, with the stout most commonly being Guinness.

The name is an allusion to the Black and Tans, soldiers sent to Ireland by the British government in the early 1920s to suppress Sinn Féin revolutionaries agitating for Irish independence.

The most common Black and Tan in the United States uses Guinness Stout and Bass Ale. The Guinness (or other stout) is "layered" on top of the Bass (or other lighter-colored beer), taking advantage of their differing densities. This is accomplished by first halfway filling the glass with Bass, then adding Guinness. The Guinness is best poured slowly over an upside-down tablespoon placed over the glass; this disperses the stout beer and helps to create the desired layering effect in the finished drink.

Combining Guinness and Harp lager (instead of Bass) results in a "Half and half." A "black and white" is a stout with any lager or ale.

A similar beverage using champagne as one of the mixers is the black velvet, which consists of half champagne and half Guinness. A "poor man's black velvet" subsitutes hard apple cider for the champagne. This variation is also called a "snakebite" by some.

Despite the use of what is arguably Ireland's national beer, the drink is relatively unknown in Ireland and an attempt to order it in a pub there would likely result in either teasing for adulterating the Guinness, or hostility due to the historical relevance of the name.

Firstly Bass beers aren't available in Ireland anymore so Harp/Smithwicks is used:

http://www.ivo.se/guinness/bnt.html

Q: A:
What is a Black & Tan?
What is a Half-and-Half?
The answer depends on who you ask. The all-Guinness Black & Tan is Harp's Lager and Guinness. (Harp's is brewed by Guinness at Dundalk). Many consider the classic Black & Tan to be Bass Pale Ale and Guinness. (To some Irish, they appreciate the fact that the Irish comes out on top!) However, Bass Ale is not as available in Ireland as it used to be, and either Harp or Smithwicks is generally used. However, there are many variations involving a stout or porter and another lighter coloured beer, either lager or ale.

A half-and-half is often just another name for a Black & Tan. However, in many North American Irish pubs, the Bass/Guinness combination is called a Black & Tan, while the Harp/Guinness combination is called a Half-and-Half.

Secondly, a snakebite is larger and cider. NOT beer and cider!