Haven’t had one in a while. Remembered that I liked Harp and Guinness together. Brought home a “Mississippi Mud” for the BBQ. Interesting. Of course it is a blend rather than a floater but it tastes just ok.
Makes me want a real B&T though. How do you make yours?
black & tan is traditionally bass & guinness. the harp & guinness is a half & half. you can make them with any beer of a high enough gravity to allow the lower gravity guinness to float on top of it. having a proper spoon (with the indention to rest on the top the glass) helps, but you can just use an inverted soup spoon.
Kind of fond of the black velvet, Cider and Stout. First had it at the Vermont Pub And Brewery. I have also seen it called a snake bite but I always thought that was something else.
Just had a Mississippi Mud while brewing today. I enjoyed it, but gotta be honest, bought it mostly for that sweet jug!
This is an important distinction since the Black & Tans were a well-hated British occupying force sent to Ireland during the revolution. So, a Black & Tan could never be made by mixing two Irish beers.
I think Snakebite is lager + cider. Popular with the Brits, so I hear.
I like both…either Bass or Harp with Guinness. I haven’t tried MM yet.
…but I’ll have to keep it mind for the next time I go to the beer store.
Try a Yellow Jacket. Boulevard (or Blue Moon) and Guinness.
Had a few snakebites yesterday at the Friendly Spot here in San Antonio. Great place to hangout with friends and they have excellent beer selections.
My snakebite was guinness and a pear cider.
Another mixed beer you may want to try is a Summer Shandy.
Another English creation from what ive been told. Great spring and summer drink. Lager mixed with lemondae. I love it.
That’s my understanding too, Phil. I’ve also only seen snakebites served on ice (in a pint glass).
When I was a bartender we used to serve snakebites that were Yukon Jack and Roses Lime Juice.
sounds like they vary by location.
Ive had snake bites at least 5 different places locally and although the cider varies from place to place, its always served with guinness and never on ice.
I’m gonna wade in as the token Brit here, and give my cultural perspective…
Snakebite is cider mixed with lager. Anything goes as far as the ingredients are concerned, but many bars wont serve them. Frequently mixed with blackcurrant cordial to make a purple monster (which is wrong, and instantly identifies the drinker as a student).
Shandy is consumable at anytime of the year, and doesn’t tend to have the ‘summer’ tag. Quite pleasant is a shandy made with and ale and a ginger beer (not American ginger ale) in place of the lemonade.
And…over here a Black Velvet is Guiness and champagne.
I like a good shandy. Usually I’ll mix a cheap lager with limeade. Orange Fanta and lager is interesting.
So I went for the Half and Half tonight. Harp and Guinness Extra stout. To my disappointment the mix went awry and my splendid black and tan ended up black.
Where was this?
Ahh the reverse pour!
C’mon guys. Let’s see your half and half’s.
If you stand on your head when you drink it, maybe it’ll be more what you’re expecting
Euge…I wish I had some to show you. It’s been some time since I actually had a B & T, but I will be sure to take a pic and post when I do.
Does homebrew count? 
Absolutely!
For those of you talking about snakebites earlier, I saw this in my feed reader today:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/02/the-cider-press-classic-cider-cocktails.html
Ordered a Black and Tan in Ireland, once. The barman was benevolent and didn’t throw me out, but explained that that was the color of British uniforms in one of the many conflicts and to NEVER EVER say that again.