Saranac Black and Tan

by Ashley Cotter-Cairns
(UNOB Towers)

Saranac Black and Tan: if it's your first B&T experience, it will make you keen to try out more

Saranac Black and Tan displays another of my many ignorances. I had never tried a Black and Tan before. For those of you like me, in the dark about this beer 'cocktail', B&T is a mix of stout and lager.

It resembles cola from a distance of up to 18 inches. Any closer and the smell of beer gives the game away.

The smell is mainly porter-like, with very little variation. This beer is very bitter. It explodes into your mouth with only a moment's fruity dark curranty enjoyment, interrupting without hesitation.

It's a shame that the bitterness kicks in so quickly and takes so long to fade away. Eventually, you are left with a thin thread of sweetness. Time your sips correctly and you will end up enjoying a rollercoaster ride of bitter and sweet, peaking and troughing like a manic-depressive on a coffee and beer binge.

Black and Tan is good, but not great. I'd love to try a "real" B&T, with Guinness and a decent lager. This one is an interesting introduction, though, and far from unlikeable.