ST. PATRICK’S DAY
CELEBRATE LOCALLY
Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! { HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! }
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elebrating St.Patrick’s Day in the U.S. means drinking a Black and Tan or a light beer with green food coloring. Contrary to popular belief, however, Black and Tan as a mixture of two beers is not a drink commonly consumed in Ireland, nor is green beer. Indeed, the Black and Tan has image problems in parts of Ireland due to its association with past paramilitary dealings in Ireland. The group called the Black and Tans was largely composed of British World War I veterans employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as temporary constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland. Although it was established to target the Irish Republican Army, it became notorious through its numerous attacks on the Irish civilian population. The Black and Tan drink is believed to have originated in pubs in Britain with no association to the paramilitary group. It was just happenstance that the English drinkers were ordering a mix of dark stout and draught bitter. As the recipe was carried over the pond to the U.S., Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, commercialized their “Original Black & Tan” into one of the best-selling brands of beer in the U.S. since 1986. In March 2006, Ben and Jerry’s released an ice cream flavor called Black and Tan in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. The name, with its paramilitary connotations, offended many Irish nationalists. Ben and Jerry’s has since apologized and stopped the production of their Black and Tan ice cream. Even if you can’t get a scoop of black and tan ice cream, you can still make your own delicious concoction by pouring any dark beer over vanilla or coffee ice cream—a favorite treat!
MAKE THE PERFECT BLACK AND TAN Pour a light-colored lager or ale into a tall beer glass. Do not fill the glass more than half full. It helps to tip the glass to prevent foaming. Place a spoon over the glass, upside down. The spoon will help disperse the flow of the heavier dark beer, allowing for the layering of the two beers. Slowly, very slowly, pour the dark beer over the upside down spoon. You do not want to rush this part of the process, as the desired separation is best achieved with a slow pour and no foaming. A perfect Black and Tan will have the lighter lager or ale in one layer on the bottom and the dark stout in another layer on the top. If you find that your layers are a little mixed, allow the beer to sit for a minute or two. €
ST. PADDY’S DAY TREATS AT HARRIKA’S BREW HAUS
Dirty Turtle..................................... Terrapin Rye Ale and O’Hara’s Irish Stout Half and Half............................. O’Hara’s Irish Stout and O’Hara’s Irish Red Patriot................................................ O’Hara’s Stout and Sam Smith Organic Snapper........................................................ O’Hara Irish Red and Fullers ESB Black Velvet..................................................... O’Hara’s Stout and Champagne
HERE’S TO IRISH TOASTS! Here’s to you and yours. And to mine and ours. And if mine and ours ever come across you and yours, I hope you and yours will do as much for mine and ours as mine and ours have done for you and yours! May the Devil cut the toes off our foes, that we may know them by their limping. May your right hand always be stretched out in friendship and never in want. May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead. CarolinaSalt.com » March / April 2020 CAROLINA SALT 21
