Strong fruity essence not often associated with Black & Tans. For better or worse, bitter chocolate notes overwhelmed by grainy lager sharpness. Distracting over-carbonation and sour mocha finish are letdowns, but a burst of sweetness coats the aftertaste. As with many black and tans, it loses its natural essence since it's difficult to create in the bottle and easier to blend on tap when mixed at the time of serving.
In wide-mouth bottle, relaxing Black & Tan leans towards a dirty brown ale due to soft fizzy hopped nose, pleasantly bland chocolate sweetness, and lingered nuttiness. Easy to get bored with before fully consumed, as lager lightness obstructs mocha stout tendencies.
Tar-blackened mocha presence and stifled barley haste form basis of smoothly unassuming black and tan. Instead of being profoundly bitter or 'toot' sweet, its meandering grains get top billing. Closer to mainstream lager than well-crafted porter and thankfully, priced accordingly.
Dry-hopped black malt bitterness chafes dark-roast barley essence, but chalky mocha spunk damages tepid B & T. Problem may be it's too drab and superficial while lacking expected dried fruiting and black chocolate creaminess for its lofty class.
Gentle overriding carbonation consumes faintly mocha-scented deep brown body, degrading insignificant black & tan. No bittersweet malt thickness exists and plain toasted hop finish stumbles.
Pert roasted hop impression greets dry chocolate malt sweetness and receding cocoa hint. Though better than most bottled B&T's, oily finish disturbs deep mocha assertion.
Weird, abstruse, dim amber-hued b&t places unexpected dry orange sourness above roasted barley and spiced hops to sullen finish. Too light and vaguely defined for its class.
Brewed to honor Ireland's heritage, though lacking efficient strength of true Irish lager-stout. While caramel-scented cola-colored Black & Tan mix is quite curious, it would be wiser to concentrate on one style (perhaps the stout, since its chocolate-y notes overwhelm grain mesh). Up-front creamy mocha sweetness diminishes to soothing caramelized barley roast.