How does a black and tan stay separate?

Skrimpy · 02-02-2008, 01:05 PM

Is it surface tension? Is it density? What is it that keeps them separate when they are poured. I ask because I made a traditional english pale ale and my buddy made a stout and they were very both very close in flavor and body to guinness and bass but I could not get them to stay separate in the pour. Anyone have any ideas about what I can do to the recipes to keep them separate in the pour? We are brewing using extracts.

**david_42** · 02-02-2008, 02:01 PM

Density, which is mainly the ABV. Shoot for a 1% difference and put the one with the higher ABV on top. If the ABV and FG are similar, chill the Pale and put it on the bottom.

Chello · 02-02-2008, 02:31 PM

is there a DIY way to make one or do you need one of the fancy black and tan spoons?

Funkenjaeger · 02-02-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chello

is there a DIY way to make one or do you need one of the fancy black and tan spoons?

If you search, there's been some threads on it. It is generally easiest to use a specialized spoon, however you can easily make the perfect tool from a cheap metal spoon in just a few minutes with a pair of pliers and a hammer.

Skrimpy · 02-02-2008, 03:20 PM

hammer and pliers? Hardly. just take an old spoon you don't use anymore, or that doesn't match your set and bend it to a 90 degree angle on the handle right at the head.

Skrimpy · 02-02-2008, 03:27 PM

Ok, so if the og-fg are similar on the two, chill the ale and pour the stout at room temp, and then with the next batch try to get the og of the stout at least 1% lower than the prior batch.

Skrimpy · 02-02-2008, 03:27 PM

that is "og minus fg"

cclloyd · 02-02-2008, 07:42 PM

As stated you need two beers with different specific gravities and it helps to have one of these:

This was fashioned from an old soup spoon many moons ago - long before I started brewing my own. It comes in mighty handy. :}

**FSR402** · 02-02-2008, 09:45 PM

If you can put the stout on nitro it works even better.

**Bearcat Brewmeister** · 02-03-2008, 02:55 AM

Has anybody ever tried this with dyed beer (like a green beer at St. Patrick's day)? I was wondering if the dye from one beer would bleed into the other even with a FG difference. I was thinking it would be a cool promotion for a bar during football season to use the team colors in a beer. For us Packer fans, an IPA with blue dye to make it green with a golden light lager floating on top would look cool.