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Layered & Alcohol-Free

Non-Alcoholic Black & Tan

The classic layered pint, made alcohol-free: a NA pale ale or lager on the bottom, a NA stout floated on top. As much a bar trick as a drink.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pintNon-alcoholic pale ale or lager, cold
  • 1/2 pintNon-alcoholic stout, cold

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How to Make It

  1. Fill a pint glass halfway with the non-alcoholic pale ale or lager.
  2. Rest a bar spoon, curved side up, over the glass just above the beer.
  3. Slowly pour the non-alcoholic stout over the back of the spoon so it floats on top.
  4. Pour steadily and gently to keep the two layers distinct.

Why This Works

The black and tan is a demonstration of density: the nitro-style stout is lighter than the paler beer below it, so poured gently it floats in a clean line. Alcohol never had anything to do with it.

The technique is everything. Pour slowly over the back of a spoon and let the stout settle; rush it and the layers muddy into one.

Use a stout with a creamy, nitro-style head if you can. The texture is half the pleasure, and non-alcoholic stouts have gotten genuinely good at it.

The Alcohol-Free Swap

This one needs two beers: a clean non-alcoholic pale ale or lager for the base and a rich non-alcoholic stout to float. The bigger the contrast, the better the effect.

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