Pull up a barstool and lend an ear: have you heard of Yuengling Black & Tan? the brainchild of America’s oldest brewery, is in some ways an unrivaled beer. That is, if beers had yearbook superlatives, this one might win “Most Likely to Stand Out in a Crowd.”

But what makes Yuengling’s Black & Tan different?

What’s it made of?

Is it anything like that famous session beer, Guinness? 

And the eternal question: Is Yuengling Black & Tan Good?

We’ll answer all these questions and more below:

Yuengling Black & Tan: Part Porter, Part Premium

The term “Black & Tan” originally described a drink made by mixing dark stout and pale ale in British pubs. However, in the case of Yuengling’s Black & Tan, it’s a pre-mixed combination of Yuengling Premium and their Dark Brewed Porter.

On one hand, we have the brooding, dark porter—as rich, mysterious, and chocolatey as a moonlit night in Belgium.

And on the other, we have its counterpart: a sprightly, all-American Yuengling Premium lager, evoking the crisp, bright feeling of golden morning light—assuming that said light is shining through a golden pilsner expertly poured in a Yuengling glass.

Combine the two, and it’s like Sherlock Holmes decided to team up with Gatsby for an evening soiree, only to end up at a backyard BBQ where the only mystery to solve is who burnt the sausages again. (Hint: The answer is always Colonel Mustard, in the backyard, with the tongs.)

How Does Yuengling’s Black & Tan Compare with Its Namesake?

Ask a bartender about the signature Black & Tan pour, and they might wax lyrical about the art of letting one layer hover atop the other—a contrast that could captivate any beer connoisseur or Instagram user. When they traditionally make a “Black & Tan” by mixing two different beers, they pour the beers in a way that creates this layered effect with the darker beer (usually a stout or a porter) floating atop the lighter ale or lager.

However, Yuengling’s Black & Tan is pre-mixed by the brewery, so it unfortunately doesn’t display the separated layers that you’d see with a manually-poured Black & Tan. The Yuengling variant is a blend instead, creating a consistent color and flavor (save for the usual foamy beer head layer on top of the blend itself).

Who Needs Visible Layers When You Have Flavor?

Despite the lack of contrast between multiple beer shades and colors, this beer still takes the drinker on quite a ride. Beginning with the mild zesty traces from the pale ale, it gradually intensifies with rich, chocolate-like tones from the Porter. So while Yuengling Black & Tan may not play the traditional layer game of its namesake, it still knows how to make a statement.

How Strong is Yuengling’s Black & Tan?

Yuengling Black & Tan is more known for its flavor than its alcohol content: a barely-above-average 4.7% ABV. While not the highest Alcohol By Volume (ABV) beers by any means, it’s just the right level to accentuate the beer’s flavors—with toasted nuances and pronounced caramelized sugar notes.

Is Yuengling Black & Tan Like Guinness Beer?

While the dark porter component might have some similarities to a stout in terms of being a dark beer, it won’t be quite as rich or creamy as Guinness. The combination with the Premium Beer also lightens things up a bit.

Still, if you’re a fan of dark beers with depth and character, we definitely recommend giving Yuengling’s Black & Tan a try.

Last Call

Despite its lack of theatrical layers, Yuengling Black & Tan stands out for its expertly curated taste. This isn’t some slapdash mix thrown together in haste. It’s a carefully calibrated blend from a brewery that’s been in the game since 1829.

The blend of Porter’s depth with the Premium Beer’s smoothness, compounded by its 7% alcohol content, provides a unique flavor profile.

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