"Shabadoo" Black & Tan Ale - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-Pours brown with crimson highlights. Head is tan and doughy. Head retains very well too. Light strings of lacing are left by the dense head. Body is also quite clear.

S-Nose is surprisingly smoky. The Pale Ale and Porter both come out in the nose as well. Lightly chalky with plenty of breadiness and darker tastiness. Virtually no hoppiness. Well fruited. Sweet all the way.

T-Pleasant. Starts off Porter then the Pale kicks in. Also there is a light, airy grassy hoppiness Lightly chalky and sweet with a hint of smoke. Toasted bread with more residual sweetness. Toffee and coffee. I think the Porter shows up a bit more in the aroma.

M-Medium bodied with a softer, buzzing carbonation. A bit syrupy. Drinks easily enough. Very light bitterness.

O/D-Decent. As far as a Black & Tan goes, this one is pretty legit. But its still nothing to fawn over. Just a mostly sweet brew with both Porter and Pale characteristics. Wouldn't buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 23:45:49 | More by VelvetExtract

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Nice ruby red-brown with a big, foamy, off-white head. Good lace and retention.

S: Malty, smoky, fruity, with a hint of hops.

T: Everything I expected from reading the description on the bottle. The best of their Pale Ale and Porter. Great hop presence up front with a slightly sweet, malty finish.

M: Highly delicious and drinkable.

O: My first of the style but I imagine it's at the top of the list. Well done beer that's fresh, fun and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 21:49:16 | More by Gatch

Duff27

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half inch very light tan head on a brown body. Clumpy lacing. Nice head retention.

Some roasty notes.

Get some chocolate in there, roastiness. Nice and drinkable. Perhaps a slight coffee twang from the porter portion.

Very carbonated, medium mouthfeel.

First forray into the black and tan reviewing and i think this is a good one. Very easy drinking with a good relative flavor. Thanks r94uconn!

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 00:36:08 | More by Duff27

quirkzoo

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle says brewed by "Chris and Gary" I am Chris and my dad is Gary so it caught his eye as we wandered the beer aisle.

Pours dark, dark brown with one finger of off white head.

The smell is interesting, lots of roasted malts up front with some citrus hops behind it. I took a couple more whifs and realized that the black and tan is the original black IPA. Very reminiscent of a toned down version of Stone's Sublimely Self Righteous.

The taste followed the nose with some roastiness up front and then a strong hop presence in the middle with a decent amount of bitterness.

Very easy drinking, went great with dinner. It had good flavor but wasn't overpowering.

Overall nice beer to pair with food but it won't really blow your mind on its own.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 22:55:45 | More by quirkzoo

BigCheese

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a bomber of Shabadoo for dessert after Easter feast.

A: Pours a slightly cloudy deep rootbeer brown, cardboard head leaves nice lacing and forms a decent creamy film.

S: Coffee, roasted malts, milk chocolate.

T: Toffee, coffee with cream, coco too, a touch of bitterness maybe a hint of lemon citrus hops, this ones very sweet and "english" tasting. Pretty straightforward but quite tasty.

M: Light but creamy, very soft, rich but light if that makes sense. Very good. Sessionable.

O: Great dessert beer, probably would go well with breakfast too. Not complex but very enjoyable. I will have to try more of berkshires porters/stouts.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 01:14:11 | More by BigCheese

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Sampled on April 7, 2012 at the annual Keene, NH Beerfest, a fundraiser for youth hockey. This had a lovely mahogany amber brown pour with ruby red highlights. the nose is entirely sweet with caramel malts and a little cocoa due to the Porter influence. The body was medium. The taste was bountiful with sweet caramel malts but the Porter half of this Black & Tan is not quite as evident in the flavor. Still, a decent, likable beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 01:16:29 | More by puboflyons

tylerprince

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

A: Hazy dark amber/coffee color with off white head, one finger. Weak lacing.

S: Smells pilsenery. Coppery fruitiness with some banana; cherry.

T: Belgian-like fruitiness gives way to a mild porter-like coffee finish. Some earthy spice at the end is nice, but unforunately mingles with a banana-like skunkiness. Too much emphasis on the lighter ale for me; BBC does a great job with their darker beers and I would have liked to have seen that aspect highlighted.

M: Crispy, foamy finish. No booziness. Extremely filling - for the price on my stomach, I would expect more flavor.

O: Böring. I'm gonna stop trying BBC's lighter offerings and stick to their porters and stouts.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 23:51:52 | More by tylerprince

Aiptasia

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reminiscent of a mild porter, I enjoyed this one courtesy of a BA beer trade. Malty with mild hops, some roast flavors, little head and no lacing. On the lighter side for a dark beer with a wet middle and no noticeable alcohol presence. Not hoppy. Solidly good, just not great. It is worth drinking. I'd definitely drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 15:49:06 | More by Aiptasia

armock

New York

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to somebody for sending this bottle my way in a BIF a long time ago.

A - Poured an amber color with an off white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of sweet and roasty malts

T - Like the nose theres some chocolate and coffee from the black and some caramel from the tan

M - This beer has a thin body with light carbonation to it

O - To me this beer was just ok it wasn't bad but nothing that really makes me want more I'm glad I had the chance to try it but not really worth hunting down to me

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 21:08:01 | More by armock

BranfordBound

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Mikro in Hamden about a month ago. From notes.

Pours a fairly dark brown color with an inch of tan head that leaves ok lacing.

Mild aromas which hint at the origins of this beer. Pronounced malt notes jump at first, second is the roasted malt with some molasses, then finishes with a touch of hops.

This beer really is a nice mix of stout and pale ale. Neither of the two over powers the other. The stout isn't overly charred, but lends some nice robust roasted notes as well as some molasses. The pale ale keeps things lights and gives a kick of hops at the end.

Medium mouthfeel, not too heavy as expected.

Really nice beer here from Berkshire. Gives black and tans a good name!

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2011 22:21:15 | More by BranfordBound

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22oz. Bomber Bottle purchased on my trip up to Mass. Label reads that this is a blend of Berkshire Ale and Drayman's Porter. I also brought home a growler of the Porter...very nice!

This beer has a wonderful appearance, with a voluminous head that indicates some darker malts are present. Deep, deep amber color, verging on brown, with some gorgeous ruby highlights. Nice amount of lacing on the tulip glass I am using.

Fairly fruity nose, with many opportunities to pick out aromas. I am getting vanilla, brandied cherries, melon...as you can see, it is quite sweet in the nose.

The taste echos the smell with some sweet flavors of caramel and chocolate. There is a little bitterness right in the middle, and the acridness of the roasted malts is subdued by the lighter ale cutting through. I think this is a great example of the style and I am really enjoying this beer! It finishes with a touch of wood-tinged maltiness.

The texture of this beer is quite smooth. Oily mouthfeel, with quite fine carbonation. The beer is full-bodied and has definitely retained some sugars.

Overall, we have a winner here! A fine Black and Tan that does a good job of showcasing the better qualities of each contributing beer. On top of being an excellent beer, we can all feel good about picking up this bottle for 10% of all gross sales of this beer will be donated to the Food Bank of Western Mass. Hunger is a true issue in our world, and I am proud to be drinking a beer from a company that recognizes our local issues with hunger.

Cheers Chris and Gary!

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 01:51:48 | More by MusicaleMike

abgba121

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a dark brown color, a little lighter than other porters thin head, but a lingering lace

S: smells sweet and chocolatey, almost no hop aroma

T: Sweet, chocolate and a tiny bit of hops, the 6.3 isn't even noticeable, very easy to go down

M: slightly thick, good carbonation

O: Good beer, I like the combo and it drinks very smooth.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 04:44:58 | More by abgba121

BeerMaverick

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 ounce bomber into a BBC true pint glass.

A - Pours 1.5" head that is khaki colored with wisps of lacing prevalent on the glass. A translucent dark brown brew with a slight amber tone. Love the name.

S - Coffee and licorice are the first wisps that come through followed by bourbon and dark chocolate. Not at all hop-forward, but smells like it will be a malty beer. Some smokey aromas as well.

T - The bourbon is less prevalent in this aspect, but the strong malt character ambushes. The smoky character is more noticeable here as well. Some dark chocolate and licorice in the aftertaste.

M - The slight bourbon and smokey elements remain on the tongue for awhile. Full-bodied, but not viscous...some Drayman's Porter character. Slight caramel notes as well.

O - Yet another great beer from the BBC line-up. Very happy that they are local and I can enjoy these great beers fresh. This is a blend of the Drayman's Porter and the Berkshire Ale...any combination of their solid beers is a winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 20:14:46 | More by BeerMaverick

angelogarcia3

New York

4.38/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An excellant beer with strong chocolate aroma that hits you even before you drink it. The color of the beer is a very dense blackness that seems like a black hole where no light will penetrate. Once you take a swallow you definitely know why black holes are dense. This very thick beer tastes like a very thick Belgian chocolate shake. Had this beer at The Scuffer Steak & Ale House, in Burlington, VT.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2011 23:38:03 | More by angelogarcia3

Sam21

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle. Purchased for $3.75. Poured into pint glass.

Appearance – Clear mahogany body with a tan head. Good retention and lacing. Really nice color.

Smell – All the best from their pale and porter. Fruity esters showing strawberries and orange. Contrasting aromas of caramel, chocolate, and dark roasted malts.

Tastes – Starts fruity with heavy notes of strawberries and orange jam. This sweetness is leveled out by an array of toasted, roasted and chocolate malt that cut through the sweetness just enough to create balance. Finish is sweet with dark roast coffee and chocolate that linger.

Mouthfeel – Shabadoo sports a medium body. Carbonation is moderate and tickles the tongue. Subtle creaminess.

Drinkability – This is a great member of the Berkshire lineup. They have created something unique and tasty out of two very solid beers. The fruity malts of the Traditional Pale Ale are highlighted and complimented nicely by the Draymans Porter’s dark roasty character. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 00:57:11 | More by Sam21

mdaschaf

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very dark brown with a foamy two finger head. Very chunky foam on top, left some nice thick lacing.

S: Lots of roasted malt, some coffee, chocolate, and a little bit of caramel.

T: The most obvious flavors are roasted/toasted malt, some coffee, and vanilla. There are some hints of chocolate and caramel.

M: Medium to full bodied with nice carbonation. Nice and smooth though.

O: Quite nice, lots of malt going on here, really no hops. Not a fast drinker, but an interesting departure from most of the normal beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 21:50:38 | More by mdaschaf

mnrider

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Brown Bomber--->Pint Glass

A: Pours a ruby red/deep brown. Large bubbly off white head. OK head retention with nice lacing all the way down.

S: Malty and very sweet. Hints of mocha are mixed in. A pleasant aroma for sure.

T/M: Malty with a creamy mostly smooth feel. The ale in it brings a hop bitterness while the porter in it brings that smooth malty goodness. The finish is sweet and surprisingly clean.

O: I'm very pleased with this brew. I've never had a black and tan that wasn't mixed from two taps. BBC makes only good beer, and I wouldn't mind drinking this one again.

Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 21:57:43 | More by mnrider

InebriatedJoker

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mob2332 for this extra -

Pored from bomber into my pint goblet - Best by date 07/12/11

A: Poured a translucent brown with two finger head that dissipated into a thick creamy lacing,good carbonation.

S: light hops with a hints of chocolate.

T: Light hops with decent maltiness , hints of chocolate and mocha, some sweetness and a tinge of caramel.

O: Overall this was a treat to drink my first Black and Tan , The label says it is a blend of their Berkshire Pale Ale and their Drayman's porter , I feel they pulled it off wonderfully -I could easily knock back several of these in a setting -well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 00:35:30 | More by InebriatedJoker

GallowsThief

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in trade from BennyL1 much thanks! Poured out of a 1 pint 6 oz. bottle.

A - Poured a deep ruby brown color. Big frothy 2 inch head colored a very light brown. Sticky lacing left behind.

S - Very nice mocha smell up front. Nice and chocolatey. Faint sweetness. Caramel.

T - Lighter taste then the smell but all the characteristics are there. Mocha, chocolate and caramel all come through with nice balance. Not overly sweet at all. Solid.

M - Nice and creamy mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

D - High. No real alcohol taste at all. I can drink this one all night.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2011 00:06:28 | More by GallowsThief

Thads324

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz.bomba!

A: deep brown, barely can see through with a vibrant white head. Amber orange edges of the glass

S: lots of buttery toffee. An almost caramel popcorn aroma with a back of sweetness. Just a slight hop nose at the tail end. Little of any roasted or nutty flavor of most of these styles

T : a hearty, bready beginning like a dry stout. On second it almost sips like an oatmeal stout. This flavor is hearty yet light and long. Followed by a tiny and quick hop bitterness and astringent finish. The faintest chocolate can be tasted at the dead middle.

M : the oatmeal feel in the beginning is lovely and carries well, but the finish is quick and tart.

D : a good mix of easy going and flavorful

Overall a good black and tan that stays unique

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 03:44:45 | More by Thads324

jrallen34

Illinois

2.55/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into my De Struise glass... Pours a dark brown in the middle, but the outer is a much lighter brown that detracts. A nice light tan head, looks great, good retention and lacing... The aroma is super sweet, tons of molasses, strangely like rootbeer, vanilla, chocolate, a hint of a wet dog finish. Not offensive, just too sweet, not my thing.... The taste is wet dog and alcohol with a hint of coffee on the finish. Lots of malt on this, work like qualities to the taste... The mouthfeel is really flat.

This is really bad, to the point of not being drinkable. Big time pass for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 23:43:51 | More by jrallen34

SeussMD

Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Flatbread in Canton, CT. (If you're ever in the neighborhood --- you know the rest.) But that was months ago, so I picked up a 22-oz. bomber at my friendly neighborhood package store.

Poured into: My cat's water bowl. What, beer is not for cats? I just wanted to share. OK, then a standard pint glass it is.

Appearance: Black and tan. The black is not very black, more of a deep brown. But the tan is tan. Head starts big and frothy, then recedes to 1/8th inch.

Smell: Maybe it's this particular bottle/batch, but not much of an aroma going on here. Some chocolate, a slight undercurrent of cherry.

Taste: a little flat, sad to say. Some malt and fruit (cherry, I think, maybe pear) up front, honey on the back end. I recall a more complex experience on tap.

Mouthfeel: Dry. Assertive level of carbonation.

Very drinkable. I could have a few pints of this and be a very happy man indeed. Because after a pint or so it's got a decent kick.

Overall? Good, as everything I've tried from BBC has been. But not off-the-charts good, like their Lost Sailor IPA. I think it's like this: Some beer is just better on tap. Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, for example, is phenomenal on tap, but surprisingly average out of the bottle. I think Shabadoo might be a better on-tap beer, too. So next time, I guess I'll just buy a keg instead.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 22:30:35 | More by SeussMD

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured a slow to emerge 1" head which dissipated to 1/4". In the glass in masstone it looks dark like a stout and it was only during the pour the tan contributor could be seen. Flavor also was stout all the way with chocolate and coffee. Granted the body was much lighter. In fact the beer this most reminded me of was the Dixie Blackened Voodoo I reviewed which had the look and taste along stout lines but a much lighter body.

Hey, I quite enjoyed this and could drink it all the time.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 13:36:31 | More by MoreThanWine

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The whole concept of black and tan in a bottle is a little strange, as you can give th varying layers effect, but this is a tasty beer nonetheless.

Pours a lighter fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades at a medium pace over clear ruby dark molasses brown color.

Nose of light and dark malts, some crystal, heavy crystal, a bit of roast, light crisp ale aromas at the same time, a bit of creamy malts, a bit of sweet sugar, caramel, and hint of toffee.

Taste starts more porter like, some nice creamy dark roasty malts, a bit of toffee, lots of caramel and bit of vanilla, a nice hearty robust ale flavor, which seems to get a little lighter as it goes, giving way to lighter crisp ale, with some bitterness and a bit of earthy herbal hops, a slight bit of minerality. Finishes a little sticky, lingering long bitter hop finish as well, dries a bit but still slightly sweet, more minerality and roasty malt flavors. A bit of chocolate malt very late.

Mouth is medium bodied with decent carbonation.

Drinkability is fair, with some stickyness on the finish, no real booze, a bit of sweetness, some light bitterness and herbal earthiness.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 23:10:38 | More by jlindros

drabmuh

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased up north. Poured into a tulip. Beer is brown and mostly clear but has a thin head of small off white bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation low.

The aroma overall is weak. It's mildly roasty mildly sweet.

Beer is pretty light in body and easy drinking. There is some mild bitterness at the back from the roasted grain but not from hops. The overall herbal and hop character is practically absent. This beer screams for some hop character but it's not there.Bo erall it's an OK beer from a fiction style. I wouldn't turn it down if offered again but I wouldn't bother buying it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 14:36:29 | More by drabmuh