Received: Bass Brolly (package)

By Jon Abernathy | Filed in Marketing/PR

Just what is a "Brolly", you ask? Well, yesterday I received an unexpected package containing one (and more).

Bass Black and Tan package

As you can see, it’s a package from Bass, which here in the U.S. is distributed by Anheuser-Busch. It’s a handsome wooden box, hinged, and by it’s weight I knew there was something cool inside. This is like an early Christmas present even though the accompanying letter says, "Back by popular demand for St. Patrick’s Day 2009".

Bass Brolly package, opened

This is the box opened up. Wow!

It contains one of the coolest glasses I’ve seen: it’s hard to tell, but the base is a triangle.

Bass Brolly set, with triangular-based glass

Apparently, the "Brolly" is the triangular metal thing you see there; it’s used to create the perfect Black and Tan (which, naturally enough, you’d use Bass Ale for. At least, in this iteration). According to the directions, you fill the glass two-thirds full of Bass, place the Brolly over the rim, and pour your stout of choice slowly onto the Brolly. It has small holes which let the stout dribble gently into a layer over the top of the Bass.

Bass Brolly set

Bass Brolly almost in action

Having never made a Black and Tan myself before, I have no idea how well this will work. But, I’ll be trying it soon, and I’ll document and write about the process. I’m undecided if I’ll try to take video of the Brolly in action or just pictures.

Either way, this might be the neatest marketing package I’ve received this year.

5 comments

  1. how have you never made a black and tan and yet you run a beer site? it’s a basic part of growing up! it will work fine. but please use a good american stout when you make it. nothing against guinness, which is the official beer for a black and tan, but it’s too sweet. try a three floyd’s darklord. it’ll blow your mind.

  2. Never made a black and tan? I’m with Jeff, this is unacceptable. Although Jeff does lose me when he says Guinness is too sweet and to replace it with an imperial stout.

    I would love one of these Brollies. They are surprisingly expensive to buy in the stores, and I usually bend the hell out of a soup spoon as an alternative.

    By the way, I prefer Murphy’s for my Black and Tan.

  3. Yes, it is a shameful lack of experience on my part, not having made a Black and Tan of my own. I *have* enjoyed a B&T in the past–Kelly’s Olympian in Portland comes to mind, where it was made with Pyramid Apricot Ale and Guinness Stout.

    (At least, if I have tried making a B&T in the past, I’ve forgotten about it.)

    Jert- you want to send me a Three Floyd’s Dark Lord to experiment with? 😉

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