Ben & Jerry’s apologizes for ‘Black & Tan’ ice cream
This post was published 3 years 10 months 29 days ago which may make its actuality or expire date not be valid anymore. This site is not responsible for any misunderstanding.Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is one of the best ice cream choices you can make when thinking of off-the-wall flavors and concoctions. Every once in awhile they stumble on to something and offer a public something worth debating:
Ice cream makers Ben & Jerry’s have apologized for causing offence by calling a new flavor “Black & Tan” — the nickname of a notoriously violent British militia that operated during Ireland’s war of independence.
The ice cream, available only in the United States, is based on an ale and stout drink of the same name.
The latest flavor, “Black & Tan”, raises criticism from Irish historians for naming a flavor of ice cream with the same title as a violent British Militia. Is this really something to get a brain freeze over?
I imaging it would be the same for americans if it was named “Ruby Ridge”. The right move by B&J’s to pull it. Ice cream shouldn’t be controversial. I, personally, would have been happy with just a name change, though the whole situation isn’t keeping me up at night.
why aren’t they pissed at the beer company for making the black & tan ale?……
Because it wasn’t specifically created by a beer co. It was some adventurous bartender or beer drinker that “created” it, it’s not premade that way. Think of it as the black Russian of beers, only made with an ale and a stout as opposed to vodka and kaluah.
I guarantee that it was AMERICAN “Irish” Historians that were giving out about this. I’m Irish and everyone I know including the faculty of the History Department of the local university (University College Cork) all had a laugh when we say this at first and are eager to try the new flavour.
As a student in Dublin, 30 years ago, you cold get a “black and tan” in any pub. Guinness plus Smithwicks Ale. I doubt it has changed. I bet the Ice Cream would do well in Ireland too.
ahhh ok I misunderstood… I thought black and tan was the actual name of a beer company or product they produced…. this is still a bit silly in my eyes…. I mean if it was named irish car bomb or something I could understand… and if they meant it to be named after the militia I’m assuming they would make it taste that way…. and no one wants to taste sweaty angry dangerous man…..
My Grandma told me that they used to bang the buts of their guns on doors and I remember seeing the dents on my grandmothers door from the B+T’s. Alledgedly most British soldiers were fighting in Europe so the militia was made up o UK convicts. All said and done all my family are Irish, have experieneced teh B+T’s and personally I love Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream and dont take offence at the name… I see it for what it is… a descriptive colour with some reference to the drink…. I concur with the American “Irish” reference… the Real Irish, dont give a monkey’s…. or should that be Chunky monkeys :)
Perhaps the American Irish are more sensitive to this situation but with, I think, good reason. Many of the Irish who had to leave their homeland in order to survive have a living memory of those days, along with the memory and longing for their homeland.
When many of them came to this country they were greated with signs of ‘no Irish need apply’ when they looked for employment. This, I think, made their Irishness even more precious to them.
I can understand where a person walks into an Irish pub and orders a ‘black and tan’ that it has one meaning which is relevant and specific to that circumstance. However, naming an ice cream ‘black and tan’ is another situation altogether, because it does not have the same frame of reference as the drink ordered in a pub.
I hope that this gives you a better understand of why many are so offended.