After a year of drinking research, the League of Liberal Libations finally is ready to come clean: The true Irish often frown upon the Black and Tan that the League loves so much. Historically, the drink’s components are Guinness and Bass ale, the latter an English brew. And the drink’s name is sometimes attributed to former British soldiers, notorious for their brutality, who were sent as backup to the Irish police force, also a British unit. The League’s Irish representation was appalled at this gap in his knowledge. His only defense was that he had a more of a Irish whiskey upbringing.



Paddy Coyne’s to the rescue.



The League were steeping ourselves in Irish history, Celtic mythology and lots of true Black and Tans at the gorgeous downtown Tacoma Irish Pub Paddy Coyne’s recently — They pour the Guinness over Irish red ale Smithwick’s.  Nice.



The only thing missing is the smoke you find in true Irish and English pubs, which requires radar vectors in order to navigate the gloom to the bar. The menu complements the vibe. If you didn’t know better, you’d swear that chicken quesadilla is a traditional Irish dish.



[Paddy Coyne’s, 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963]