Ingredients
- 0.5 Pint(s) Stout Beer
- 0.5 Pint(s) Ale Beer
Instructions
- Pour Blue Moon ale into a beer mug. filling it half way. Fill the other half with Guinness stout. pouring it over a spoon. and serve.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
This layered beer drink, like its more famous cousin the Black and Tan, is a product of pub culture rather than a classic cocktail bar. Its exact origin is hazy, likely emerging from bartenders or home brewers experimenting with combining different beer styles. It’s a casual drink, often enjoyed in relaxed settings without much fuss.
The Belgian Waffle belongs to the family of layered beer cocktails, often called ‘half and halfs.’ Its relatives include the Black and Tan, which uses a pale ale and stout, and the Snakebite, a mix of lager and cider. What sets the Belgian Waffle apart is its specific use of a citrusy Belgian-style witbier as the base, providing a distinct flavor profile.
You’d typically find or serve this drink in a casual pub, a sports bar, or at a backyard barbecue. It’s a straightforward pour that doesn’t require specialized cocktail tools, making it a great option for home entertaining where a simple, visually interesting drink is desired for a crowd.
What it tastes like
On the palate, the Belgian Waffle starts with the bright, zesty orange and subtle spice notes from the Blue Moon. As you drink, the creamy, roasty bitterness of the Guinness comes through, finishing with a dry, malty richness that balances the initial sweetness. It’s a journey from light and refreshing to dark and satisfying.
Given it’s a 50/50 mix of Blue Moon (around 5.4% ABV) and Guinness Draught (around 4.2% ABV), the Belgian Waffle clocks in at roughly 4.8% ABV. This means it’s about as strong as a standard light lager, significantly less potent than a typical spirit-based cocktail, making it a sessionable option.
The technique
Building a Belgian Waffle is about precision. Start by pouring the Blue Moon into your beer mug until it’s about halfway full. Then, carefully pour the Guinness stout over the back of a spoon, holding the spoon just above the beer’s surface. This gentle pour allows the stout to float on top of the ale, creating the distinct layered effect.
The key technique here is the slow, controlled pour over the spoon. Beer density is crucial for layering. Lighter beers, like the ale here, go on the bottom, and denser beers, like the stout, float on top. If you pour too fast or directly, the two beers will mix, resulting in a homogenous, muddy-looking drink that loses its visual appeal and distinct flavor progression.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Stout Beer
- Use
- Guinness Draught is the classic choice here, but any dry Irish stout like Murphy’s will work. Look for something with a creamy texture and roasty, not overly sweet, notes.
- Skip
- Avoid milk stouts or imperial stouts. Their inherent sweetness or significantly higher ABV will throw off the balance with the lighter ale and make it a different drink entirely.
- Why
- The stout provides the dark color, creamy head, and the bitter, roasted malt finish that contrasts beautifully with the ale, creating the top layer and the drink’s backbone.
Ale Beer
- Use
- Blue Moon Belgian White is the standard as specified. Other Belgian-style witbiers or wheat beers with prominent citrus and coriander notes are good substitutes for a similar profile.
- Skip
- Don’t reach for an IPA or a dark ale. Their hop bitterness or caramel sweetness will not harmonize with the stout as intended and will disrupt the flavor balance.
- Why
- This ale is the bright, citrusy base that gives the drink its lighter character and provides the necessary density difference for layering, creating the bottom layer.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Black and Tan
- The original layered beer cocktail
- This classic uses a pale ale like Bass Ale on the bottom, topped with a dry Irish stout such as Guinness. It offers a maltier, slightly more bitter profile than the Belgian Waffle.
Poor Man’s Black Velvet
- Guinness meets hard cider
- Instead of ale, this variation layers Guinness stout over a dry hard cider. It results in a lighter, crisper drink with a distinct apple tartness that cuts through the stout’s richness.
Chocolate Waffle
- A sweeter, dessert-like twist
- Substitute the dry Irish stout with a chocolate stout or a sweeter milk stout. This adds notes of cocoa and often a bit more sweetness, leaning into a dessert beer cocktail.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Any Belgian-style witbier or a light wheat beer with a hint of citrus will provide a similar base. Look for notes of orange peel and coriander.
Another dry Irish stout such as Murphy’s or Beamish will work for the top layer, aiming for a similar roasty, slightly bitter profile.
A standard pint glass or any tall, clear glass will suffice to showcase the distinct layers. The key is a clear vessel.
The back of a bar spoon, a knife blade, or even a small strainer can be used to break the pour and aid in layering, as long as it slows down the liquid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Belgian Waffle?
It’s a two-ingredient beer cocktail made with half Blue Moon ale and half Guinness stout, carefully layered in a mug.
Why is it called Belgian Waffle?
The name likely refers to the use of Blue Moon, which is a Belgian-style witbier, combined with the general ‘waffle’ theme that suggests a rich, layered experience or perhaps its visual resemblance to a layered dessert.
How do you layer the beers?
Pour the Blue Moon ale first, filling the mug halfway. Then, slowly pour the Guinness stout over the back of a spoon held just above the ale’s surface. This technique allows the stout to float.
Can I use other beers?
Yes, you can experiment, but for proper layering and a balanced flavor, stick to a lighter ale (lower density) for the bottom and a denser stout (higher density) for the top.
Is it a strong drink?
No, at around 4.8% ABV, it’s comparable to a standard light beer and much less potent than most spirit-based cocktails, making it a sessionable option.
What kind of glass should I use?
A beer mug or a tall pint glass is ideal to best showcase the distinct layers of the two beers, making for an attractive presentation.
What does a Belgian Waffle taste like?
It starts with bright citrus and spice from the ale, transitioning to the creamy, roasted malt and dry finish of the stout, offering a dynamic flavor progression.
Is it a true cocktail?
While it doesn’t contain spirits, it’s considered a beer cocktail because it combines two distinct beverages to create a new flavor profile and presentation that’s more than just a single beer.
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