Ale Flip

Hubby and I were lounging around celebrating the independence of our nation by watching patriotic movies. During one movie - Scarlet Coat, The (1955) - there was a scene where a robust gentleman poured beer, molasses into a flagon and then *gasp* mixed the concoction with a hot poker pulled from the fire.

WTF?

After a little poking around on the internet I discovered that this particular odd beverage is called an Ale Flip and that it was quite popular in colonial days. In fact, it was very likely that our founding fathers consumed a version of this beverage. The ale flip was the apple-tini of its day!

A flip is a classification of cocktails that is, in fact,  a mixture of beer, rum, and sugar, heated with a red-hot iron. The hot poker causes the beverage to flip - or froth - making the drink creamy and smooth.

Some versions of the flip include the addition of eggs to add texture and substitute molasses for the sugar. Sound familiar? Kind of like a classic winter beverage called egg nog?  They are actually very similar drinks. The difference between an egg nog and a flip is the omission of cream in a flip.

So, being in a patriotic mood and all, I decided to make a flip based on a recipe from Corin Hirsch's book Forgotten Drinks of Colonial New England.

I made it with Canterbury Aleworks Granite Ledge Stout. It is an interesting drink but unusual. It is velvety smooth, gently sweet but odd tasting.






Ale Flip

1 1/2 Ounces Rum
1 Tablespoon Molasses
1 Large Egg
8 Ounces Dark Beer (brown ale, porter, or stout)
Freshly Grated Nutmeg for Garnish

Pour the rum and molasses into one shaker pint glass. Crack the egg into another shaker pint glass and beat well with a fork.

Warm the beer in a small saucepan over low heat just until it begins to froth and steam; don’t let it come to a boil.

Pour the beer into the glass filled with rum, then pour the egg into the beer. Continue to pour the drink back and forth between the pint glasses until smooth and well-blended, then transfer to a mug or other clean and heat-safe drinking glass.

Grate fresh nutmeg over the flip and serve immediately.