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A Toast to History: Colonial Hot Flip Drinks and the Blacksmith Art of Forging Loggerheads



When it comes to cozy, warming beverages, colonial America had its own ingenious creation: the hot flip. This rich, frothy drink was a staple of 18th-century taverns, enjoyed on chilly evenings or during gatherings around a roaring fire. The hot flip combined beer, rum, sugar, and eggs, heated and frothed to perfection with a red-hot iron tool known as a loggerhead. This drink wasn’t just a simple tavern treat; it embodied the ingenuity of early Americans, turning basic ingredients into a show-stopping beverage. Folklore even suggests that the drink’s origins lie with sailors and blacksmiths—both groups familiar with the tools of heat and metal—who devised this method to ward off the cold and bolster their spirits. 
 
The flip was more than a drink; it was a social centerpiece. The spectacle of the loggerhead—an iron rod heated in the fire—plunging into the mug created a dramatic hiss and sizzle, caramelizing the sugar and frothing the egg into a creamy foam. It wasn’t uncommon for a tavern keeper to put their own spin on the flip, blending in spices or changing the ratios, making it a drink with endless variations. Today, recreating the hot flip is like tasting history in a mug. 
 
On Saturday February 8th from 6 - 8pm, The British Blacksmith will be making hot flips at Meier’s Creek Brewery.

 
At the heart of the hot flip ritual is the loggerhead, a tool forged in a blacksmith’s forge. Typically made from wrought iron, a loggerhead features a long handle with a bulbous, rounded end designed to retain heat. The loggerhead is heated to over 1000 degrees and glowing red hot it is plunged in the drink and used to stir and froth the drink.
 
The interaction of the hot metal with the liquid creates a dramatic effect, caramelizing sugars and adding a distinct roasted and sweet flavor to the beverage.  The foam is warm with hints of caramel and marshmallow while the beer remains cold – what a fabulous sensation!
 
Forging a loggerhead requires skill and precision, and the loggerheads used during winterfest were forged by The British Blacksmith in his local forge. The iron is heated to more than 1200 degrees and using a hammer and anvil, the loggerhead is forged from a long length of iron bar. The shape of the bulb and handle are of a traditional colonial design and require precise forging to create the perfect tool.
 
So, the next time you sip on a hot flip, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of both the drink and the tool that made it possible. It’s a toast to the resourcefulness and artistry of colonial life!


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