Cocktailing at the Dandelion: Summer Beer Flip
A beer cocktail with a whole egg? Fear not, it's delicious.
After a cooped-up weekend – compliments of Hurricane Irene – I ventured down to Rittenhouse for some sunshine and to check out Stephen Starr’s Dandelion Pub, on 18th and Sansom. I’d heard good things about the London-inspired gastropub’s food, and even better things about their quirky cocktail menu.
At 2 PM on a Monday, the place wasn’t crowded. I grabbed a leather covered stool at the classic wood bar and studied the menu for something interesting to try. After a quick consultation with Joshua, the denim-clad bartender, I chose the Summer Beer Flip.
At 2 PM on a Monday, the place wasn’t crowded. I grabbed a leather covered stool at the classic wood bar and studied the menu for something interesting to try. After a quick consultation with Joshua, the denim-clad bartender, I chose the Summer Beer Flip.
A classic Flip (a drink that dates back to 1695), contains a spirit, a whole egg, sugar and spice. Dandelion’s version starts with Beefeater gin, a whole egg, apricot marmalade and chocolate bitters. The drink is transferred from shaker to shaker back repeatedly before being poured through a strainer to ensure smoothness. It’s topped off with pilsner, creating a thick white foam that sits on top of the whole concoction. As the finishing touch, freshly shaved cinnamon is lightly sprinkled on top.
The Summer Beer Flip could easily be mistaken for egg nog at first glance, but the taste is very different. The drink is sweet when it first hits the tongue, but with a noticeable bite from the gin. The pilsner doesn’t hide behind the other ingredients, making itself more present with each subsequent sip. (I wouldn’t recommend the drink for those who don’t like the taste of lager.) The fresh cinnamon packs an unexpected punch, mingling nicely other flavors.
Initially, the “whole egg” part of this drink gave me hesitation. Visions of body builders flashed through my head while Joshua cracked and added the white and yolk to the glass. However, my fear was unwarranted, as there was no eggy taste or sliminess whatsoever. The egg simply acts as a thickener for the cocktail; don’t let it deter you from a delicious drink.
I recommend Dandelion’s Summer Beer Flip for the adventurous tippler. You won’t find it at your average Philly corner bar, but isn’t that what makes a drink like this special? Pull up a stool, grab a plate of the smoked trout pâté, say hi to Joshua for me and enjoy the last few weeks of summer with a Flip.
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