# How do you make a Root Beer Float? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376 "2001-07-22T00:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/1 "2001-07-22T00:04:32Z")
…give it a life-preserver and push it into the pool \ Seriously…I’m craving a root-beer float, but every time I make one, it ends up as foam all over the place. I’ve tried the following combinations: Cold Root Beer…Cold Ice Cream Warm Root Beer (yuk)…Cold Ice Cream Cold Root Beer…Softened Ice Cream Warm Root Beer (yuk)…Softened Ice Cream I’ve tried adding the Root Beer first, and putting the ice cream into the soda, and I’ve tried the reverse. Every time, I get tons more foam than float. I’ve tried several brands of Root Beer (but I currently have A&W), and I’ve tried many kinds of vanilla ice cream (from cheapie store brand to expensive gourmet brands) I still get more foam than float. Any suggestions? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/2 "2001-07-22T00:46:50Z")
After 3M plus (give or take a mil or two), as a child, I can only recommend using a bigger bowl. ---
**Author:** ![fenrir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/43a26b/32.png) [@fenrir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fenrir)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/3 "2001-07-22T00:52:49Z")
Every recipe I found is a little diffrent.Ice cream first or root beer.I’d try the root beer than the ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/4 "2001-07-22T01:02:43Z")
Ice cream first, pour slowly while poking the bubbles with a straw. Or, just keep pouring until the liquid is at the desired level, then wipe off the glass. Do this method outside. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/5 "2001-07-22T01:03:09Z")
I pour the Root Beer over the ice cream slowly in about 3 batches and wait for the foam to subside somewhat between each pouring. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, you can just spoon off the4 excess foam. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/6 "2001-07-22T01:09:14Z")
Arden’s Mom’s Method Fill glass about 3/4 of the way full with room temperature pop. Allow bubbling to subside a bit. Slide the scoop of frozen hard ice cream down into the pop gently with a warm spoon (run hot water over it so the ice cream doesn’t stick). Enjoy. It always works for her. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/7 "2001-07-22T01:48:32Z")
Bend over the float and slurp slurp slurp as you slowly pour in the root beer. Swallow the foam as fast as it is created. The more noise made in the process, the better. I makes for a great for a cheap date – you frantically slurping on one side of the glass, and your honey frantically slurping on the oher side, both trying not to upset the glass, bump noses, or get in the way of the pouring root beer. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/8 "2001-07-22T02:08:34Z")
I worked in a grocery store in HS and this was the method when we were stealing the ingredients: 1. Take one of those big white plastic containers from the Deli, Fill it with 1 bottle of IBC root beer. 2. Take 1 Haggen Dasz Pint of French vanilla, PEEL the ice cream, leaving you with a vaguely conical shaped wedge of ice cream. 3. This will fit nicely into the almost exactly matching angle of the deli container 🙂 4. Add a second bottle as need while drinking and scraping the melting ice cream form the solid pint o’ creamy goodness. Now if you do it at home like I do (this is one of my favorite drinks and thankfully the kids dont care for it much so I get it all to myself), here is how I do it. A) take a large plastic cup like you get at target, or one of those Super Size McD cups. B) fill it 1/3 with root beer, I still like IBC, but I think Sprecher and Goose Island are better. C) Add ice cream slowly, slurping up the foam as noted before. D) I like my floats really creamy, almost like shakes, so adjust amounts as desired. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/9 "2001-07-22T02:18:12Z")
I’ve always used the pour ‘n’ slurp method, myself. Arden’s Mom’s Method sounds interesting. But you could try shaking the root beer to remove some or most of the CO[sub]2[/sub] before combining the soda and ice cream. If you think flat root beer is yucky, it’s usually close to completely flat anyway by the time you finish pouring and slurping the foam. ---
**Author:** ![BobbySuezQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@BobbySuezQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobbySuezQ)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/10 "2001-07-22T02:20:57Z")
fill your frosty right out of the freezer _glass_ A&W mug (the ONLY mug to drink a rootbeer float from) half way full with cold RootBeer (A&W naturally). When the head subsides, plop in a scoop of vanilla ice cream (no brand preference, right out of the freezer) Top off with more rootbeer. Best enjoyed with a Mama, Papa or Baby burger. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/11 "2001-07-22T02:46:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobbySuezQ \* > \*\*fill your frosty right out of the freezer _glass_ A&W mug (the ONLY mug to drink a rootbeer float from) half way full with cold RootBeer (A&W naturally). When the head subsides, plop in a scoop of vanilla ice cream (no brand preference, right out of the freezer) Top off with more rootbeer. > > Best enjoyed with a Mama, Papa or Baby burger. 😃 \*\* And Onion Rings. Can’t forget the Onion Rings!!! 🙂 Hmmmm…a cold glass mug…I haven’t tried that varient. And everyone else, thanks for the info! I’m familiar with the pour-n-slurp method, but I want less slurp-intense root beer float. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/12 "2001-07-22T02:53:41Z")
Give it a life jacket. BWahhh Ha Ha Ha HA [sub]snort[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/13 "2001-07-22T03:12:37Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m familiar with the pour-n-slurp method, but I want less slurp-intense root beer float. Experimenting along these lines while back in junior high, a few of us tried making root beer floats without slurping. We each poured ourselves half a glass of root beer, each spooned a mouthfull of ice cream, and each swigged our root beer. True enough, there was no slurping. Spewing, spraying, and snorting, yes, but slurping, no. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/14 "2001-07-22T03:13:51Z")
Oh great. My car was boxed in, so I had to walk to the store to get root beer and ice cream. And I’m not even all that partial to ice cream! Mmmmm. Tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/15 "2001-07-22T03:45:46Z")
Take a large glass and fill it with small spoonfuls of ice cream (so that there’s plenty of space for the root beer and ice cream to mingle). Pour root beer slowly into glass, insert straw and spoon. This will leave quite a bit of root beer still in the bottle. Take bottle with you. Sit down to play on computer or game. As you drink the float, top it up periodically, fending off any spouses or children or pets who might mistake the float for community property. It is NOT. Let them get their own damn floats. ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/16 "2001-07-22T04:13:41Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Fenris \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobbySuezQ \* > \*\* > > Hmmmm…a cold glass mug…I haven’t tried that varient. > > Fenris \*\* Fenris, buy yourself an authentic A&W rootbeer mug, keep it in the freezer, and when you pull it out to make your float, it will be covered with frost. Also, make sure the root beer is really cold, too. Hardcore root beer lovers seem divided into two camps: A&W and IBC fans. I prefer the former, but they seemed better when they once came in glass, not plastic, bottles. Also: use a premium vanilla ice cream–the kind with vanilla bean specks in it. Just realize you’re getting about 600+ calories in each drink. BTW, have you ever tried a cream soda float? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/17 "2001-07-22T04:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tsunamisurfer \* > \*\*BTW, have you ever tried a cream soda float? > \*\* No, but given that the only cream soda I really like is Dr. Brown’s and that it’s like $4.00 a bottle (exaggerating) here, I don’t want to mess with perfection. Alright, how 'bout Ice Cream Sodas (the real thing: chocolate syrup, carbonated water, ice cream). Any recipes? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/18 "2001-07-22T05:00:07Z")
Fenris, I thought you were trying to lose weight?!? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/19 "2001-07-22T07:15:38Z")
Mmmm, yeah. A&W cream soda (flavored with real vanilla) and vanilla ice cream. Yes, a frosted mug is essential. Once in a while, I like to make a cream soda float with chocolate ice cream. Different, but tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2001, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376/20 "2001-07-22T07:23:01Z")
The foam is a feature, not a bug! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-a-root-beer-float/73376.md?page=2)