# Ice Cream Floats - Coke vs. Root Beer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [July 6, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358 "2015-07-06T00:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/1 "2015-07-06T00:12:04Z")
Entering into the hot part of summer we all look for ways to stay cool. The ice cream float is an old fashioned treat that always pleases. The two typical sodas used are either Coke or root beer. On which side of this divide do you fall? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/2 "2015-07-06T00:13:15Z")
Root beer, and it isn’t close. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/3 "2015-07-06T00:39:06Z")
Root beer. Coke over ice cream is an abomination in my sight, thus sayeth **Elendil’s Heir**. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/4 "2015-07-06T01:01:52Z")
Isn’t cola over ice cream known as a Black Cow? :dubious: Seven-Up over ice cream is great. Three different beasts, all good IMHO! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/5 "2015-07-06T01:04:15Z")
There’s nothing more classic than a root beer float with vanilla ice cream, and few things in life more delicious. BUT you would be silly and foolish to restrict yourself to just that and never taste any other floats. And if the only other alternative you’ve tried is Coke over vanilla ice cream, I shall be sad on your behalf for all that you’re missing. Here’s a short list of things you really ought to try: a) Cherry Garcia or similar cherry-chocolate ice cream with black cherry soda b) Chocolate ice cream with ginger ale c) French vanilla or egg custard ice cream with 1/2 cream soda to 1/2 root beer d) Mint chocolate chip ice cream with Canada Dry raspberry ginger ale or equivalent e) Any of the various caramel-swirl / caramel-vanilla combo ice creams with cherry cola ALCOHOL-INCLUSIVE FLOATS f) Guinness Stout over vanilla ice cream, no kidding g) Revisit that Cherry Garcia item described in a, above, except toss in a shot of kirschwasser, mmm h) vanilla ice cream with eggnog from the carton, cream soda, rum, nutmeg ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/6 "2015-07-06T01:11:07Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > There’s nothing more classic than a root beer float with vanilla ice cream, and few things in life more delicious. BUT you would be silly and foolish to restrict yourself to just that and never taste any other floats. And if the only other alternative you’ve tried is Coke over vanilla ice cream, I shall be sad on your behalf for all that you’re missing. > > Here’s a short list of things you really ought to try: > a) Cherry Garcia or similar cherry-chocolate ice cream with black cherry soda > > b) Chocolate ice cream with ginger ale > > c) French vanilla or egg custard ice cream with 1/2 cream soda to 1/2 root beer > > d) Mint chocolate chip ice cream with Canada Dry raspberry ginger ale or equivalent > > e) Any of the various caramel-swirl / caramel-vanilla combo ice creams with cherry cola > ALCOHOL-INCLUSIVE FLOATS > f) Guinness Stout over vanilla ice cream, no kidding > > g) Revisit that Cherry Garcia item described in a, above, except toss in a shot of kirschwasser, mmm > > h) vanilla ice cream with eggnog from the carton, cream soda, rum, nutmeg ignorance fought. I’ll have to try some of these. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/7 "2015-07-06T01:11:32Z")
Cream soda over Ben & Jerry’s chocolate chip cookie dough. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/8 "2015-07-06T01:20:57Z")
I don’t always enjoy a float, but when I do I prefer root beer. I’ll happily chug a Coke float but root beer would be my first choice. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/9 "2015-07-06T01:21:27Z")
Coke except it isn’t Coke you despicable heathen; it’s RC. Unless it really has to be Coke in which case ------ pass me the root beer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/10 "2015-07-06T01:26:50Z")
There may be some interesting variations out there but vanilla ice cream and root beer are a magical combination. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/11 "2015-07-06T01:34:53Z")
Giant root beer snob, so it’s always safer to go with a Coke or 7-Up float, so that I’m not immediately disappointed/disgusted. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/12 "2015-07-06T01:38:39Z")
I picked “please elaborate”. Vanilla ice cream and cream soda is the taste sensation I haven’t indulged in in over 10 years. Doesn’t explain way I’m so fat. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/13 "2015-07-06T01:43:14Z")
When I worked at McD’s I loved making floats with their “Hi-C Orange Drink” and soft serve vanilla ice cream. Nice creamcicle flavor. I like that the Hi-C is carbonated. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/14 "2015-07-06T01:53:09Z")
I like a Grasshopper made with ice cream added. Cream soda makes a good float. But, root beer is my go to. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/15 "2015-07-06T02:20:33Z")
I don’t have floats often. But when I do, they’re made with A&W Root Beer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/16 "2015-07-06T02:23:00Z")
I prefer root beer with vanilla ice cream and coke with chocolate ice cream. But I wouldn’t refuse other combinations. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/17 "2015-07-06T03:19:14Z")
coke floats are what I’ve always had. Sonic would whip it together and call it a coke Frostie. I think I’ve had a root beer float maybe one time? I voted coke because that’s what I’m familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/18 "2015-07-06T04:15:01Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > When I worked at McD’s I loved making floats with their “Hi-C Orange Drink” and soft serve vanilla ice cream. Nice creamcicle flavor. I like that the Hi-C is carbonated. Wait! You worked at a McD’s where the orange Hi-C was carbonated? None of them around here have carbonated Hi-C. I voted Root beer. Another combo I like is Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and Birch beer. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/19 "2015-07-06T04:26:27Z")
I like a nice float with vanilla ice cream and ginger ale, because that’s how my grandfather always fixed 'em for me. Haven’t had one of those in years, and may have to remedy that soon! (Come to think of it, ginger ale with lemon or orange or pineapple sherbet would also be excellent.) Lime sherbet with Sprite or 7-Up is also good. If I’m getting alcoholic with it, good vanilla ice cream and a good chocolate and/or coffee and/or orange liqueur is also lovely. I’m a calorie snob, and won’t bother with substandard ice cream or booze - if it’s gonna land on my hips and thighs, it might as well be the good stuff. I’m a weirdo who can’t stand root beer, so I feel like I’m missing something when others extol the virtues of a root beer float. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358/20 "2015-07-06T05:33:14Z")
Lime spider thank you. or Raspberry. ie, lime or raspberry flavoured soda (soft drink) over vanilla ice cream. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream-floats-coke-vs-root-beer/724358.md?page=2)