# Root Beer Floats **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [December 13, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563 "2004-12-13T07:19:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/1 "2004-12-13T07:19:16Z")
[ul][li]1 glass, any size but preferably at least 16oz. The glass is ideally frozen but this step can be skipped in emergency situations[/li][li]Vanilla Ice Cream. Blue Bunny is my current favorite, but any brand should do as long as it isn’t that insidious bean-flecked monstrosity produced by Breyer’s[/li][li]Root Beer. It absolutely, positvely must be A&W. If it’s going to be any other brand I’d rather just skip the time and effort and not have a float.[/li][li]1 long-stem spoon. NOT a straw.[/li][li]Love (this is my secret ingredient.)[/ul][/li]Pack as much vanilla ice cream into the cup as you can, smooshing it down along to way to insure maximum capacity is reached. Slowly dribble root beer over the ice cream. In 1 to 2 seconds your cup will start overflowing, no matter how slow you poor (your glass is packed full of ice cream, remember?) At this point you can scoop the foam off if you’re standing over the sink, or just slurp it off. Let’s slurp. Press down on the top of the ice cream with the bottom of your spoon until your spoon fills with root beer. Slightly turn your spoon and pick up a small sliver of ice cream as you raise it out. Repeat this process, topping off with root beer as space allows, until your glass is empty. Smile. Relax. Undo your belt if you used a particularly large glass. You’ve just enjoyed one of **Cisco** ’s Root Beer Floats. ---
**Author:** ![down\_by\_law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@down\_by\_law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/down_by_law)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/2 "2004-12-13T15:27:29Z")
i hate a&w root beer. i’m partial to the harder stuff, like barq’s. but the best float i’ve had was from a little drive in a couple blocks south of the indianapolis motor speedway, a place called the mug n’ bun. they make their own root beer, and it’s amazing. it’s not harsh at all, and it’s sort of creamy, i guess. i think they have the ideal temeperature figured out, and they chill it to like 5 degrees coolor than that to accomodate the carryover to your car. at least that’s what they say. who knows if that’s true, but it tastes great. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/3 "2004-12-13T15:32:58Z")
No need to be a root beer snob. Besides, nothing can top Saranac… ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/4 "2004-12-13T15:38:02Z")
You left out the vodka. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/5 "2004-12-13T15:40:35Z")
I’ll try it, **Cisco** , just as you outlined. … And I might even draw some pictures. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/6 "2004-12-13T15:40:46Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > No need to be a root beer snob. > > Besides, nothing can top Saranac… 😛 I would probably be just as happy with IBC but A&W is the only good stuff I can find in 2-liter form. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/7 "2004-12-13T15:41:56Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > I’ll try it, **Cisco** , just as you outlined. > > … > > And I might even draw some pictures. 😃 Oh please do! I seriously laughed out loud for a second when I read that. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/8 "2004-12-13T15:49:38Z")
No-no-no. Root Beer sinks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/9 "2004-12-13T15:50:16Z")
I’ve seen IBC in 2 liter form, but you’re right, sometimes it’s not easy to find. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/10 "2004-12-13T15:59:41Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Oh please do! I seriously laughed out loud for a second when I read that. Aight. Looks like I need another trip to the 7 Eleven for this one. I needs me some root beer. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/11 "2004-12-13T16:18:41Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Aight. Looks like I need another trip to the 7 Eleven for this one. I needs me some root beer. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/12 "2004-12-13T16:32:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Pack as much vanilla ice cream into the cup as you can, smooshing it down along to way to insure maximum capacity is reached. Slowly dribble root beer over the ice cream. No, no, no! _One_ scoop of ice cream. It’s a rootbeer float, as in the ice cream _floats_. Your recipe just has ice cream with some rootbeer topping. Not the same. > [@](#): > > Root Beer. It absolutely, positvely must be A&W. A&W is the best inexpensive brand. Barq’s has caffeine and so is a non-starter. For the absolute best rootbeer, IBC is the way to go. As for ice cream, it must be vanilla and cannot have carrageen in it. I usually pick one the higher quality local brands (the kind where they make it in-store). ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/13 "2004-12-13T17:42:01Z")
Enter the Heretic: Root Beer floats are great and all, but they are but a precursor to the treat of the future, the delicious: Mountain Dew Float. mmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/14 "2004-12-13T17:55:16Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Enter the Heretic: > > Root Beer floats are great and all, but they are but a precursor to the treat of the future, the delicious: Mountain Dew Float. mmmmm… ::gags and spasms:: Please tell me you’re not serious. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/15 "2004-12-13T20:34:28Z")
Sure, it’s right up there with the delightful early-summer treat (before it gets too muggy) I used to make. Use Blue Bell ice cream or something from the local dairy (In Dayton, Ohio, drive out to Young’s on US-68) and pour a can of orange Minute Maid or Fanta over it in a big glass: a _creamsicle_ float. I love a root beer float, but as an engineer, I work too hard to make them look perfect. A frosty mug is great, but that necessitates adding a small layer of root beer to the bottom so your ice cream doesn’t stick, or having two people making the floats (one with the bottle in their hand, open, ready to go). Scoop and pour like a rifle drill team, or the root beer floats and the ice cream sinks. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/16 "2004-12-13T20:46:48Z")
Best root beer I’ve ever had is bottled in Loudoun County, VA. It’s called [Old Dominion](http://www.popsoda.com/olddomrootbe.html). They make it with just a hint of honey. Maybe I also love it because I can get it in huge quantities at Costco for fairly cheap. Never made a float with it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/17 "2004-12-13T20:57:58Z")
Vanilla ice cream in your root beer is good and all but I’ve found that chocolate yields a better foam. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/18 "2004-12-13T21:01:15Z")
Stewart’s. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/19 "2004-12-13T21:11:53Z")
I prefer French Vanilla ice cream in my root beer float. A & W root beer complements that flavor very, very well. Oh - I mean Freedom Vanilla. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563/20 "2004-12-13T21:39:52Z")
For some reason, I have the urge to try a sarsaparilla float. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/279563.md?page=2)