# Root-Beer Floats **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [May 27, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443 "2013-05-27T02:40:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/21 "2013-05-27T18:28:01Z")
I miss the A&W drive-in. It was like a major transition in life, like graduating college when I was allowed to move from the baby burger to the teen burger. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/22 "2013-05-27T18:44:10Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Why is it root beer and vanilla ice-cream? Why not Coke and chocolate, etc.? Have you never had any other kind of float? I worked in an ice cream shop and people would order all sorts of different combinations. Coke floats and Dr Pepper floats were–along with root beer–the most common, usually with vanilla but some folks would order other ice cream flavors. Sprite with lime sherbet is good. Cream Soda goes well with just about any kind of ice cream. Big Red cream soda is popular here. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/23 "2013-05-27T19:05:46Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > If you don’t have root beer, cola is a perfectly acceptable substitute. > > Never tried chocolate ice cream. Sounds interesting. Might be a little too sweet with root beer, but it would probably go well with Coke. Cookie dough ice cream doesn’t work very well I found out. The ice creams melts and the dough dissolves into a thick sludge with semi dissolved chocolate chips that is uneatably sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/24 "2013-05-27T19:15:59Z")
I like mine with chocolate. Stewart’s root beer is the best. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/25 "2013-05-27T20:26:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And diet pop, of any variety, is truly vile. I’ll take you’uns’ word that diet root beer is even worse than others, because I’m not going to try any of that stuff again to confirm it. Wow…that was a rare Double Yinzer paragraph! Good job! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/26 "2013-05-27T21:40:40Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Have you never had any other kind of float? I worked in an ice cream shop and people would order all sorts of different combinations. Coke floats and Dr Pepper floats were–along with root beer–the most common, usually with vanilla but some folks would order other ice cream flavors. Sprite with lime sherbet is good. Cream Soda goes well with just about any kind of ice cream. Big Red cream soda is popular here. Yeah, Coke and vanilla is pretty common, in my experience. I remember visiting my mother’s village in Poland in 1989 when I was 14 and, at first, grossing out the local kids by ordering a coke and ice cream and mixing them together, but by the time I left, they were all addicted to it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/27 "2013-05-27T21:42:08Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Sprite with lime sherbet is good. I used to get Sprite with grape ice cream at one ice cream parlor. Tasted pretty good! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/28 "2013-05-27T21:49:31Z")
Actually, [here’s a Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream_soda) detailing the various standard ice cream sodas. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/29 "2013-05-27T23:10:04Z")
Here’s my variation on the root beer float: Just make it with [Manhattan Special](http://www.manhattanspecial.com/products_pure_espresso.html) instead of root beer. Amazingly wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/30 "2013-05-27T23:39:58Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Wow…that was a rare Double Yinzer paragraph! Good job! Hmmm. . .the “pop” is a given, but I think we’ll need the judges to rule on the “you’uns” vs “yinz” spelling. (looking off-screen at judges)Yeah, the judges are squinting at him kinda funny, but say they’ll allow it. This time. What? I ain’t being nebby. We gotta have rules n’at up in here or next thing you know, Browns fans’ll be sneakin’ in. I ain’t tryin’ to be no jagoff about it. Oh, and another vote for A&W. How is this even a question, unless you’re talking homemade or regional micro-brews? [Quark muses on root beer.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWIVEuK5ATw) ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/31 "2013-05-28T01:17:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, [here’s a Wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream_soda) detailing the various standard ice cream sodas. They didn’t mention my favorite ([Green River](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_%28soft_drink%29) and vanilla), probably because Green River is almost extinct now. At least hereabouts. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/32 "2013-05-28T03:22:59Z")
I hate any diet drink – except water – but diet root beer is an abomination to god! I have tried Coke floats in the past but may have to experiment with Sprite floats and others. Never tried a Dr. Pepper float, and for the first time I’ve seen Dr. Pepper for sale here. It was a few months ago in an upscale Western supermarket. They were charging a lot, something like a buck or two for a can, so I passed, but I may have to go back and see if they still have some. I know vanilla is the traditional ice cream for root-beer floats, but the wife insists on some variant of chocolate. Always. And the combination does taste good. One reason we probably don’t go the A&W shop in Siam Square – the most convenient location for us – more often is probably because they offer only vanilla. Is Dad’s root beer still around? I have fond memories from childhood of these big moonshine-looking glass jugs of Dad’s root beer. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/33 "2013-05-28T03:44:08Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > No, A&W in Thailand is I believe a franchise operation not connected to Coca-Cola Co. Their local website is [here](http://www.awthai.com/newweb/index.php). Oh ok, because I saw A&W root beer that was manufactured by Coca-Cola. That’s odd, I thought they were competitors. I think I’ve seen other floats, but root beer and vanilla ice cream is much more common. ---
**Author:** ![Srsly\_Dad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Srsly\_Dad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Srsly_Dad)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/34 "2013-05-28T15:33:59Z")
> [@flight](#): > > There is no rootbeer but Virgil’s. > > I did a blind taste test a few years ago with several friends and my dad, who has been a great lover of rootbeer floats (primarily A&W) his whole life. I bought ever variety I could find in five different stores. This included A&W, Barq’s, IBC, and several others. There was no comparison at all, Virgils was ranked best by everyone, and the others were all midrange to poor in comparison. It makes an absolutely beautiful float, too. I second the vote for Virgil’s as the absolute best. Sprecher Root Beer from Wisconsin is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/35 "2013-05-28T15:39:33Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > They didn’t mention my favorite ([Green River](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_%28soft_drink%29) and vanilla), probably because Green River is almost extinct now. At least hereabouts. Ooo…I’ll have to try that. They still have Green River around here (being Chicago, and all.) But even here it sometimes takes some sleuthing. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/36 "2013-05-28T15:53:28Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > And not diet. I live on diet pop, but diet A&W is vile. Try A&W Ten. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/37 "2013-05-28T15:54:48Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Why is it root beer and vanilla ice-cream? Why not Coke and chocolate, etc.? I prefer chocolate. Makes the best foam. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/38 "2013-05-28T16:05:00Z")
Madame Pepperwinkle enjoys vanilla bean ice cream with her root beer, orange soda or grape soda. I’ll stick with root beer floats only, myself. I prefer draft A&W over anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/39 "2013-05-28T16:13:46Z")
I like root beer floats, but I’ll almost always make orange juice floats instead. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/40 "2013-05-28T18:09:46Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > "… > Why is it root beer and vanilla ice-cream? Why not Coke and chocolate, etc.? There is vanilla ice cream and 7-Up or even better Fanta orange. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443.md?page=3)