# 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:** 3
**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, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/41 "2013-05-28T18:15:38Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > 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. > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I like root beer floats, but I’ll almost always make orange juice floats instead. Vanilla ice cream + orange juice/soda = Creamsicle. Vanilla ice cream + grape juice/soda = Purple Cow. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/42 "2013-05-28T18:17:40Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > If you don’t have root beer, cola is a perfectly acceptable substitute… _Smite the heretic!_ ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/43 "2013-05-28T18:29:58Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Vanilla ice cream + orange juice/soda = Creamsicle. > > Vanilla ice cream + grape juice/soda = Purple Cow. Vanilla ice cream + root beer = Black Cow. 😃 I am going to have to experiment with making it using Dr. Pepper. That sounds GOOD! ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/44 "2013-05-28T19:14:44Z")
Try making your \*\* Root-beer Float\*\* with **Coffee Ice Cream**. It is astounding. You’re welcome. ---
**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, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/45 "2013-05-28T19:21:09Z")
Going along with Siam Sam’s original premise, consider this: 1. The posters here all enjoy root beer floats. 2. None of the posters here have attempted to overthrow a national goverment (well, as far as I know). therefore, 3. The root beer float IS the key to world peace. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/46 "2013-05-28T19:48:16Z")
I love a good creamsicle float. Orange and vanilla is one of my favorite flavor combinations. If you have an A&W restaurant near you, usually you can buy the draft root beer by the gallon. We used to live two blocks from one and my husband would walk down and pick up one for family parties. His family considers root beer floats the perfect party food. Nearly every family party has a bog standard box cake and root beer floats (almost always made with cheap ice cream in the big tubs and store brand root beer. My favorite root beer is Henry Weinhard’s. It’s got a lovely smooth flavor. I would never muss it up with ice cream, though. It’s too good to hide. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/47 "2013-05-28T23:24:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > 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. I did that this spring when Jewel was stocking Green River for St. Patricks Day and I have to admit it was pretty awesome. If all else fails, you can get Green River at Grange Hall Burgers on Randolph. You might even be able to talk them into making you a float with it 😃 ---
**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 29, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/48 "2013-05-29T03:04:50Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > 1. None of the posters here have attempted to overthrow a national goverment (well, as far as I know). > therefore, Er, um, well … > [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > If you have an A&W restaurant near you, usually you can buy the draft root beer by the gallon. Alas! They’re not set up for that over here. Not even by the liter. ---
**Author:** ![Detroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@Detroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Detroit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/49 "2013-05-29T15:17:45Z")
I love A&W Floats but when I was young, my mother used to make “poor man’s floats” out of Vernor’s ginger ale and milk. 😃 When my stomach is giving me grief I find it’s very soothing. I recommend 2 fingers of ginger ale to half a glass of milk. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/50 "2013-05-29T15:34:56Z")
> [@Detroit](#): > > …when I was young, my mother used to make “poor man’s floats” out of Vernor’s ginger ale and milk. Wasn’t it Shirley (of “Laverne and…”) who used to drink milk and Pepsi all the time? I discovered Vernor’s during a trip to Ann Arbor about four years ago. I’ve never seen it outside of Michigan. After I returned to New York, I concocted an acceptable facsimile, out of desperation, by mixing 3 to 4 parts ginger ale with one part cream soda. I’ve never tried it with ice cream, but I imagine it would taste pretty good with a scoop of vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/51 "2013-05-29T15:37:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > 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. Do you have a Dominick’s near you? If you don’t, I’ll buy you some at mine - then you’ll have to come out and get it, but then you’d get to meet ME - so no downside there, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Detroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@Detroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Detroit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/52 "2013-05-29T20:41:39Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > Wasn’t it Shirley (of “Laverne and…”) who used to drink milk and Pepsi all the time? > > I discovered Vernor’s during a trip to Ann Arbor about four years ago. I’ve never seen it outside of Michigan. After I returned to New York, I concocted an acceptable facsimile, out of desperation, by mixing 3 to 4 parts ginger ale with one part cream soda. I’ve never tried it with ice cream, but I imagine it would taste pretty good with a scoop of vanilla. I think it was Laverne. 😃 When I was in Florida, the neighborhood that my parents lived in had a large contingent of Michiganers, and of course, the general store stocked good old Vernors. It is an acquired taste. I remember ordering ginger ale in NY and thinking “What IS THIS STUFF?” Tasted rather flat. 😉 ---
**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 30, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/53 "2013-05-30T03:15:27Z")
Yes, it was Laverne who drank milk and Pepsi. In fact, Penny Marshall drank it in real life – presumably still does – and added it to her character. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/54 "2013-05-31T03:30:15Z")
I see that Wikepedia lists “Black Cow” and “Brown Cow” as synonyms for Root-Beer Floats, but my Dad remembered getting a “Brown Cow” at the golf club (central Michigan) during Prohibition when his father got a “Black Cow” made with Beer. Myself, I used to drink 4 pints/2 litres of raw milk a day. I still love RB or Coke mixed with milk at about half’n’half, but my gut can’t handle more than about 1/2 pint in a single serving now, so I’ve had to cut back. ---
**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/55 "2013-05-31T11:25:51Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > It’s not the only example of something tasting different over here, although they usually make it sweeter if anything. Sprite and 7-Up are much sweeter here than in the US. I have a theory here. As far as I know, the love of corn syrup as a sweetener in the US is due to the US Government corn subsidy which makes corn syrup cheaper than sugar. It seems quite likely that sodas in other parts of the world are made with cane sugar, and that is the taste you are interpreting as “sweeter”. Thanks to an experiment by Pepsico a little while ago, introducing “Throwback” versions of Pepsi and Mountain Dew (and “Heritage” Dr. Pepper) which was made with sugar instead of corn syrup, I have had the chance to do a side-by-side comparison between the modern flavor and the sodas of my childhood, and the sweetness is both clearer and less cloying when sugar is used. Unrelated: Some people live where A&W comes from Coke?? Where I am, A&W is distributed by the vendor of 7-Up, which is owned by the Pepsi vendor but separate. The weirdest thing is Dr.Pepper, which is distributed by Pepsi and bottled by Pepsi and usually (though not always) included when there is a 2-for deal on Pepsi products. This is weird because the company that owns A&W and RC Cola and 7-Up and basically everything else from that local non-Pepsi distributor is called the Dr.Pepper-Snapple Group. Other brands they own that we get from Pepsi include Schweppes and Crush. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/56 "2013-05-31T12:21:58Z")
> [@SpyOne](#): > > Unrelated: Some people live where A&W comes from Coke?? Yeah, check this out: [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zqli9hdZpSE/UUZ00kIiMII/AAAAAAABOCc/6LgQuJO6olQ/s800/2013\_%25203\_18\_%25209\_58.jpg](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zqli9hdZpSE/UUZ00kIiMII/AAAAAAABOCc/6LgQuJO6olQ/s800/2013_%25203_18_%25209_58.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/57 "2013-06-01T09:31:48Z")
> [@SpyOne](#): > > I have a theory here. > As far as I know, the love of corn syrup as a sweetener in the US is due to the US Government corn subsidy which makes corn syrup cheaper than sugar. That and the restrictive import quotas on cane suger, which make sugar more expensive than cane syrup. They’ve got you coming and going. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/58 "2013-06-01T14:49:13Z")
I’ve heard the cane-sugar theory before but don’t know if it’s used as a sweetener here. They grow enough cane here, that’s for sure. Thailand is an exporter. ---
**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/59 "2013-06-03T06:35:15Z")
Well, the ingredients on the can linked to above list sugar and not high fructose corn syrup, so at least that part of the theory is right. As for whether that is responsible for the perceived taste difference, more testing is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443/60 "2013-06-04T20:17:07Z")
Let’s not forget about the venerable Boston Cooler - Vanilla ice cream and Vernor’s Ginger Ale. Why we call something consumed primarily in Michigan, Toledo, and Cleveland a Boston Cooler has been lost to the mysteries of time, but it is a damned good concoction! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/root-beer-floats/659443.md?page=4)