Today is National Root Beer Float Day, which is the perfect excuse to stop by the grocery store tonight to buy some ice cream and root beer and whip up a bubbly treat tonight. (Don’t forget the straws!)
Of course, since it’s root beer float day, you might feel compelled to put root beer in your float, but no one will blame you if you decide to break tradition by opting for an orange soda float or a cola float or any other flavor of soda. But while the soda varies, for some reason vanilla ice cream is the go-to float topper. Not chocolate, not strawberry, not even cookie dough. It probably has to do with the versatility of vanilla ice cream and the fact that it’s a timeless classic.
Which leads us to two questions. Do you use root beer in your floats or do you sometimes use other flavors of soda? And if you decided to get wild and crazy and choose another ice cream flavor besides vanilla, which flavor would you choose?
Tags: ice cream, root beer float, vanilla
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
My hubby & grandson love the rootbeer floats…but…I prefer an orange float…yummm!!!
I never liked root beer, so as kids we made floats with ginger ale, cola, and even orange soda. Now I never make them at all, but you have rekindled my childhood. I’m heading to the frig to resurrect an old time favorite right now!
I haven’t had a root beer float in a very long time.
I do like floats made with Pepsi Cola and whatever flavor of Turkey Hill Ice Cream that is in the freezer!! It is nice sometimes to create new floats!!
I prefer root beer floats with vanilla ice cream, but will opt for any flavor ice cream that is handy. I used to crave root beer floats when I was pregnant with my son. In fact, I’m craving one now … at age 53 I don’t think I’m pregnant! HAHA!
oh, yea, Root Beer Floats. Nothing like em! The photo looks so good, I think I’ll have one or two tonight. I only use vanilla, unless I run out, and then anything goes.
I have always loved root beer floats, but I sometimes make it a brown cow,root beer with chocolate ice cream. They’re awesome!
Hi Turkey Hill fans, I love root beer, only if I put turkey hill ice cream in it. Using turkey hill ice cream make all the different in the very best root beer float
Love root beer floats! I bought the root beer last week and haven’t opened it yet, but will have to back for more Turkey Hill. We’re already out of it.
MMMMM, I love root beer floats!! I usually use root beer but sometimes sub in Diet Coke if no root beer is to be had. I used to also sometimes use a clear soda, like Sprite, and mix it with an orange sherbet– it creates a little dreamsicle, and it’s awfully good
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Love root beer but coke works great, too. Any flavor!
I never had a root beer float….shame on me!
Root beer floats are not one of my favorites…I like Tricia’s suggestion of the dreamsicle flavor..or Cherry Soda and Chocolate Ice cream…maybe like a chocolate covered cherry
LOVE LOVE LOVE ROOT BEER FLOATS.
MAKE THEM WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM ONLY.
HOWEVER IF WE USE A DIFFERENT SODA ALMOST ANY OTHER FAVORITE FLAVOR WILL DO.
JUST MAKE IT TURKEY HILL ICE CREAM.
Root Beer is my primary choice for making a float. If we do not have Root Beer, then a cola is the next choice for a float, or we might just go with a milk shake. However, orange soda with an orange sherbert would also be a greta way to cool off after a hot summer’s day.
I love root beer floats with vanilla ice cream. My husband is a Pepsi drinker, so he has his favorite too. I think strawberry ice cream would be good in a 7-UP type drink.
Love root beer floats and finally remembered to get the vanilla ice cream so I could have one soon—maybe today or tomorrow! Of course, Turkey Hill is the best ice cream in any flavor!!
i only use vanilla in fact i haven’t had a root beer float in years .have to get some root beer and make one tonight
We used to call them \Brown Cows\ when I was a kid. Nothing beats it for a cooler on a hot day.
good home made birch beer, and coke.
We like using cream soda.
I love root beer floats. It reminds of when I was a little girl and my mother took me and my brothers and sister to get root beer floats when we walked to the park. I have never tried the orange soda but I am going to try it with some Turkey Hill Vanilla ice cream. I can’t imagine any other flavor but vanilla
I like Black Raspberry icecream in a fancy glass and pour gingerale over it. My mother-in-law use to call icecream with soda poured over it a “Horses Neck”..don’t know where this term came from though!
sounds good to me, whatever floats.
That is one I will pass. I am not a root beer person but my grand daughters are.
I use vanilla in root beer, pepsi & ginger ale. Sometimes I add a different flavor ice cream to ginger ale. It’s all good as long as it’s TH!
I use grape soda and vanilla ice cream to make a grape float.Tastes good on a hot evening.
I have the root beer & now to decide which flavor.
couldn’t put off this th email, that float looked good and right about now i wouldn’t mind a big scoop of mostly any delicious th ice cream in a giant, cold glass of root beer or any flavor, i like em all!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like rootbeer floats with vanilla icecream but only 1 of my sons like rootbeer so we usually make a different kind. We usually make coke floats and I use diet coke. The vanilla or cherry coke flavors work great with vanilla ice creamm Try it you’ll love it.
Only the high octane root beer for me please (never, never diet). Vanilla ice cream especially with pieces of vanilla bean and topped with whipped cream is the best formula for the float, although chocolate ice cream makes a delicious and smooth float.
I do not drink root beer. My floats would be made with cola, orange or another fruit flavor.
For the soda part of a root beer float it depends on what we have on hand. But why call it a root beer float if it doesn’t contain root beer. When I do have one I prefer vanilla. I am just a traditional type of person.
Root beer floats are from long ago. I’ve tried just every flavor soda and ice cream, but have to say vanilla ice cream goes with anything. The orange sherbet and orange soda soooo good
I love root beer floats but I also love Cream Soda Floats as well — usually I stick with my vanilla ice cream but if I am feeling really bold, I love orange sherbert in the Cream Soda — it brings back memories of many creamsicles I used to devour as a child
many many years ago my dad an I went on a tour of a famous beer plant…at the end of the tour you were served a small glass of beer an a pretzel I of course was to young to drink so the childern were served Rootbeer!!! I was hooked ever since but now I have bowl of vanilla an splash rootbeer on it an sprinkle with pretzels !!!!! I know it is not a true float but it works for me…..
we love white birch beer and th coconut cream pie floats…yummy yummy
sounds good to me
When i was little an old soda fountain at a drugstore serve dfloat & there was one called a black cow it was coke /pepsi with a scoop of choc. ice cream yummy ! Every new years I would have a Cherokee red pop with vanilla ice cream , I love all floats ,Rootbeer with vanilla is a classic but sometimes i use chocolate icecream in it .
Brings back lots of good memories for me!
I regret missing this day,we love root beer floats. we were in Ireland enjoying the site and eating Honeycomb ice cream. Now here is a flavor for you to consider. it was so good, we never had any other.
as a kid I remember tasting my first ever rootbeer float from a fastfood and boy was i hooked! Now, there’s not much of this beverage anymore in restos or eateries. Good thing it’s pretty easy to make
Anybody know the origin of a Horse’s Neck drink made with vanilla ice cream and gingerale?
I would very much like to know if a Horses Neck float is different or the same as a root beer float? Does anyone know the origin of a horses neck?