National Root Beer Float Day

Did you know today is National Root Beer Float Day?

So.  Let's go float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in an ice cold mug of frothy root beer.  It’s National Root Beer Float Day!

Also known as the “Black Cow,” the root beer float got its start in Colorado in a mining camp. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, gets the credit for inventing the “Black Cow”  way back in August of 1893.

One night Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, was staring out the window and thinking about the line of soda waters he was producing for the citizens of Cripple Creek when he came upon an idea.  The full moon that night shined on the snow-capped Cow Mountain and reminded him of a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  He hurried back to his bar and scooped a spoonful of ice cream into the children’s favorite flavor of soda, Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. After trying, he liked it and served it the very next day.  It was an immediate hit.

Wisner named the new creation, “Black Cow Mountain” but the local children shortened the name to “Black Cow”.

Since its inception, thousands of root beer floats have been enjoyed around the country each day.

Several by Don Barley, who may be the biggest 

Annabelle says, "Wow.  Want, please"

So, of course she got one too.  Sans the Root Beer.

There are also several recipes for "Adult Root Beer Floats"


Vanilla Vodka Root Beer Float - 
Scoop 2-3 scoops of vanilla ice cream into a glass. Fill halfway up with root beer.
Pour 1 shot of vanilla vodka (about 1.5 ounces) and then top with root beer to fill to the top of the glass.





Rum N’ Root Beer Float -
Vanilla Ice Cream
Root Beer
2 oz. Dark Rum
Fill a tall glass with several healthy scoops of vanilla ice cream, pour in the dark rum and top off (slowly as it foams up) with the root beer

And . . . 

my fave,

Rachel Ray's Root Beer Russian Float

2 shots vodka

2 shots Kahlua

1 shot heavy cream

6 to 8 ounces root beer

1 scoop coffee ice cream

Whipped cream, for garnish

Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Any Root Beer Float fans out there?  Or do you have a different fun drink you favor?

And how do these adult versions sound to you?  Donald said, "No Way!  Don't mess with a good thing!"

Annabelle says, "just give me the ice cream, please, and I'm a happy girl."