Saturday (Aug. 6) is National Root Beer Float day.
Whether you’re old enough to remember drive-in stands with the carhops on roller skates or young enough to just associate root beer with supermarket shelves, give yourself a break this weekend and enjoy a root beer float. You don’t really need a recipe. It’s pretty obvious—your favorite root beer and your favorite ice cream (vanilla is traditional) plus a frosty glass or mug and a straw and an iced tea spoon.
However, if you want to get fancy celebrity chefs—Bobby Flay and Paula Dean are two—have their own special concoctions online. They both use a dollop of whip cream, but he adds the option of a splash of bourbon to his float and she ventures into vanilla chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate shavings for hers.
And in case inquiring minds want to know: The root beer float, also known as the Black Cow, reportedly was invented in August 1893 by a soda producer in Cripple Creek, Colo. who was inspired by the moon over snow-capped Cow Mountain.
We at Sip & Savor hope you can kick back, enjoy the weekend and a frosty root beer float. Please check out the delicious root beers that so many of our member companies produce.