Ice Cream Floats

[alacarte]

In springtime, my thoughts turn to root beer floats....

I ran an Internet search using the phrase "root beer float," and here are some of the colorful tidbits I learned: Root beer float was one of the seven original Kool-Aid flavors. According to one purveyor of online greeting cards, Root Beer Float day is August 6th. I found multiple alcoholic versions of the root beer float. My favorite version combined Kahlua, Galliano, cream and cola. No root beer though.

[Schielke]

I think we need to get the management to add Root Beer Float day to the calendar.

Ben

[Suzanne F]

My favorite ice cream to use is coffee. What's yours?

[nightscotsman]

My favorite ice cream to use is coffee. What's yours?

Tru in Chicago serves their tiny root beer floats with espresso ice cream and I thought it worked really well. Even better than vanilla, in my opinion.

[Suzanne F]

And they use Gale Gand's own root beer, right? Must be GREAT.

[nightscotsman]

And they use Gale Gand's own root beer, right?  Must be GREAT.

It really was, but I have to confess that at that point in the meal I was so full I was ready to hurl, so I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

[col klink]

I'm currently drinking a Joe Stiff's Spiked Root Beer currently sans float or floaters.

Nightscotsman abandoned it at my place.

[nightscotsman]

I'm currently drinking a Joe Stiff's Spiked Root Beer currently sans float or floaters.

Nightscotsman abandoned it at my place. 

What'samatter - you outta the good stuff and got desperate?

[col klink]

It looked so lonely there sitting in the fridge, all by it's lonesome.

I was able to pawn off one of them on one of my buddies without any complaints! Actually, if you can get to the bottom of the bottle you forget how it tastes.

[Schielke]

Hey, did you ever try out that other natural soda?

[awbrig]

You guys ever had Sprecher root beer?

[Varmint]

Awbrig can't get Milwaukee of the brain. Sprecher is a Milwaukee microbrewery that has been making their own root beer for ages. It's a fine root beer, although not the best. This is one case where the Sprecher folks wanted to do something fairly pedestrian. It makes a helluva float, however, particularly with Kopps custard.

[Marlene]

In springtime, my thoughts turn to root beer floats....

I ran an Internet search using the phrase "root beer float," and here are some of the colorful tidbits I learned:  Root beer float was one of the seven original Kool-Aid flavors. According to one purveyor of online greeting cards, Root Beer Float day is August 6th.  I found multiple alcoholic versions of the root beer float. My favorite version combined Kahlua, Galliano, cream and cola. No root beer though.

This one could rapidly become my favourite

[Crystal]

Long long ago and far far away there was a place called Elums. You could drive up and get a platter of fries or onion rings and your chioce of brown, black or orange "cows" brought out to your car or you could just drive thru for a cute little pint jug of Elums brand rootbeer. *sigh* Good Times.

According to my mother the family that owned Elums moved to the Sunshine state and set up shopthere

I'm currently limited to using Schnucks brand vanilla bean ice cream (surprisingly good for a store brand) and Dogs and Suds rootbeer to get my fix.

Crystal

[nightscotsman]

When I was little and my family went on road trips, first choice to stop for lunch was the nearest A&W drive-in. Teen Burger (the "Burger Family" member with bacon, natch) and a root beer float. Wish they were still around these parts.

[Schielke]

A&W is around in some guise up here. On the Mukilteo speedway, they have an outpost as part of a Gas station. I have yet to try it out, but will now make a point of it to let you know if it is worthwhile.

Ben

[Schielke]

From the A&W site

WA  SEATTLE  1046 1ST AVENUE S  98134  A&W RESTAURANT  209-956-0566

[Schielke]

Mapquest of location

Looks like it is right next to Safeco

[Varmint]

We had a Dog N Suds. We took home barrel shaped gallons of root beer (It was "The Creamiest"). We ate hot dogs. We grew fat and happy. I think there's only a couple of Dog N Suds (or, as we called them, Arf N Barfs) left.

[col klink]

From the A&W site

WA  SEATTLE  1046 1ST AVENUE S  98134  A&W RESTAURANT  209-956-0566

Hot dog!

A&W's are pretty rampant over in Michigan and Wisconsin and I loved going there as a kid. What I particularly enjoy now about them is you can still get an ice cold glass mug of root beer. Where else can you get that? Even still I'll get one with a float every once in a while.

You can get fried cheese curds out there as well.

[Schielke]

Just from my memory of that corner, I think this might be another gas station\a&w combo. I dont know if these suck or anything, but it makes me worry. Frankly, I am losing sleep.

Ben

[Fat Guy]

Alacarte/Kara has developed this concept into a TDG essay. Enjoy!

[Suzanne F]

Alacarte: nice to see it in "print!" But I feel for your m-i-l -- just proves GIGO. If you want good food, ya gotta use good ingredients!!

My favorite Brattleboro microbrewery, McNeill's, sometimes does a root beer. I'll have to try it when I'm up there this summer.

[alacarte]

Thanks Suzanne

I love the idea of "microbrewed" root beer -- at least in theory. Can root-beer-float sommeliers be far behind?

[jhlurie]

Perhaps this is heresy, but since I've never really enjoyed Root Beer, and since Cream Soda Floats have no taste, I've been condering the Red Birch Beer Float and the Ginger Beer Float.