Cool Off With a Root Beer Float

A root beer float in the summertime is as much a staple as iced lemonade or popsicles to many people.

A root beer float is made with vanilla ice cream and, of course, root beer, and with the addition of some chocolate syrup it’s also known as a brown or black cow.

The drink supposedly originated in 1893 in Colorado by Frank J. Wisner, who owned the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company. He had been producing a line of naturally flavored and carbonated premium soda waters for the citizens of the booming town, and had been trying to create a special drink for the children. The story goes that he came up with the idea for his sweet drink on a winter evening while staring out at his snow-covered properties on Cow Mountain, which looked to him like of a dollop of vanilla ice cream floating on top of the mountain.

This inspired him to create the first root beer float, using the flavored soda water the kids liked best (root beer), and he began serving it to the town the next day.

Brown Cow Root Beer Float

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
10 oz root beer
1 Tb chocolate syrup
whipped cream
maraschino cherries

Pour root beer over ice cream and chocolate syrup in a large tumbler glass. Garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve with a straw and a long spoon.

It doesn’t get easier than that!

[image: flickr]