Root Beer Float Your Boat
Some people don’t like root beer; it just doesn’t float their boat. Others love root beer. For example for kids, root beer is the closest thing to an adult beverage as they could get, so naturally they will like it. Especially because the word beer is in the name! In our house we don’t drink much soda but my kids drink caffeine-free root beer once in awhile. Add scoops of ice cream to this rare occasion and you’ll witness the root beer floating our boats!
Nationaldaycalendar.com informs us about root beer floats: “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”.
Personally, I never knew that root beer floats were originally called Black Cows until I looked it up on Nationaldaycalendar.com. Even while scrolling thru Pinterest, many family recipes still have Black Cows in their titles. Plug in the words “root beer float” in the search bar feature on Pinterest and it will open the flood gates of so many things root beer floats can be associated with. To name a few there are: cookies, cupcakes (with cute straws poked into them), Dreamsicles, popsicles, pies, cakes, candles, exfoliating soap, macarons, scarves, math cards, taffy, popcorn, Jello etc. Two notable pieces of information that I found on Pinterest are: 1. Keto recipes for root beer floats do exist and 2. Chip Ahoy cookies have a root beer float flavored cookie available. In other words, the root beer float is not just some whimsy-flimsy flavor of the day; there are so many things that incorporate this wonderful concoction.
May I suggest that we use National Root Beer Day (August 6th) as an excuse to give out some thoughtful pinches? Besides making a few floats for ourselves, we can have some fun coming up with as many variations on how to spread thoughtfulness within our budgets, time constraints and feasible possibilities. Here’s what I came up with so far:
#1. Near or Far - Put together a package with a mini can of A& W root beer, a straw and some bucks to an ice cream shop. The recipient is able to buy the flavor of ice cream of their choice and they can make a float any time that is convenient for them. If your ice cream shop doesn’t carry bucks, a gift card is just as thoughtful.
This pinch is wrapped up. Just waiting for a little gift tag and then it’s ready to be dropped off into someone’s mailbox, on a doorstep or front porch. No worries about the temperature outside or the time of day because nothing in the package can melt! Some may try to mail packages like this but I would make sure it’s possible before going thru the effort.
Dollar Tree sells these giant, heavy mugs and ice cream scoopers for $1 each.
#2. Deluxe Without the Ice Cream - This package is similar to #1 only it has more root beer and additional props such as a mug and ice cream scooper. Mailing this item, if permissible, would cost more because more caution is necessary when packing glass.
#3. Local but Mini + Chocolate - On Pinterest, a common theme for the root beer float was the addition of chocolate. I thought this would be a cute, efficient way to make a root beer float. First, take everything out of the giant mug. Unwrap the mini ice cream sandwiches and place them back into the mug. Pour root beer over the ice cream sandwiches. Then use a tall spoon or a straw (if it’s stronger than paper straws) to break up the sandwich. It’s an instant version of a chocolate root beer float. This package would need to be delivered to someone close by and could not be mailed or left outside for long.
#4. Local but Big + Chocolate. Same as above but of course Klondike has larger ice cream sandwiches!
Just discovered that Häagen -Dazs turned 60 years old! Yay. Plus, look at their mini containers of ice cream! Adorbs.
#5. Pint Plus - One idea is to pile a pint of ice cream, a scooper and a can or bottle of root beer into a giant mug. Don’t forget to add a straw and/or a spoon with a long handle. This package would need to be delivered nearby. It could not be mailed or left outside.
#6. Minis - This version of a root beer float pinch is my fave. The presentation is a mini can of A&W root beer and a mini container of Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream inside a giant mug. Add some fun straws and a gift tag. Basic but I think it’s a mini pinch that offers a GIANT thought.
#7. Convenience - I was inspired by this Pinterest post because I thought it was a very convenient and efficient way to serve root beer floats. Ahead of time, scoop ice cream into individual mason jars and secure the lids. Keep the filled jars very cold. When it is time to enjoy, remove the lid of the jar, pop open the “pop” and pour into the jar. Easy and super cute. Again, this would have to be locally delivered and could not be mailed.
This ice cream scooper is made by Pampered Chef and I haven’t found a better way to get ice cream out of it’s container and into my belly.
#8. Mack Daddy - This is the root beer float basket that I put together and donated for the YPC fundraiser on July 12th. It contains 4 mugs, drink straws, Pampered Chef ice cream scooper, $50 Sebastian Joes gift card, ice bucket and 10 mini cans of root beer - valued at $80 and was purchased for $80 by the winner at the auction. Yay! Something like this for a pinch is rather large and hand delivering is recommended.
Additionally (#9.), I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that adult beverage versions of root beer floats are enjoyed throughout the country. Until I saw it on Pinterest, I had no idea people mixed alcohol and/or coffee to make many different versions of root beer floats. If it’s convenient, pick up the ingredients for these recipes and give them to someone who loves adult root beer floats.
Or we come to #10. Final - My last idea for root beer float pinches is to go with a fellow enthusiast to a venue that serves root beer floats. Relax and forget about running around and assembling packages. Spending time with someone you care about while sipping on a float is precious. This may be the best way for you to celebrate National Root Beer Float Day on August 6th.
Hopefully those ten ideas will generate even more ways to celebrate on August 6th. Let’s make someone’s boat float by using National Root Beer Float Day as a reason to show some thoughtfulness.
Before I go, I just wanted to ask - doesn’t the title of this post sound similar to solving a puzzle on the show Wheel of Fortune? Pat, I’d like to solve the puzzle. Root - beer - float - your - boat. The audience cheers, bells and whistles in the background, Vanna smiles from ear to ear and Pat makes some funny remark. I won!
Pinches,
Barb