What makes a great craft root beer float?

Many American adults have a cherished memory of enjoying a root beer float either at home or at a restaurant when they were young. The amalgam of creamy ice cream and root beer is arguably more American than apple pie. Now, all those kids are adults and looking to pass along that experience to their children or to recreate it for themselves. Before we explore the many unique permutations of this beloved concoction, we'll take a brief look at the history of the root beer float.

Who made the first root beer float?

Historical accounts vary, but it appears that root beer floats were first made by the owner of a brewery in Colorado called Cripple Creek Brewing. Frank J. Wisner is credited with inventing the root beer float in 1893. Legend has it that Wisner was inspired by the snowy peaks of the nearby Cow Mountain, leading him to combine root beer with a scoop of ice cream to create a beverage that resembled the snow-capped mountain. It was also called a brown cow or a black cow, and likely made with birch beer as well. Later on the fast food chain A&W became famous for their root beer floats.

What are the variations of a root beer float?

Traditionally, a root beer float is vanilla ice cream and root beer of course, however combining ice cream with soda has a myriad of combinations. Coke and ice cream make a Coke float, in Detroit a Vernor's ginger ale and vanilla ice cream is called a Boston cooler, in Alabama you can have a purple cow made with grape soda and ice cream, and in Brazil you can have a vaca dourada or golden cow made with orange soda and ice cream. The variations are endless, and the tradition has seemed to spread around the globe.

Using craft root beer in your root beer floats.

Have you noticed that anything you make at home almost always tastes better than the same store bought item? Freshly baked bread is a good example. If you've ever made your own bread with just 4 simple ingredients: flour, salt, water and yeast, it's striking how good it can be. The same can be said for craft foods, in this case, craft root beer. Commander Ron's craft root beer is similar to a homemade root beer because of the quality of ingredients and the care that goes into each batch, unlike mass produced sodas with preservatives and high fructose corn syrup. Brands like CVT Soft Serve that use family recipes to create delicious soft serve ice creams is another good example.

The crew at Moonglade Brews took the opportunity to test out a craft root beer float with an amazing craft soft serve ice cream available in pouches, CVT Soft Serve out of Los Angeles. The result was double delicious! Our youngest taste tester, Clark (7 years old) decided to go ahead and squeeze the CVT Soft Serve directly into his mouth followed by a slug of our craft root beer. Nothing could be better in Clark's opinion. How's that for creating cherished memories?

Root beer float recipes to try at home.

Here's a classic root beer float recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream or a pouch of CVT Soft Serve Vanilla
• 1 bottle or can of chilled Commander Ron's Root Beer
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Hotel Starlino maraschino cherry (optional)
• Chocolate syrup (optional)

Instructions:

1. Start by chilling your root beer in the refrigerator for at least an hour before making the floats. Cold root beer will help keep the soft serve from melting too quickly.
2. Place pouch of CVT Soft Serve into a tall glass or mug. You can adjust the amount of soft serve based on your preference for ice creaminess.
3. Slowly pour the chilled root beer over the ice cream. Pouring it slowly will help reduce fizz and prevent overflowing.
4. As the root beer hits the soft serve ice cream, it will foam up. Let it settle for a moment, then continue pouring until the glass is filled.
5. If desired, top your root beer float with a dollop of whipped cream.
6. Add a Hotel Starlino maraschino cherry on top for a classic finishing touch.
7. For extra indulgence, drizzle some chocolate syrup over the whipped cream.
8. Serve immediately with a straw and a long spoon for enjoying both the creamy ice cream and the fizzy root beer together.

Feel free to customize your root beer float based on your preferences. You can experiment with different flavors of ice cream or add toppings like crushed nuts or sprinkles for extra texture and flavor. Enjoy your delicious and refreshing root beer float!

Here's another recipe that's a little more complicated.

This recipe is a twist on the classic root beer float, incorporating homemade vanilla bean ice cream and a touch of caramel:

Ingredients:

For the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1 vanilla bean pod, split lengthwise and seeds scraped out (or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
• 4 large egg yolks

For the Root Beer Float:

• 2 scoops of homemade vanilla bean ice cream or a pouch of CVT Soft Serve
• 1 bottle or can of chilled Commander Ron's Root Beer
• Caramel sauce, for drizzling (optional)
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Hotel Starlino maraschino cherry (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract.
• Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a simmer. Remove from heat.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth.
• Gradually pour about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
• Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly.
• Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens , about 5 minutes. Do not boil.
• Remove from heat and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and press into the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming.
• Refrigerate the custard until thoroughly chilled, preferably overnight.
• Once chilled, churn the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Scoop the ice cream into a freezer-safe container and freeze until solid, in about 4 hours or overnight.

Assemble the Root Beer Float:

• Place two scoops of homemade vanilla bean ice cream or a pouch of CVT Soft Serve into a tall glass or mug.
• Slowly pour the chilled root beer over the ice cream, allowing it to foam up.
• Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the float, if desired.
• Top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry for garnish, if desired.
• Serve immediately with a straw and a long spoon.

This decadent root beer float combines the rich flavors of homemade vanilla bean ice cream with the classic taste of root beer, enhanced by a hint of caramel for extra indulgence. Enjoy your craft root beer float and make sure to share with your friends and family!