National Root Beer Float Day

In August of 1893, Frank J. Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Brewing Company in Colorado, was staring at the snow‑capped peaks of Cow Mountain while sipping a glass of his Myers Avenue Red root beer. Inspired by the contrast of dark rock and white snow, he imagined a mountain of vanilla ice cream floating in a sea of root beer. The next day he dropped a scoop of vanilla ice cream into a glass of root beer and served it to children in the town. They loved it, and the Black Cow was born. Across America, soda fountains began making their own versions: some used chocolate ice cream and called it a Brown Cow, others added a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Root beer floats became a staple of drugstore lunch counters and malt shops. There’s something magical about the way the cold cream mixes with the carbonated soda, creating a foamy head that overflows the glass.

Root beer itself has a long history. Early colonists in North America brewed beverages from sassafras bark, sarsaparilla root and wintergreen leaves. These drinks were sometimes fermented; sometimes sweetened with molasses or honey. By the late nineteenth century, commercial bottlers like Charles Hires of Philadelphia were selling root beer concentrate nationwide, marketing it as a temperance drink — a nonalcoholic alternative to beer. The concoction’s distinctive flavor comes from a blend of roots, herbs and spices that may include sassafras (now replaced by safrole‑free extracts), birch bark, anise, vanilla and spices. Modern root beers are creamy and sweet, sometimes with hints of wintergreen or licorice.

National Root Beer Float Day on August 6 celebrates both the soda and the ice cream treat. For many it evokes nostalgia: the clink of glassware at a 1950s diner, the swirl of soda jerk uniforms, the fizzing sound as soda hits ice cream. To celebrate, fill a tall chilled glass two‑thirds full with cold root beer, add a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and watch the foam rise. Some prefer to scoop first and pour second; either way, be ready with a spoon and straw. For a twist, make your own root beer from herbs or buy a craft root beer from a local brewery. Pair with homemade vanilla ice cream or experiment with flavors like butter pecan or salted caramel. For adults, add a splash of spiced rum or bourbon. The joy is in the contrast of textures and temperatures. On National Root Beer Float Day, share a float with a friend or child, reminiscing about summers gone by or creating new memories. Feel the carbonation tickle your nose, taste the creamy sweetness, and appreciate the creativity of a man who looked at a mountain and imagined dessert.