The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIs there still a thing callled a "root beer float"?
i remember them so fondly growing up in Texas in the 50s...was wondering if they are still being made...
Sneederbunk
(14,207 posts)Ohiogal
(31,660 posts)Sneederbunk
(14,207 posts)lapfog_1
(29,166 posts)and I'm pretty sure you can buy one at an A&W
possibly Sonic.
CTyankee
(63,770 posts)I can buy root beer in the supermarket and make my own rb floats. IIRC, you use vanilla ice cream...
hlthe2b
(101,715 posts)Enfield A & W Family Restaurant
Middletown A & W Family Restaurant
Stamford A & W Family Restaurant
But, you can buy A&W Rootbeer (both regular and sugar free) and vanilla ice cream in grocery story, chill your own mug and make them yourself. Come out just as good, really, though there are still some old fashioned A&W restaurants in more rural communities in Colorado--some still have outdoor "park and serve" type set-ups. I used to always stop in Georgetown/Idaho Springs on the way to the ski resorts.
Since KFC bought out A&W, some restaurants are combined.
CTyankee
(63,770 posts)But I am definitely going to make my own rb floats! Mmmm.....
populistdriven
(5,639 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,276 posts)I googled it and discovered that there are dozens of restaurants in my city (Minneapolis) where you can get them. There are also a few A&W places around.
Ohiogal
(31,660 posts)I rarely drink soda pop any more but that was always one of my favorite ways to drink root beer when I was a kid!
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)Or just make your own....
[link:https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/root_beer_float/|]
Dr Hobbitstein
(6,568 posts)Personally, I like to use hard root beer and marijuana ice cream for a grown up root beer float.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)I don't see them offered, but then I have not been looking for them either.
bif
(22,560 posts)I think their headquarters is here.
in2herbs
(2,942 posts)which was grilled hot dogs, split, served on a hamburger bun with special sauce. Have tried to replicate it but have been unable to. There aren't any A&Ws where I live so now I have a Dr. Pepper float.
deurbano
(2,891 posts)kimbutgar
(20,876 posts)SouthernLiberal
(407 posts)I used to get them in the early 60's in the Bronx. There is a restaurant near me now - Red Robin, that offers a Root Beer Float. They do make it with soft-serve ice cream, which is not the way they made them in New York.
That's not the first food item that is just different in South Carolina than New York. I have lived here for 19 years, and I have never found a good crusty roll.
Paladin
(28,202 posts)Great concoction (and great Steely Dan tune by the same name).
Aristus
(66,093 posts)Back when I was working as a Medical Assistant, our clinic had a young doctor recently arrived from India.
One day, the clinic manager went out and got root beer floats for the entire clinic. I gave the doctor her float, and she began spooning it up, obviously enjoying it. She asked what it was, and I told her: "A root beer float." She must have only heard the word 'beer', because her eyes widened, and she slammed her cup down on the counter, saying: "I can't have this right now! I'm seeing patients!"
I told her that root beer is non-alcoholic, and she laughed and started eating it again.
It was a fun moment in the history of cultural differences.
yonder
(9,631 posts)sometimes called a root beer spin. Love those things.
Fifty years ago, my 2nd "real" job was as a fountain boy for an A&W. Yes sir, Fountain Boy. Has a nice ring, eh? Anyway, we would make the root beer on site. If memory serves me, something like this:
In a 48? gallon chilled, stainless, carbonation tank we would add water, 4 10lb. bags of sugar and 1 gallon of the "secret" A&W concentrate syrup. Mix it up, put the covers back on the tank and presto. There were two tanks that I remember.
I also don't remember any ice cream other than vanilla soft serve which we would flavor with syrups and spinmix to make any kind of shake.
Hope I don't get a visit from any A&W corporate security goons for violating some old, forgotten NDA. If so, I'm calling Avenatti.
msongs
(67,193 posts)CTyankee
(63,770 posts)OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)she called it a brown mule and used root beer and chocolate ice cream. We made them all the time before I had to start really watching my sugar. Now my wife and daughter make them and smugly leave me out. :/
llmart
(15,499 posts)Still one of my favorite ice cream treats in the summertime. I just make my own at home.
OxQQme
(2,550 posts)with a dollop of the fresh cream that has risen to the top in a gallon jar of fresh Jersey milk.
Dad's Old Fashioned with a shot of half/half is an urban substitute.
Once a few decades ago I made a road trip from LA to Atlanta, stopping at every A&W along the way.
I had to teach the 'beeristas' how to make a Swamp Water Frosty.
A favorite secret recipe sold at my LA local A&W.
Half Root beer, half orange soda with a scoop of ice cream, whirled.
Yee Haw!
MontanaMama
(23,238 posts)kids every Sunday night when we were kids. Simple and luscious treat.
Laffy Kat
(16,354 posts)They made the best, to-die-for, root-beer-floats in the universe. I'm not sure what root beer they used, but I know they used Haagen dazs vanilla ice cream that was frozen to the max and lasted a long time before it melted. I will miss those particular floats for the rest of my life.
Doreen
(11,686 posts)Of course I also made an orange crush float afterwards also.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)Here is one place in New Haven.
http://ashleysicecream.net/shakesdrinks
280 YORK STREET
NEW HAVEN, CT
(203) 776-7744
MON-SAT: 11AM-11PM
pansypoo53219
(20,906 posts)samnsara
(17,570 posts)..actually I love whats left after the ice cream is melted so I like to just pour cream on top of a glass of rootbeer and dont need a spoon! Same with orange soda so I have a cream-cycle.
JDC
(10,081 posts)Look for a free one near you:
https://m.awrestaurants.com/national-root-beer-float-day-2018
MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)Something about the orange/vanilla combination that is divine.
LeftInTX
(24,554 posts)Place several scoops of vanilla ice cream in a glass.
Add orange soda.
That's it.