{"id":2260,"date":"2021-08-06T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gooroo.com\/blog\/?p=2260"},"modified":"2021-08-06T09:27:23","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T13:27:23","slug":"root-beer-float","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gooroo.com\/blog\/root-beer-float\/","title":{"rendered":"Root Beer Float: The History of this Classic Treat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What would you define as a classic American treat? Maybe something sweet like key lime pie or a sundae<\/a>? Or, maybe something more savoury like a giant pretzel or tater tots? But, what about the ultimate concoction of the root beer float? In today\u2019s blog, we talk all about the history of this ice cream drink. Plus, the science behind why it tastes so good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Root Beer Float?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A root beer float is a kind of ice cream soda. This chilled beverage consist of ice cream in either a soft drink or a mixture of flavoured syrup and carbonated water. Our type occurs when root beer and vanilla ice cream are used together. Other names for this include: \u201cblack cow\u201d and \u201cbrown cow\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its History<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Robert McCay Green invented the first ice cream float in Pennsylvania in 1874. It was during the Franklins Institute\u2019s 25 year celebration. The story goes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a particularly hot day, Green ran out of ice for the flavoured drinks. Instead, he used vanilla ice cream from a neighbouring vendor. Thus, inventing a new drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green\u2019s own account of the tale states that while operating the soda fountain he wanted to create a new treat to attract customers away from vendors with larger fancier machines. After some experimentation came the birth of the first ice cream float. During the celebration, he sold vanilla ice cream with soda and a choice of 16 flavoured syrups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, soda fountains began selling ice cream. Green\u2019s will instructed that \u201cOriginator of the Ice Cream Soda\u201d must be engraved on his tombstone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The birth of the root beer float has a more contentious origin with three claiming for the title: Fred Sanders, Philip Mohr, and George Guy (on of Robert Green\u2019s employees). But, it is Frank J. Wisner who gets the official recognition. Owner of Colorado\u2019s Cripple Creek Brewery, Wisner created the first root beer float August 19th, 1893. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Variations <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The definition of a \u201cblack\u201d or \u201cbrown\u201d \u201ccow\u201d root beer float varies depending on the region. For example, a traditional float is made with strictly vanilla ice cream. If chocolate ice cream s used instead it is a \u201cchocolate\u201d or \u201cbrown\u201d cow. In other places, using cola instead of root bear makes it a \u201cblack cow\u201d. Meanwhile, in Northern Wisconsin and Illinois, \u201cblack cow\u201d refers to when a portion of the vanilla ice cream and root beer are mixed together. Then, you continue filling the glass with scoops of ice cream and soda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Science Behind It<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered what create the foam that tops a root beer float? Well, here is the science<\/a> behind it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A root beer float consists of three forms of matter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n