National Root Beer Float Day
About National Root Beer Float Day
When is National Root Beer Float Day? This holiday is always celebrated on August 6
Hmmm, when is National Root Beer Float Day? Why, it’s today! On this hot and humid August 6 holiday, we cool off as we enjoy one of summer’s favorite ice cream treats. Historically made by soda jerks in soda fountains around the country, this American food invention is now enjoyed around the world. You can enjoy this classic root beer float at home with your family. Or, you can go with a group of friends to an ice cream shop or old-fashioned soda fountain. Yes, there’s still a few around. Either way, you’re in for a real frosty and frothy treat.
Ice cream treats are most often enjoyed in the hot and humid summer months. Understandably, their sweet, cooling, and thirst-quenching attributes make them a summertime favorite. And, Root Beer Floats are no exception. They taste as good as they look with a scoop of vanilla ice cream floating atop your favorite brand of root beer. So, on this hot and sultry summer day stay cool by celebrating National Root Beer Float Day with a frosty mug.
You can enjoy this ice-cold beverage for lunch, dinner, or as a nighttime snack. And, while it is filled with sugar and calories, put your diet on hold for just one day. We challenge you to have more than one root beer float today. Make sure to have a long-handled spoon handy so you can get every drop.
The History of the Root Beer Float
Both ice cream soda and carbonated root beer were first created in the 1870s. A couple of decades later, these two inventions came together in one great ice cream treat.
In the 1890s, Frank J. Wisner was the owner of Cripple Creek Brewing Company in Cripple Creek, Colorado. On the night of August 19, 1893, Wisner was in his factory making soda water for his customers. As he looked out the window at the snow-capped Cow Mountain, he saw the mountain peak covered with snow. It looked like a scoop of vanilla ice cream atop the dark mountain. Suddenly, he had a brainstorm.
Wisner rushed over to his bar and grabbed a mug. First, he poured into the mug his children’s favorite drink, which was Myer’s Avenue Red Root Beer. Then, he added a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Consequently, a new ice cream treat was invented.
Wisner first named his ice cream creation Black Cow Mountain. The name proved too long. So, when his children asked for it, they called it Black Cow. It later came to be aptly known as a Root Beer Float.
Root Beer Trivia and Fun Facts
As you savor one of summer’s favorite frosty treats, check out our Root Beer Float trivia and fun facts:
- In 1874, Robert McCay Green, operator of a soda fountain in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania invented the ice cream float.
- In 1876, carbonated root beer was first marketed as a medicinal drink by Charles Hires from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Root beer is caffeine-free.
- There are numerous root beer recipes. Most of them include some combination of cinnamon, licorice root, molasses, nutmeg, sarsaparilla root, and vanilla.
- A purple Cow is similar. But, it uses grape soda in place of root beer.
- In 1960, the FDA banned sassafras root oil because it’s carcinogenic and toxic. Nowadays, root beer recipes use artificial sassafras flavoring.
- An ice cream soda and an ice cream float are the same thing. This applies to any flavor.
- The average person drinks 1.4 root beers per year. However, some people consume a whole lot more.
The Best Root Beer Brands
You can take as many taste tests as you want. But, it’s next to impossible to name the top root beer brands. Everyone has different taste buds and different ways to rank the top brands. And, practically every soda manufacturer uses their own “secret” recipe to make their brand of root beer. Some people rank brands by fizziness, flavor, smoothness, or spiciness.
Some of the most popular brands of root beer are:
- A&W – Currently the top brand by sales volume.
- Barq’s
- Hires – First made in 1893, it is the original root beer brand.
- IBC
- Saranac
- Sprecher
How to Celebrate and Participate in National Root Beer Float Day
Here are some ideas on how to participate in National Root Beer Float Day:
- Go to an ice cream shop and order a root beer float.
- Make your own root beer. There are plenty of recipes online.
- Fill a frosty mug with your homemade soda. Then, add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Share pictures of your creation on social media.
- Let’s party! Make it a root beer float party.
- Hold a taste test. Use several different brands of root beer to see which one comes out on top.
Today's Quote
“So long as a man attends to his business the public does not count his drinks. When he fails they notice if he takes even a glass of root beer.” – – Corra May Harris
History and Origin of National Root Beer Float Day
We know a lot about root beer and who created it. However, we have not yet identified who created this holiday. Obviously, one can speculate that the creator of National Root Beer Float Day is a person who loves them. We read dozens of articles about this holiday. Yet, we found no references to who created the holiday.
The earliest reference to this holiday that we found, was in 2010. Also, we are uncertain why August 6 was selected to celebrate this holiday. After all, it was invented on August 19 way back in 1893.
We did not find any documentation confirming this to be a “National” day. We found no congressional records or presidential proclamation.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is so important to distinguish and identify true national days.
This Day in History
Here are some things that happened on this day:
- Baseball pitching legend Cy Young pitches his first his first game, a win. (1890)
- The Atom bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan by the U.S. (1945)
- Poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born on this day in 1809.
Related Holidays
People who like Root Beer Foat Day will also like:
More August 6 Holidays
In addition to National Root Beer Float Day, here are more August 6 holidays we are certain you will enjoy:
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