Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: August 6th, 2021. Check out the Holiday being celebrated today and let me know if you would like to celebrate it or not.
If I had knew it was National Root Beer Day when we were out running errands and stopped to get a Ice Cream and a Milkshake for David at Braum’s I would have asked for a Root Beer Float and I am sure David would have as well.
Diet? Not on August 6th it’s National Root Beer Float Day, after all — a time to enjoy one of the best beverage/dessert combos on the planet. On that day, some even compete for Root Beer Float greatness. It all started in Colorado back in 1893. Frank J. Wisner was inspired.
Surrounded by Cow Mountain where his Cripple Creek Brewing Company was located, Wisner came up with a novel idea. While mountain gazing, he didn’t see Snow-covered peaks. Instead, Wisner envisioned scoops of Ice Cream floating in Root Beer. Crazy, right? So, today, enjoy the tallest, fizziest Root Beer Float you can find!
When is National Root Beer Float Day 2021? The frothy beverage/dessert combo we all love is celebrated on National Root Beer Float Day on August 6th.
History of National Root Beer Float Day
The unique fusion of Ice Cream with Root Beer is unlike anything else. This Summertime dessert has a history as rich as its texture and flavor!
Frank J. Wisner, the owner of Colorado’s Cripple Creek Brewing, is the person to thank for creating the Root Beer Float on August 19, 1893. The idea behind this extraordinary innovation came to Wisner when he was looking at the snowy peaks of Colorado’s Cow Mountain that gave the illusion of Ice Cream floating on a beverage. While staring out of the window of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, Wisner thought the glow of the full moon made the Snow-capped mountains resemble Ice Cream.
The following day, Wisner got to work combining Vanilla Ice Cream with Root Beer and calling the result the ‘Black Cow Mountain.’ The soda he had used was Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. The Root Beer Float was served to his guests the very next day and became an instant hit. Children shortened the word to ‘Black Cow,’ and today it is simply known as a Root Beer Float.
Five facts about Root Beer:
- Root Beer is made out of 16 Roots, and Herbs.
- Colonist were actually the first people to make Root Beer.
- The A and W in A&W stands for Alan and Wright.
- Hires Root Beer was introduces by Charles Hires in 1876 Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition.
- The most original ingredient was Sassafras which comes in an Alcoholic drink also.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
