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August 15, 2005

How to Make a Root Beer Float?

Actually I have no idea but when I saw the title How to Make a Root Beer Float, I had to go and read it. Unfortunately the opening paragraph was a fizzer:

The headline of this piece has nothing to do with its content, as usual. I'm just checking to see if there is anybody in the world who does not know how to make a root beer float.
Given that I don't know what root-beer is, I have no idea how you would float it. Maybe you could just put the beer in a boat (assuming that it was not a boat used in the Henley on Todd Regatta). Then again maybe it is more like a spider* made with Ginger Beer (wild speculation on my part).
Mind you, the article gets better with a discussion of thongs...

[* A spider is created by pouring a soft drink (soda) over a scoop of ice-cream.]

Posted by Ozguru at August 15, 2005 09:00 PM

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Comments

Guru: Root Beer is akin to Sasparilla -- made from the bark and roots of certain plants. It's a dark soda (like a cola) but with more of hints of vanilla, and in some brands, nutmeg. A "float" is very much the same as a spider.

Posted by: Silver Blue at August 15, 2005 11:27 PM

A root beer float is described here and root beer is described here.
In the US, root beer is soda pop sold by the Cokes and Pepsis of the world. A&W is an old brand. It's sweet and lighter than say, Coke. It's almost like a dark molasses ginger ale type deal. It's not alcoholic. The thought of root beer with alchohol sounds nasty.
Anyways, on a hot day and an empty stomach, put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass and pour the root beer to the top. Enjoy :)
Linc

Posted by: linc at August 16, 2005 01:37 AM

Exactly. A "spider" is a root beer float. Root beer is a soft drink made from bark of sassafras. Good stuff.

Posted by: Old Horsetail Snake at August 16, 2005 04:42 AM

You don't have root beer in Oz? Huh. I kinda thought it was a universal thing.

Root beer is a vaguely licorice-y tasting concotion originally made from the sassafras root. Today, many brands are made using artificial flavours (avoid them!). One of the few pops I find tolerable without a generous dollop of alcohol in it.

More info here: http://www.root-beer.org/

Cheers from the Great White North.

Posted by: Timmy the G at August 16, 2005 06:27 AM

It's very much exactly like a 'spider'. Ginger beer is a kind of 'root beer,' as a matter of fact...

Try this link... for the history of root beer and some of the things it's been made of.

Posted by: Kathy K at August 16, 2005 07:07 AM

Wow - here was me wondering if all my readers have vanished and then I get a whole bunch of comments on a single topic. Thanks everyone.

I have been checking out the links provided and I figure this is something I will have to try next year when I come to the States. I don't think it is something you get buy Down Under.

Posted by: Ozguru at August 16, 2005 09:27 PM