Root Beer Float Day

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By Diane Forrest

Many years ago my grandfather work for Mr. Barq, of Barq's root beer.  Whenever we went to visit my grandparents, he would always have a case of bottled root beer in his garage.  On the warm summer nights, he and my father would sit on the back porch and fix a root beer float; only he called them black cows.  They wouldn't ever share with me or my brother, telling us we were not old enough to have some.  I think that was just an excuse to keep us from having that sweet ice cold delicious treat.  I couldn't wait until I was old enough for a root beer float, now Barqs is the only drink I have.

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At the end of the 19th century, Frank Wisner invented the first root beer float in Colorado. Frank Wisner, who owned Cripple Creek Brewing, was inspired to create the treat by the way the moon shined on snowcapped Cow Mountain. He recreated the scene by topping Myers Avenue Red root beer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. He named his concoction "Black Cow Mountain." It was an instant hit with the local kids, who shortened the name to "Black Cow."

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Today is Root Beer Float Day. To make one of these delicious beverages, just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a tall glass of root beer. Make sure you don’t fill the glass with soda, as it will bubble and rise when you add the ice cream.  Fix one today and sit out on your back porch and make some memories with your family.

National Ice Cream Soda Day - 2012

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By Diane Forrest

Today is the beginning of summer, and the hottest day of the year.  That makes it the perfect date for Ice Cream Soda Day.  Ice Cream Sodas are a cool delicious treat made with one or two scoops of ice cream then covered with a carbonated drink of your choice.  I prefer root beer.

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When my dad was a teen he worked at a local drug store.  When he wasn't out making deliveries or changing the boss's baby's diapers, he could be found behind the counter where ice cream was served.  He was known as a Soda Jerk.  He would tell me stories about all the treats he would make, from banana splits to Sundaes, to milkshakes and ice cream sodas.  Those were the good ole days when the drug stores had soda fountains and served ice cream out of glass dishes.

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Ice cream sodas were invented by Robert Green in 1874 during Philadelphia's sesquicentennial celebration. Legend has it that Mr. Green added vanilla ice cream to the soda he sold after he ran out of ice.  There has been some controversy over this invention.  There are at least three other claimants for the invention of ice cream soda: Fred Sanders, Philip Mohr (in 1782 at Fulton and First Streets in Elizabeth, NJ), and George Guy, one of Robert Green's own employees according to Wikipedia.  Regardless of its origins, the beverage quickly became very popular, to such a degree that it was almost socially obligatory among teens, although many adults abhorred it. According to some accounts, it was banned, either entirely or on holy days, by some local governments.

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These days you can get an ice cream soda on any day, and since today is ice cream soda day, it’s the perfect day for you to enjoy this delicious treat!

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