This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
Vanilla bean ice cream and root beer ale combine with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup to create the ultimate adult summer adult beverage.
If you’re a fan of social media, odds are you’ve stumbled across a photo of one of your friends gleefully sipping on a bottle of Not Your Father’s Root Beer. For weeks, I’ve been seeing this adult beverage popping up everywhere, so naturally I had to pick some up because Instagram said so.
Let me make it very clear that I am not a beer drinker. In fact, I don’t think I’ve had a sip of the stuff since 1999 when I made a feeble attempt at a keg stand in college. Bad move on so many levels.
Point being I dislike the stuff, so I had to be pretty intrigued to spend $12 on a six-pack of beer. However, people were raving that it tastes exactly like root beer with no beer aftertaste whatsoever. Well, those people are liars.
While I will 100% agree that it tastes like an ice-cold, spicy root beer initially, there is most definitely a beer finish to each sip. Shockingly, this didn’t bother me at all and I finished almost an entire bottle. If you’re sensing that I am a little proud of this – I totally am!
We tossed a few of them into the fridge and kind of forgot about them until one night last week when we both had a little hankering for ice cream. I tossed a couple of mugs into the freezer and about an hour later filled our frosty mugs with vanilla bean ice cream and topped with off with the ice cold Not Your Father’s Root Beer. And if I’m being honest, it was pretty darn delightful on a warm, summer evening.
Do me a favor and don’t use just any vanilla ice cream. It’s gotta be the good stuff, with just a few ingredients, and flecks of real vanilla bean throughout. Because it’s only that honest, creamy flavor that’s going to stand up to this hard root beer.
I’m pretty sure these floats would go over amazingly well at your next barbecue. You can even pre-scoop the ice cream into frosty mugs or Solo cups and stick ’em in the freezer. Then just pick up some regular root beer for the kiddos. Talk about the best way to spend a warm summery night!
Adult Root Beer Floats
Ingredients
- 1 pint quality vanilla bean ice cream
- 2 12- ounce bottles of Not Your Father's Root Beer
- whipped cream
- chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Scoop 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream into each of the 4 frosty mugs. Add enough root beer to fill each mug. If desired, top with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Serve immediately.
Waiting for Friday to toss on my brothers graduation party.
It sounds like a great party, Arthur! I hope everyone enjoys them!
woow that looks delicious if at all beer is delicious
Thank you!
Crazy creative! The pictures are stunning.
Thank you so much!
Crazy! I’ve got my Not Your Father’s Root Beer float sitting on a coaster next to me when I see this on Pinterest! I wish I’d tried it with chocolate sauce like yours, that looks good. Instead I added a couple tablespoons of bourbon, thinking of the “Secret Breakfast” float from Humphry Slocombe ice cream place at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. (Secret Breakfast ice cream has bourbon and corn flakes in it, dunked in Coke for the float — so good!) The bourbon in mine is good — but it might be too much of a good thing! I’ll try chocolate sauce next time ;)
Hi, Cathy! I have to try the Secret Breakfast float! That sounds amazing! I hope you enjoyed your bourbon!
Yes!! I love everything about this! I could use one of these right about now!
Thank you, Eden!
I was recently turned onto hard root beer, thanks to an article in the New York Daily News. I’ve tried Coney Island and Not Your Father’s. I liked Not Your Father’s better, Coney Island had an after taste that reminded me of artificial sweeteners, but tasted better over ice.
how could i see this on Thursday morning hehehe makes me feel like going for a semi-final as i wait for the weekend. Thumbs up for the creativity
I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
-Jamie
Looks sweet… Will give it a try :)
i have to try this immediately. i read through your site and there are a million other things i will definately try. very creative!! Bookmarked!!
Thanks so much, Terry!