Do you know the difference in an ice cream soda vs. an ice cream float? It's all in the preparation! Keep in mind one of the ingredients is ice cream, not necessarily cream soda but that could be the second ingredient if you so desire. Here is the scoop:

The ice cream soda...the ice cream is put in the glass first, then soda is poured over...not necessarily just cream soda, it could be any flavor soda (root beer, cream, orange, cola, etc).

The ice cream float...the glass is (nearly) filled with soda first and a scoop of ice cream is floated on top.

August 6 is...

National Root Beer Float Day

aka National 'Black Cow' Day

http://www.colourfulpalate.com/2015/08/05/low-carb-root-beer-float/

It’s National Root Beer Float Day! Between the creamy vanilla ice cream and the frothy root beer foam, how can anyone resist this sweet refreshment? Today we celebrate yet another tasty summer treat.
At the end of the 19th century, a man named Frank Wisner invented the first root beer float. This early version was also known as a “black cow.” To make one of these delicious beverages, just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a tall glass of root beer. (Note: If you reverse the directions and add the root beer to the ice cream you will be going the soda route so be careful or you might end up with a big mess!)

A Bit of Root Beer Trivia:

Root beer started out as a health tonic, which is why some of the oldest companies that sell it have “doctor” as part of their brand name.

Enjoy this delicious American tradition and make your own float for National Root Beer Float "Black Cow" Day!

http://www.food.com/recipe/root-beer-float-66032

In this recipe, place a large, well packed scoop of vanilla ice cream on the edge of a fountain glass or other tall drinking glass. When you are ready to enjoy the float, knock the ice cream into the root beer and watch it fizz up as the ice cream floats.

Ready to try a different kind of float...