National Root Beer Float Day 🥤

Overview

National Root Beer Float Day, observed annually on August 6th, is a festive occasion dedicated to celebrating the delightful combination of root beer and vanilla ice cream. This iconic American treat, often called a "black cow," offers a nostalgic blend of fizzy, sweet, and creamy textures, making it a beloved dessert-beverage perfect for enjoying during the summer.

Origin and story

The root beer float was invented in 1893 by Frank J. Wisner, owner of Cripple Creek Brewing in Cripple Creek, Colorado.

Wisner was reportedly inspired by the snowy peaks of Cow Mountain, leading him to add vanilla ice cream to his root beer.

Quick facts

• DateAugust 6
• TypeFood / Dessert
• Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers

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Ways to celebrate

The root beer float's charming origin story doesn't hold up well once historians actually go looking for the man behind it.

Meet the legendary inventor

The popular story credits Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, who supposedly looked out at snow-capped Cow Mountain in 1893, thought it resembled ice cream floating in dark root beer, and named his creation the "Black Cow" after the mountain that inspired him.

Know why historians are skeptical

A History Colorado curator searched Cripple Creek's historical records, census data, newspapers, and genealogy sites and found no evidence Wisner ever lived in Colorado or owned a brewery there — records instead placed him working as a real estate agent in Chicago, and no Cripple Creek Brewing Company appears on period fire-risk maps at all.

Read the fuller investigation

Helpful resources:

• Was the Root Beer Float Invented in Colorado? (Denver Gazette)

Did you know?

Some versions of the drink are still called a "brown cow" in Colorado today — possibly a lingering echo of Wisner's likely-apocryphal Black Cow legend.

Fun facts

• The root beer float was invented in 1893 by Frank J. Wisner, owner of Cripple Creek Brewing in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
• Wisner was reportedly inspired by the snowy peaks of Cow Mountain, leading him to add vanilla ice cream to his root beer.
• The original name for the root beer float was "Black Cow Mountain," later shortened to "Black Cow."

Sources and attribution

Was the Root Beer Float Invented in Colorado? (Denver Gazette)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Root Beer Float Day?

It is observed on August 6 each year.

What is National Root Beer Float Day?

National Root Beer Float Day, observed annually on August 6th, is a festive occasion dedicated to celebrating the delightful combination of root beer and vanilla ice cream. This iconic American treat, often called a "black cow," offers a nostalgic blend of fizzy, sweet, and creamy textures, making it a beloved dessert-beverage perfect for enjoying during the summer.

How do people celebrate National Root Beer Float Day?

Make a root beer float and consider the shaky evidence behind its famous 1893 origin story — a historian found no proof that supposed inventor Frank Wisner ever lived in Colorado or owned a brewery there.

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