5 Root Beer Floats We Love
From classics to newbies, we're embracing this creamy, fizzy summer drink.
the ice cream shop uses Mug Root Beer with house-made vanilla ice cream sweetened with honey to give the classic root beer float ($3.50-4.50) unbelievable flavor. “The best part of a float is after the ice cream starts melting,” says Brecksville store manager Jonathan Rosati. “That texture of a super creamy root beer milkshake is even more exciting than the taste.” Various locations, gohoneyhut.com
Malley’s Chocolates
Here’s the scoop on Malley’s root beer floats ($3.75-$6.50): with several scoops of French vanilla bean ice cream, the tall soda glass is filled to the rim with root beer. “My grandfather, Mike Malley, took great pride in his root beer floats,” says vice president of marketing, Dan Malley, who remembers celebrating special occasions with a float. “It’s perfect for kids of all ages.” Various locations, malleys.com
Retro Dog
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. makes root beer just for the ’50s drive-in, where it gets poured over vanilla custard (regular $2.99, large $3.49) to form a tasty trip down memory lane. “These are things that people have as a child,” says co-owner Lisa Bruno. “Families come in passing on to their children that happy memory that you experience with a float. That’s what we do.” 350 E. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-3500, retrodog.com
Sweet Moses Soda Fountain & Treat Shop
The Gordon Square Arts District shop turns to tradition when making its float. Root beer syrup and whipped cream are hand-carbonated with a stream of soda water, then topped with house-made vanilla bean ice cream for a rich, creamy flavor (regular $6.50, large $6.95). “It’s the best root beer float you’ll get in town,” says owner Jeff Moreau. “We base our recipes on instructional soda fountain books published in the early 1900s.” 6800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-651-2202, sweetmosestreats.com
Tommy’s
Two scoops of Pierre’s vanilla ice cream gets your float started. Then choose from one of 20 different root beers ($4.59) such as Hank’s. One sip and you will see why owner Tom Fello fell in love with the sweet treat more than 40 years ago when he visited Dogs n Suds in Elyria. “I tasted their root beer and knew I wanted to serve it because how refreshing and good it made me feel.” 1824 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-7757, tommyscoventry.com
