Root beer floats are a delicious summer treat that combine rich, creamy vanilla ice cream with bubbly, syrupy root beer. But not all root beers are created equal when it comes to making the perfect float. Some brands and styles pair better with ice cream than others, creating a balanced sweetness and just the right amount of fizz. So which root beer makes the best float? We tested some popular brands and styles to determine which one deserves a permanent spot in your freezer.
The Contenders
We selected six popular national and regional root beer brands to test:
- A&W Root Beer
- Barq’s Root Beer
- IBC Root Beer
- Mug Root Beer
- Virgil’s Root Beer
- Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer
These represent a range of styles from big names in the root beer world. We conducted blind taste tests of each root beer on its own and in floats with vanilla ice cream. Here’s an overview of our contenders:
A&W Root Beer
A&W is one of the most recognizable root beer brands, known for its creamy, frothy head. It has a classic root beer flavor with prominent vanilla, wintergreen, and caramel notes and real cane sugar. A&W uses aged vanilla to create its signature vanilla flavor.
Barq’s Root Beer
Barq’s has a distinct bite thanks to its blend of 23 different barks, herbs, spices, and berries. It contains a higher percentage of caffeine than many other root beers. Barq’s has a sharper, more potent flavor than some sweeter brands.
IBC Root Beer
IBC Root Beer is made with pure cane sugar and vanilla but without caffeine. It has bold vanilla, wintergreen, and birch flavors that are well-balanced. IBC was originally created in 1919 in Boston, MA.
Mug Root Beer
Mug Root Beer is known for having a foamy head and robust flavor. It contains aged vanilla and honey for extra sweetness to balance the strong wintergreen and birch notes. Mug was first produced in Rochester, NY in the 1930s.
Virgil’s Root Beer
Virgil’s is an artisanal root beer made with all-natural ingredients, including anise, licorice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and wintergreen. It has a distinct licorice and anise flavor profile. Virgil’s is based in Ashland, OR but has nationwide distribution.
Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer
Henry Weinhard’s was founded in Portland, OR in 1862, making it one of the oldest root beer brands. It has a creamy, frothy head and rich flavor with prominent vanilla, blackstrap molasses, and wintergreen notes.
Evaluation Criteria
We evaluated each root beer and float using the following criteria:
- Carbonation: Is it pleasantly bubbly without being too effervescent?
- Head: Does it have a nice frothy head that lasts?
- Aroma: Does it smell appealingly root beer-y with vanilla, caramel, and wintergreen notes?
- Flavor: Is the flavor bold, balanced, and complex? Does it taste like root beer should?
- Sweetness: Is it sweet without being cloying? Does the sweetness pair well with the vanilla ice cream?
- Mouthfeel: Does it feel pleasantly thick and creamy?
- Drinkability: How easy is it to drink on its own and as a float?
We also looked at how the root beer interacted with the ice cream when making floats – did they complement each other or clash? After tallying up taste test scores in each category, we had our winning brands.
The Taste Test Results
Here’s an overview of how each root beer stacked up across our flavor evaluation criteria:
| Root Beer Brand | Carbonation | Head | Aroma | Flavor | Sweetness | Mouthfeel | Drinkability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&W | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Barq’s | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| IBC | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Mug | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Virgil’s | 2/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Henry Weinhard’s | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
A few key observations:
- IBC and Henry Weinhard’s received high marks across the board, with near perfect scores for flavor, aroma, and drinkability.
- A&W also scored very well, with high ratings for head, drinkability, and aroma.
- Virgil’s had bold, complex flavor but lower carbonation and head.
- Barq’s was let down by lower scores for head, sweetness, and drinkability.
- Mug performed decently but didn’t stand out in any one area.
When it came to the all-important float test, a couple root beers clearly separated themselves from the pack.
The Best Root Beers for Floats
IBC
IBC Root Beer was the runaway winner when paired with vanilla ice cream. Its crisp carbonation and balanced sweetness was the perfect complement, creating creamy, dreamy root beer floats. The aged vanilla flavors married beautifully with the vanilla ice cream. Every sip was refreshing and deeply satisfying. Out of all the brands, IBC blended together with the ice cream in complete harmony.
Henry Weinhard’s
A close second to IBC was Henry Weinhard’s Root Beer. Its rich, frothy foam paired nicely with the ice cream’s texture. Like IBC, it had just the right sweetness and carbonation to work in perfect tandem with the ice cream. Its complex wintergreen, birch, and molasses notes came through but were mellowed out by the creaminess of the melting ice cream.
Worst Root Beers for Floats
Virgil’s
While Virgil’s had robust spices and herbs, its low carbonation and minimal head didn’t work well atop a scoop of ice cream. Its strong licorice and anise flavors overpowered the ice cream instead of complementing it. Overall, it was unbalanced and awkward as a float.
Barq’s
Barq’s bold bite didn’t meld well with sweet, creamy ice cream. Its sharp bite and lack of sweetness clashed with the dessert-like vanilla. The ice cream muted Barq’s stronger flavors instead of harmonizing with them. It was our least favorite float experience.
The Ideal Root Beer for Floats
So what’s the takeaway after our vigorous root beer float taste tests? IBC Root Beer is the clear winner if you want to make the perfect old fashioned root beer float at home. Its well-rounded flavor profile pairs impeccably with sweet, creamy vanilla ice cream. The ice cream smoothes out the edges of its vanilla, wintergreen, and birch notes while IBC’s balanced sweetness and crisp carbonation prevents the float from being too cloying. Henry Weinhard’s is an very close second, delivering an amazing float-drinking experience. And while A&W and Mug didn’t earn top float honors, they are still solid root beer choices in their own right.
As for Virgil’s and Barq’s? We’d suggest enjoying them on their own and choosing a different root beer for your floats. But the beauty of root beer is that taste is subjective! Try out a variety and see which brand earns your personal top spot. The perfect float is out there waiting for you!