Today, June 20, is National Ice Cream Soda Day, and well, you don’t have to tell me twice! Whether it is one of the most popular ice cream sodas, like the root-beer float, or a less common straight-up beer float for those 21 and over, this frothy drink is comprised of any carbonated beverage and any ice cream. According to punchbowl.com, ice cream sodas were invented by Robert Green in 1874 during Philadelphia’s 150th anniversary celebration. It is believed that Mr. Green added vanilla ice cream to the soda he sold after he ran out of ice. He was so proud of his invention, he even had it engraved on his tombstone! Others have also tried to claim the title of “inventor of the ice cream soda” but, well, there claim isn’t chiseled in stone!
Now besides the great choice of a root-beer float, there are other great ice cream soda combinations out there. Try the Boston Cooler, for example. This ice cream soda combines ginger ale and vanilla ice cream. Some claim that although this has Boston in the name, it originated in Detroit… we will let Michigan and Massachusetts battle that one out!
Another fun ice cream soda that we can definitely get behind is the Purple Cow. Can anyone say “Moo?!” This fun sounding drink is made with grape juice and vanilla ice cream… well, you had us at cow. And of course, it get its name from the gorgeous purple color… dreamy.
But wait, there’s more… June 20th was such a great day, they gave it another high honor, National Vanilla Milkshake Day. Wow. Ice Cream float for breakfast and vanilla milkshake for lunch? Hey, why not? It’s a free country! Now it’s beyond us how you will decide whether you want a Mayor Freddy’s Vanilla Bean Milkshake or an ice cream float – or both – but either way, Harmony Valley Creamery has you covered.
