Last Updated on February 23, 2019 by Liza Hawkins
October’s box from Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market was pretty amazing. In addition to more apples (yay!), I also got some fun things like Downey’s Cinnamon Honey Butter (OH.MY.GOSH), apple butter, Homemade Sweet Apple Schnitz, PA Dutch Birch Beer and Kutztown Root Beer Soda. So fun!
I was particularly excited about the birch and root beers.
There was a Jerry’s Sub & Pizza shop about 10 minutes from my house growing up in Rockville (Maryland), and as teens we’d often end up there to eat, hang out, study, whatever — it was inexpensive, and we liked the pizza. If I were to try it these days, who knows what I’d think? But my young adult memories are fond. I wonder if it even still exists…
Anyway, Jerry’s had a variety of fountain sodas from which to pick, including the usuals, like Coke and Sprite, of course. They also had BIRCH BEER, which I ended up getting every single time we ate there, poured into a mustard yellow opaque plastic pint glass with crushed ice. Birch beer and a cheese pizza with mushrooms. Every. Single. Time.
(Even writing this right now, my mouth is starting to salivate, and it’s been over 20 years!)
Mental note: make mushroom and cheese pizza, and serve the birch beer…
Root beer has its own place in the land of nostalgia, too. In my head it’s tied distinctly to root beer floats I used to get while we spent a few weeks on the New England coast each august, at my grandparents’ shore house.
There was a little soda shop on Groton Long Point that served your typical short order food (burgers, fries, mozzarella sticks, etc.), and also had a case full of classic candy (dots and wax soda bottles were my faves), ice cream, and freshly made doughnuts daily. I still remember my grandmother talking about walking down to “the Casino” (the soda shop’s nickname) each morning to meet her friends, drink coffee, and enjoy a fresh cruller.
Those floats though…perfect after a day at the beach, or for dessert after a big lobster dinner.
As a grown-up, I still love a good root beer float! This one’s a little more adult since I’m using butter pecan ice cream instead of a traditional vanilla, and the flavors together are amazing! Are there any kids who like butter pecan? I’ve yet to meet one…
Butter Pecan Root Beer Floats
A fun kid dessert tweaked for grown-up tastes!
Ingredients
- 3 scoops butter pecan ice cream
- 1 cup root beer
Instructions
Notes
This float would be delicious with an ounce of vodka if you're looking for a grown-up add-in!
Disclosure: I am partnering with Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market as a blog ambassador. I have received these Kauffman’s Fruit Farm products for free; however, all opinions remain my own.
I need this. Stat. Naw. For me, root beer floats memories were from A & W’s. That was the only thing in Malaysia that had that sort of thing. :p
Root beer floats seem to be memorable for SO many people. Maybe because you don’t have them every day?
I was one of those kids that loved Butter Pecan, as well as Butter Brickle and chocolate mint! I’ve been accused of being an old man since I was in middle school. I’m now a big fan of Ginger Beer, but haven’t tried Birch Beer. I’ll have to seek it out.
Birch beer is sooooo good, and the reddish color can be striking! I think a cold glass of birch beer goes great with pizza.