On August 6, National Root Beer Float Day tells us to float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in an ice-cold mug of frothy root beer. 1893 – Also known as the “Black Cow,” the root beer float got its start in Colorado in a mining camp. A brown cow (sometimes called a chocolate cow) can refer to a root beer float with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup or a float made with cola instead of root beer. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to Not Your Father’s alcoholic root beer to make your adult float, or, if you’re into vodka, try the Smirnoff root beer float. A reverse root beer float is made with root beer ice cream and vanilla soda.