What is the difference between a root beer float and a Brown Cow?

Question

I have heard 2x this week alone that a Brown Cow is vanilla ice cream and root beer. That is how I've always made my Root Beer Floats. Is there a difference or is it just a regional name difference. I am in SC, but my dad grew up in OH and CA and also calls the same concoction a "Float."

I know you can also swap soda flavors and/or ice cream flavors for various combinations, but I was curious about this one.

Answer 1

A root beer float and a brown cow are the same thing. A black cow is a root beer float made with chocolate ice cream.

Answer 2

I grew up with the definition of a "Brown Cow" being simply that it is a drink that consists of equal parts milk and root beer. Sometimes cola. But that was a Brown Cow, when a Float had actual ice cream.

Answer 3

root beer float = Brown Cow

Answer 4

I always thought a root beer float was root beer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A Brown Cow was root beer with a scoop of chocolate ice cream.

Answer 5

Brown Cow Drink

Answer 6

i think that a brown cow is a coke float

or a rootbeer float with choc. syrup, not choc ice cream

here:
A root beer float is also sometimes called a brown cow or black cow, although the former also refers to an ice cream soda made with cola instead of root beer or (in some regions) when chocolate syrup is added to the beverage

Answer 7

Root Beer & Ice Cream = Root Beer Float

Kaluha(Tia Maria) & Milk(Cream) = Brown Cow

OKAY? ( I used to work as a bartender)

Answer 8

A root beer float is root beer over vanilla ice cream. A brown cow is coke over vanilla ice cream. Both are really good and I like them best with more ice cream than soda. Put ice cream in the glass first then add the soda. Yum Yum. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 9

Brown Cow


Author/Submitted by:
Servings: 1
Categories: Alcoholic Beverages / Kahlua / Whisky


Ingredients:
1 ounce Whiskey
Root beer
1/2 ounce Heavy cream
1/2 ounce Kahlua

Directions:
Add crushed ice to a tall glass. Pour whiskey over crushed ice. Fill glass 2/3 full with root beer. Pour in cream and then Kalua. Stir lightly and drink with a straw

Brown Cow Punch


Author/Submitted by: Taste of Home, June/July, 1997, Carol Troyer and Teresa Stutzman
Servings: 1
Categories: Chocolate / Ice Cream / Non-Alcoholic Beverages


Ingredients:
2 quarts chocolate milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 gallon coffee ice cream

Directions:
In a punch bowl, combine milk and extract. Add ice cream by scoopfuls and allow to float on top of punch. Or scoop ice cream into glasses; combine milk and extract, then pour over ice cream. Yield: 3 quarts.

If coffee ice cream is unavailable, dissolve 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules in 2 teaspoons hot water and stir into vanilla ice cream.

Brown Cow Recipe

Rating: 75 % (of 40 votes)
Ingredients: 0.0 Shavings Chocolate
0.5 oz Creme de Cacao
0.25 oz Creme de Menthe
1.0 scoop Chocolate Ice Cream
1.0 oz Light Rum

Directions: Pour all ingredients into a Blender. Blend well at Low speed. Pour drink into a Champagne Flute, sprinkle with Chocolate Shavings, and serve.