Last week was a little intense over here on the blog, so I’m bringing some fun to the table today.
In the form of beer.
And ice cream.
Because no matter how bad life gets or how much stress the day brings, hope floats.
And so does ice cream.
In a glass of beer.
I present to you, faithful readers, the perfect remedy for your winter blues, or better yet, the ideal no-time-to-think-about-it, last-minute dessert for a holiday dinner.
Hope and Beer Floats
1 12-ounce bottle of Sam Adams Cherry Chocolate Bock (or any stout or porter with chocolate or coffee flavors)
2 scoops vanilla ice cream (local preferably)
Scoop ice cream into a tall glass. Pour beer over the ice cream slowly.
Sip at a leisurely pace whilst watching someone else wrap Christmas presents. See? Hope really does float.
Layers of sweet creamy hope
Rachel's Table 
I’m skeptical of this here dessert, ma’am. While I do love me some beer and ice cream separately, together? Surely you jest!
A word of advice: this will NOT work with Bud Light Lime.
Lol. Ok. Bud Light Lime is the meal, not the dessert, silly girl. I actually bought a six pack of O’Fallon Chocolate Cherry Beer. The wife and I can’t decide if we like it or not so maybe chucking some ice cream in it will help.
I think ice cream would improve it. The texture gets so creamy and velvety. Now I want a beer float. Good thing I work at a brewery!
WHA!!!? You do??!! Did I not know this?? Is anything that you do not awesome???
I worked for a brewery back in a different life. Not AT the brewery though.
http://www.ironhillbrewery.com/index.htm
I didn’t know you worked there, either!! I feel like I’ve seen this website before. Was that one of the possible options for places to meet when I came up for brunch? So cool that you’re working there!
Yes, it’s the same place, Misty! I work at their headquarters in HR (way less exciting than saying I work at a brewery).
I was looking at your post this morning and Jim walked by and glanced over. He stopped dead in his tracks and said, “What in the hell is THAT beer??”
I’m with Don. Does it really taste good? I love chocolate. I love ice cream. I love beer. But somehow it seems unnatural that the three should meet? (looks delish though)
It is so, so good. It’s got the bite of alcohol, the slight bitterness of beer, and the velvety-ness of a float. If you find the right beer, it’s magical. You and Jim need to try it.
Trust me….
Hmmmm. I’m not a fan of that beer, but am willing to try this. The ingredients in Irish Car Bombs (Guinness, Baileys, and Jamesons Irish Whiskey) don’t sound like they’d mix, but they taste like shakes. I’m a little concerned that if I don’t like it, I’ll try to slam it down. Which, of course, equals brain freeze.
Try it with your favorite stout! And just so you know, if you don’t like it you could always, PUT IT DOWN AND NOT DRINK IT. No need for a brain freeze.
Aw, where’s the fun in that!
Wil will be so surprised when I serve up this little treat!! He’s a huge beer lover! And adding ice cream.. How could that go wrong at all??!
Can’t go wrong! I’m sure he’d like this beer, too. You can find it in the winter sampler pack by Sam Adams.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait wait wait.
Just wait a gosh darn second. Beer…good. Ice cream…good. Why have I never thought of this?!?!
I’m waiting…for you to try this and LOOOOVE it!
I have always been highly skeptical of beer floats. Although, with all the flavored beers, this might just work. I trust your judgment, so I might just try this.
This is excellent with any heavy chocolate or coffee noted beer. You won’t be disappointed. Oddly, even though ice cream is involved, it’s like winter in a glass.
Yum. I love Beer Floats!
I bet it would be good with Framboise too!
Oh definitely. I like the way you think, Noelle.
The Hedonist is willing to try this. I am not quite sure what that means….
The Hedonist is willing to endure a brain freeze when trying this. I’m not sure what THAT means.
I see you have some beer float skeptics. I will vouch for you — THIS IS YUMMY AND GOOD! (And, as a side bonus, you don’t have to share it with your kids. Or, at least, you shouldn’t.)
Thank you for your support. And for not serving your children alcohol.
🙂 I’m working on role model status.
Wait… can’t you get FIRED from your new job for promoting another brand’s beer!??
Nope. But our coffee stout (aptly named Afternoon Delight) would be excellent paired with vanilla ice cream.
I’ll take one!
I love Root Beer Floats so I’m sure this will be delish!!
If you find the right beer for it, this is amazing.
I totally have your back on this one. While I haven’t tried it with cherry chocolate bock, I have made many a Guinness float in my time and IT IS SPECTACULAR. It goes great with a burger and fries on a frosty winter’s night (I first encountered a beer float at a tiny little burger joint in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn and it changed my life).
Thanks for backing me up on this one! I love Guinness and I can see how it would work fantastically in a float. So velvety! Now I want a burger and fries!
I don’t like beer, bleech. But I do love Ginger Beer and often make floats with Vanilla Ice Cream and Ginger Beer, delish.
Ask me about a Moscow Mule if you haven’t ever tried one.
So tell me about this Moscow Mule…
1 part Vodka
3 parts Ginger Beer
3 drops Bitters
sqeeze fresh lime
I like it served over crushed ice but any ice will do.
Ooooooh, I will try this!
Delicious Crazyness!!! Thanks, I will be sure to try this out back home in Canada. I’m sure i’ll be cold shocked and in need of a little warmth!
It’s so weird that an ice cream drink is so reminiscent of winter. This is really good! Good luck heading back home – quite a change from Brazil!
LOVE beer floats. I first had one at a Brooklyn restaurant called the Chocolate Room (yes, it’s just what you think it is and MORE!). They did it with the Brooklyn Chocolate stout which I believe has no actual chocolate in it but is one of the richest chocolate stouts I’ve ever had. We replicate it at home–often and have tried other beers too. In fact I find myself at bars or festivals often thinking, hmm, this stout/porter/lambic is good, but it would be much better with ice cream!
I work at a brewery and we have a porter and a stout that are both so great with ice cream or paired with ice cream sandwiches (which we do at the restaurants). The Sam Adams I mentioned is GREAT in a float. I highly recommend!
I need to get up to Brooklyn. Someone else on here mentioned having a beer float with a burger and fries in Brooklyn.
Bizarre, Rachel. And yet… I am going to have to try it. Cherry-chocolate? Even in beer, it’s gotta be tasty!
Try it! You’ll love it, I promise, especially if you like beer.
That’ll lighten the mood – and how!