Beer Floats shake things up for summer

By Jonathan Shikes Wed., Jun. 16 2010 at 1:09 PM

Categories: Beer Man

Flickr

Summer means beer. Summer also means ice cream. So why not combine the two?

Beer floats, beer shakes and other beery desserts are gaining popularity as beer and food culture grows. And while Colorado doesn't yet boast a Beer Float Showdown like L.A., you can find plenty of places to cool off with a sweet mixture of ice cream and ale.

Twisted Pine Brewing in Boulder is close to getting a health department license that will allow its tasting room to serve grub like gourmet hot dogs, pretzels and, yes, a beer float made with Twisted's Big Shot Espresso Stout. In a meantime, here are five others:

Breck Brew Vanilla Porter Milkshake
Breckenridge Brewery
Denver
Vanilla porter blended with several scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Planet Porter Shake
The Pub at Boulder Beer Company
Boulder
Planet Porter beer blended with vanilla ice cream; topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Awaken Creamy Beer Float
Trinity Brewing Company
Colorado Springs
Awaken Stout on nitro served with a few scoops of Josh and John's Ice Cream, locally made oatmeal cookie ice cream

Pint Glass Sundae
Walnut Brewery
Boulder
Starbucks Mud Pie ice cream, crushed chocolate wafers and hot fudge sauce served in a pint glass with Devil's Thumb Stout and topped with chopped nuts and whipped cream.

Liquid Brain Float
Bull & Bush Brewery
Denver
Although it's not on the menu, the Bull & Bush sometimes makes beer floats on special occasions with its seasonal Legend of the Liquid Brain Imperial Stout, and - if you ask nicely - the staff might make you one with the Bull's Stonehenge Stout.