A&W has been making root beer floats since 1919. Now the classic diner order comes in a can.
A&W’s new Root Beer Float soda is available now at retailers nationwide in both classic and zero-sugar varieties — a limited-edition launch that blends the brand’s signature root beer with vanilla ice cream-inspired flavors. For a 107-year-old brand whose restaurants have served real root beer floats for over a century, this is a surprisingly novel product — and early fans are calling it an upgrade over the competition.
What’s in It
The soda features a blend of sassafras and licorice-flavored, earthy root beer with a “vanilla-kissed” flavor and creamy mouthfeel designed to mimic vanilla ice cream — essentially a classic diner root beer float, without the need for a spoon.
The butterscotch note that early reviewers are picking up on is a natural byproduct of that vanilla cream layering — the same warm, caramel-adjacent sweetness that makes a real root beer float feel richer than a straight soda. The zero-sugar version delivers the same flavor profile for anyone watching their sugar intake.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
Mug dropped its Root Beer Floats Vanilla Howler Soda earlier this year, and the two are now competing directly in the same creamy root beer float soda space. Based on early consumer reaction, A&W is winning that comparison. One fan noted that the A&W version is “much better” than the Mug equivalent, while food insider @snackolator described it as having “a great butterscotch taste to it” with “extra vanilla cream for even more decadence.”
This new Root Beer Float soda is also a direct follow-up to A&W’s Ice Cream Sundae-flavored soda from last summer, which included hints of hot fudge, vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, and cherry.
The Bigger Trend Behind This Launch
The dirty soda trend — which took off on TikTok and blew up soda shop chains like Swig — has pushed mainstream brands to compete with creamy, dessert-inspired soda formats. Dr Pepper’s Creamy Coconut, Pepsi’s Wild Cherry & Cream, Mountain Dew’s Dirty Cream Soda, and Mug’s Vanilla Howler have all landed in the past year. A&W’s Root Beer Float soda is a natural fit for the moment — the brand has been the original creamy soda authority for over a century, and this product essentially bottles the diner experience that built the brand’s identity.
Where to Find It
Available now at major retailers in 12-pack cans in both regular and zero-sugar formats. Check the soda aisle at your local grocery store or search on Instacart for home delivery.
The Bottom Line
A&W Root Beer Float soda — classic and zero-sugar — is in stores now for a limited time. If you’ve been riding the creamy soda wave or just love a good root beer float, this is the version people are saying is worth grabbing over the competition.
