Will It Float? Ice Cream & Non-Alcoholic Beer Challenge

If you've ever wondered whether beer and ice cream are a match made in dessert heaven, you're in for a real treat—or possibly a hilarious disaster. Chelsea and I decided it was time to put non-alcoholic beers to the ultimate test: the Ice Cream Beer Float Challenge.

We grabbed a tub of classic Tillamook vanilla ice cream, because you can’t beat the creamy simplicity of vanilla, and paired it with four different beers—two chosen by yours truly and two by Chelsea. Honestly, going in, I was convinced I'd made a questionable pick, but sometimes life hands you delightful surprises. Keep reading and you'll see what I mean.

First up was Blue Moon. Now, I had high hopes of creamy citrus vibes swirling around in my glass, but sadly, my palate decided to ghost me on the orange flavor. Chelsea, however, picked up all the zesty notes that had skipped town on me, thoroughly enjoying her float. I’ll have to revisit that one another day—I refuse to be defeated by wheat beer!

Next was Chelsea’s pick, the Hellraiser Dark Amber Ale from Wellbeing Brewing. Alone, this beer is packed with roasted caramel notes that could charm even the grumpiest tastebuds. Mixed with ice cream, it was like diving into a creamy caramel sundae topped with hints of roastiness. Absolutely nailed it for me. Chelsea, meanwhile, just shrugged—it turns out she's "meh" about caramel. Seriously, Chelsea, caramel's awesome. Who invited her anyway?

Then came the wild card—Best Day Brewing Imperial IPA. I'll admit, I was braced for disaster here. But the beer gods smiled upon us and delivered what can only be described as our very first milkshake IPA creation. Even Chelsea, who openly despises milkshake IPA’s, was licking her spoon clean. That’s right—IPA and ice cream turned a skeptic into a believer. Miracles happen, folks!

Finally, the classic—Guinness non-alcoholic stout. We fully expected this pairing to crush it, and it absolutely did. Chocolate and vanilla did their legendary best-friend handshake, delivering dessert perfection. It was rich, creamy, and everything you'd want from a beer float.

So, which pairing took home the grand prize? Taste-wise, Guinness was the undisputed champ. But for sheer shock value, creativity, and "I-can’t-believe-that-worked," the Imperial IPA float won hands-down. Clearly, I prioritize surprise and delight over predictable deliciousness.

Watch all our hilarious reactions, triumphs, and fails in the full Ice Cream Beer Float Challenge video right here:

Chelsea and Liz put their beer skills (and taste buds) to the test, pairing 4 different beer styles with creamy ice cream for the ultimate beer float challenge. Which style makes the best float? Watch and find out!

Can’t wait to do more challenges like these—they come together faster than pollen hits my nose in springtime. 

Cheers, everyone!