Put down the vodka watermelon and Coronas and belly up to a more sophisticated barbecue beverage this Fourth of July. RM Seafood lead bartender J.R. Starkus suggests the Vanilla Anchor Steam Float, a summery adult drink featuring vanilla vodka, Thomas Kemper Root Beer and ice cream, which can double as dessert. Find the recipe for RM's Vanilla Anchor Steam ice cream below, or substitute any high-quality vanilla if you don't have time for a batch of your own.

Vanilla Anchor Steam Float

Ingredients

2 scoops Anchor Steam house-made ice cream

1 oz. Stoli Vanilla Vodka

Thomas Kemper Root Beer

In chilled pint glass, add first two ingredients, then fill with root beer. Serve with a straw and spoon.

Vanilla Anchor Steam Ice Cream

Property of Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood

Yields 1 ½ quarts

Ingredients

10 egg yolks

1 ½ cups sugar

2 ¼ cups Anchor Steam beer

2 ¼ cups heavy cream

1 vanilla bean, scraped

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

Place heavy cream, beer, half of the sugar, salt, vanilla bean and vanilla extract in a medium, heavy-bottom pot. Slowly bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.

Meanwhile, in a stainless bowl, whisk the yolks and remaining sugar until combined and yolks are fluffy.

As soon as the cream mixture has come to a boil, remove from heat. Very slowly, drizzle hot cream into yolks while whisking constantly. Once half of the hot cream mixture is combined with the yolks, return yolks and cream back into the pot and cook on low heat until mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon or reaches 175 degrees.

Cool as quickly as possible in an ice bath.

Store in refrigerator for up to three days, until ready to spin in an ice cream machine.