Beer Ice Cream: Where To Buy This Sweet Treat

Beer ice cream is a unique treat that combines the sweetness of ice cream with the flavour of beer. While it can be made at home, there are also companies that sell beer ice cream, such as Frozen Pints, Blue Bell, and PROOF Hard Ice Cream. These companies may offer online ordering and shipping, or they may be available at local stores.

Beer ice cream brands, such as Frozen Pints and Proof Hard Ice Cream

Beer ice cream is a unique treat that combines the sweetness of ice cream with the flavour of beer. Two brands that offer this boozy dessert are Frozen Pints and Proof Hard Ice Cream.

Frozen Pints

Frozen Pints carefully crafts each flavour of its beer ice cream to maximise the potential of the brew and bring out its best attributes. The brand pairs its ice cream with complementary flavours, using the freshest ingredients, but never masks the natural taste of the beer. Its unique offerings include the following:

• Cinnamon Espresso Stout
• Malted Milk Chocolate Stout
• Belgian Lambic
• American IPA with Floral Honey
• Pumpkin Ale
• Brown Ale Chip

Proof Hard Ice Cream

Proof Hard Ice Cream is a woman-owned company that creates an indulgent taste experience by uniting two of life's greatest pleasures: alcohol and ice cream. Its ice cream contains alcohol as a key ingredient at regulated levels, resulting in an ultra-creamy, award-winning adult treat. Proof offers a range of flavours, including:

• Sweet Caramel Old Fashioned: Caramel ice cream with orange zest, spices, and bourbon.
• Chocolate Espresso Martini: Chocolate ice cream with espresso beans and notes of vodka.
• Strawberry Daiquiri Spritz: Light strawberry ice cream with notes of citrus and rum.
• Tropical Piña Colada: Creamy coconut ice cream with notes of pineapple and rum.
• Chocolate Cherry Manhattan: Chocolate ice cream with cherry, bourbon, and a hint of heat.
• New York Cheesecake Martini: Rich vanilla and cheesecake ice cream with notes of vodka.

Where to Buy Beer Ice Cream

You can find Frozen Pints and Proof Hard Ice Cream at various retailers, depending on your location. Proof Hard Ice Cream, for example, can be found in freezers across South Carolina and Florida, including high-end liquor stores, Lowe's grocery stores, and select gas stations. Frozen Pints may also be available at certain retailers, and you can check their website for more information. Additionally, both brands may offer online ordering and shipping options.

Making beer ice cream at home

Beer ice cream is a unique and delicious treat that combines the sweetness of ice cream with the flavour of beer. You can make it at home, and it's easier than you might think!

Ingredients

The key to a good beer ice cream is the type of beer you use. It's best to opt for a beer that's sweet and malty, such as a stout, porter, brown ale, or amber beer. These beers have nutty, caramel-like flavours that complement the creamy sweetness of the ice cream. Avoid hoppy, bitter beers like IPAs, as they will make your ice cream taste bitter.

Other ingredients include:

• Egg yolks (for a creamy texture)
• Whipping cream (for body and creaminess)
• Sugar (granulated or brown)
• Sea salt
• Pure vanilla (optional)

You can also add toppings such as crumbled pretzels, chocolate, or peanut butter.

Method

Here's a step-by-step guide to making beer ice cream at home:

• Pour half of the beer into a small saucepan and simmer until it reduces by half.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks, whipping cream, sugar, and salt.
• Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, whisking frequently, until a custard forms. The custard should reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit or be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Remove the custard from the heat and add the reduced beer, the remaining beer, and vanilla (if using).
• Strain the mixture to remove any bits of cooked egg.
• Place the custard in the fridge and allow it to cool completely.
• Process the custard according to the instructions for your ice cream maker. If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can use the no-churn method by pouring the custard into a shallow dish and putting it in the freezer. Take it out every half hour and use a fork to scrape and mix it.
• Put the ice cream in a glass or metal container and freeze for at least four hours.

Tips

• Beer ice cream can be made with or without an ice cream maker, but using one will give you a creamier texture.
• If you want to retain the alcohol in your beer ice cream, avoid cooking the beer, as this will evaporate the alcohol.
• Flatten out the beer by whisking it for a few minutes before adding it to the mixture to prevent it from affecting the texture of the ice cream.
• Don't use too much beer, as the alcohol can impact the ice cream's ability to settle and its texture.
• Use high-quality beer, whether it's a store-bought craft beer or your own homebrew.

Beer ice cream shops in the United States

Beer ice cream is a unique treat that combines the flavours of ice cream and beer. It can be made by infusing beer into pre-made ice cream or by making the ice cream with beer from scratch. The type of beer used will impart different flavours on the ice cream—for example, stout beer will give a malty and caramel-like taste, while India pale ale will add bitterness.

Some ice cream shops in the United States serve beer ice cream, and the dish has even been served at the Great American Beer Festival. Here are some places where you can find beer ice cream in the US:

Frozen Pints

Frozen Pints carefully crafts each flavour of their beer ice cream to maximise the potential of the brew and bring out its best attributes. They sometimes pair their ice cream with complementary flavours, using the freshest ingredients they can find, but they never mask the natural taste of the beer.

Ben & Jerry's

In 2015, Ben & Jerry's partnered with New Belgium Brewing Company to create two limited-edition beer ice creams prepared using New Belgium Brown Ale.

Ices Plain and Fancy

This St. Louis-based ice cream shop offers boozy ice cream flavours inspired by classic cocktails. Their Dark and Fancy ice cream is a play on a dark and stormy cocktail, mixing vanilla ice cream with rum, ginger beer, and fresh grated ginger.

Scoops on Tap

Located in Covina, California, Scoops on Tap offers gourmet ice cream with beer and wine on tap. They also offer unique items like wine slushies and beer floats, as well as keto and vegan ice cream options.

Cloud City Ice Cream

Cloud City Ice Cream in Portland, Oregon, offers a variety of unique ice cream flavours made with real ingredients. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and their portions are generous.

Beer ice cream floats

If you're a fan of root beer floats, why not try a beer ice cream float? Combining cold beer and ice cream, this dessert is a refreshing treat that's perfect for summer. The key to a good beer float is to choose a beer that's on the toasty, malty, and sweeter side, and stay away from beers that are too hoppy, dry, and bitter. Here are some mouth-watering beer ice cream float combinations to try:

Coffee Ice Cream with Stout

Try a coffee ice cream float with a chocolate stout beer, garnished with a dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder. The bitterness of the stout is balanced by the sweetness of the coffee ice cream, resulting in a decadent and indulgent treat.

Vanilla Ice Cream with Belgian Raspberry Sour

For a fruity twist, pair vanilla ice cream with a Belgian-style raspberry sour beer. The sweetness of the vanilla ice cream complements the tartness of the raspberry beer, creating a delightful contrast of flavours.

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with Hefeweizen

This combination is a match made in heaven. The subtle flavours of banana and clove in the Hefeweizen beer enhance the rich strawberry character of the cheesecake ice cream. It's a perfect blend of sweet and fruity flavours.

Chocolate Ice Cream with Porter

Chocolate and porter beers are a classic pairing, and for a good reason. Combining them in a float takes this duo to the next level. It's like indulging in a sophisticated, adult version of a chocolate malt.

Cherry Ice Cream with Stout

Strong flavours of beer pair better with strong flavours of ice cream. A generous scoop of cherry-amaretto ice cream paired with a stout creates a combination reminiscent of dark chocolate-covered cherries. It's an unexpected but delightful treat.

Orange Sherbet with Belgium-Style White Ale

If you're a fan of Blue Moon beer, you know it's best served with an orange slice. Take this pairing a step further by adding a scoop of orange sherbet. The beer's flavour is enhanced by the sherbet, resulting in a lip-smacking float.

So, get creative and experiment with different beer and ice cream combinations to find your favourite float. Whether you prefer fruity notes, rich chocolate flavours, or a hint of coffee, there's a beer ice cream float waiting to be discovered.

Alcohol content in beer ice cream

Beer ice cream is a unique dessert that combines the flavours of ice cream and beer. The alcohol content in beer ice cream varies depending on the preparation method and the type of beer used.

The alcohol in the beer may be retained in the finished ice cream, resulting in a dessert with a noticeable alcohol content. However, if the ice cream base is cooked, the alcohol can evaporate, reducing or eliminating the alcohol content.

When making beer ice cream, darker beers like stouts or porters are often preferred as they impart a more distinct, malty, and caramel-like flavour. Lighter beers such as lagers contribute less flavour to the ice cream. The choice of beer affects not only the taste but also the alcohol content of the final product.

Additionally, the amount of alcohol in the beer ice cream depends on the ratio of beer to other ingredients. Some recipes may call for reducing the beer by half before adding it to the ice cream base, which would result in a lower alcohol concentration.

It is important to note that the higher the alcohol content in the beer ice cream, the softer the ice cream will be due to the lower freezing point of alcohol. Beer ice cream made with beer containing around 5% alcohol will not freeze until 28°F, while higher alcohol content beers may not freeze entirely in a standard ice cream maker.

In summary, the alcohol content in beer ice cream can vary from negligible amounts if the alcohol is cooked off to a noticeable percentage if the alcohol is retained and a high alcohol content beer is used. The specific recipe and preparation method will determine the final alcohol content.

Frequently asked questions