The Vermont-based ice creamery and Colorado brewery have collaborated on both a beer-based ice cream and an ice cream beer.
As Eric Fredette, flavor guru for Ben & Jerry's (who, by the way, has the best job title ever) and New Belgium production director, Travis Burge note on a promotional video, having the two companies work on a project together was a no-brainer. After all, who doesn't like beer and ice cream?
The two companies also have similar corporate credos. Both are B Corporations, companies that pledge to hold themselves up to higher standards of transparency, treatment of our workers and suppliers, and measuring its impact on communities and the environment.
And, while working together would be awesome enough, Ben & Jerry's and New Belgium's collaborative products will benefit Protect Our Winters (POW), a group that is engaging the snow sports community to help fight climate change. After all, as Eric Fredette points out, once the ice cream melts, it's ruined.
Ben & Jerry has introduced New Belgium Salted Caramel Brown-ie Ale Ice Cream starts with New Belgium brown ale ice cream then adds salted caramel swirls and fudge brownies to the mix.
New Belgium's Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale is brewed with salted caramel and brownie notes Travie Burge likens drinking it to "taking a brownie and biting into it."
So far, the ice cream hasn't been spotted in South Florida, with the Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor tracker showing the nearest location where it was purchased was a Walmart in Tallahassee. There is a trick, however, that a Ben & Jerry's manager pointed out to me while visiting their headquarters in Burlington — if you're willing to buy a case of your desired flavor (which is only about six cartons), ask your local grocer if they are willing to place a special order with Ben & Jerry's. So maybe get some friends together?
In the meantime, Ben & Jerry's and New Belgium also put together an exclusive menu of ice cream and craft beer pairings — with New Belgium and Ben & Jerry's flavors that are available right now. Makes for a great weekend tasting session!
Ben & Jerry's suggest that you use a small glass or bowl that holds between five to eight ounces. Then, scoop a three-ounce portion of ice cream in the bowl and let it soften before you gently pour two ounces of beer over the ice cream. Mix slightly to break up the scoop into the beer. It's suggested that you pre-taste the pairing with a slight sip of the combo. Then, enjoy! Here are some awesome combos to try:
- Fat Tire Amber Ale & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - "Take a leisurely ride on Fat Tire as it rolls around your tongue with toasty, caramel-y goodness. Kicks of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough shifts it into a higher gear."
- Abbey Belgian-Style Dubbel Ale & Chunky Monkey - "Poetry, you might say, is chasing a malty, crimson brew—the air sparking spicy and sweet—with giant dripping spoonfuls of Chunky Monkey."
- Ranger IPA & Americone Dream - "Come for the bursts of fruity hops and crisp chocolate, stay for the dark dance of caramel malts and chilled caramel swirls."
- Snapshot Tart Wheat & Cherry Garcia - "Snap, crackle and tart. Dive into a cherry dream. The only downside is that, eventually, you’ll have to wake up."
- Trippel Belgian-Style Ale & Chocolate Fudge Brownie - "At 8.5% ABV, Trippel Belgian-Style Ale has a hoppy, refreshing kick – a perfect partner for the decadent masterpiece that is Chocolate Fudge Brownie."
- 1554 Black Lager & The Tonight Dough - "Every bite’s a friendly scrum of flavor, so get in there—lighten up and give in to the dark side."
- Rampant Imperial IPA & Phish Food - "The pines sway in the wind. It’s evening, the sun is going down. You hear music coming from across the field. There’s a house, light shining through the windows on the tall grass. You approach, the music grows louder. This is what that music tastes like."
- Accumulation White IPA and Strawberry Cheesecake - "Ah, the bitter and the sweet. Too much of one or too much of the other, and no one’s happy. Thank goodness for cheesecake, which can smooth over all differences."
