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Post by thesolution on Mar 26, 2016 14:30:40 GMT -5
Ample Hills The Dark Side: Ample Hills The Dark Side is labeled as "An ultra-dark chocolate ice cream with espresso fudge brownies, cocoa crispies, and white chocolate pearls". It is not everyday you see ice cream with cocoa crispies or white chocolate pearls. Both mix-ins really caught my eye above the average brownie. Ample Hills is known for thinking outside the box to make unique flavors. When the Star Wars flavors came out both of them got good reviews. Now it is my time to see what side of the force I am on.[ The ultra dark chocolate ice cream was impressively rich and complemented the espresso flavor to create a delicious base. While most typical chocolate ice creams have a bland taste to them, this flavored tasted like an ultra-rich swiss chocolate. The ultra dark chocolate ice cream is far from ultra dark, but has elements that resemble an upgraded dark chocolate base from Ben & Jerry's. How Ample Hills makes a very soft, creamy, and rich tasting premium ice cream is unique. While the flavor is strong it provides a great start to the pint. For this pint I hate to say it, but I was left with next to no mix-ins Throughout the entire pint I never crossed a single white chocolate pearl, or a cocoa crispie. This had to of been a bad pint. I did not strike a brownie until about 3/4th of the way through. While the texture is chewy, moist, and full of flavor. Being a white chocolate fan I would of loved to experience the white chocolate pearls. From a few reviews they were hit or miss, but would compliment the chocolate base to give it a good balance. Overall The Dark Side is a chocolate lovers dream. The base ice cream is a unique spin off a dark chocolate with a swiss chocolate hint to it. Very unique, and of course Ample Hills thinking outside the box. I have to give this a very low score because I got next to nothing for mix-ins. While a single brownie was delicious. This will not live up to Ample Hills consistency we are use to with mix-ins. For most cases from top to bottom you experience mix-ins in almost every spoonful. Unfortunately bad pints do happen, and with that said it will get a bad score even with an incredible base. Grade: C Found: AmpleHills.com
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Post by thesolution on Mar 23, 2016 19:33:39 GMT -5
Handel's Buckeye Handel's Buckeye is labeled " Peanut Butter ice Cream with Chocolate Swirl and Peanut Butter filled Buckeye Pieces". For most ice cream consumers the combination of peanut butter and chocolate usually ends on a good note. Handel's is known as a homemade ice cream company around the PA/OH area that makes everything in house. They also choose to add their own buckeye pieces to the mix. After my last haul from Pittsburgh I had to save the best for last. I have only had this in a bowl before with 2 scoops, but I have to get a full pint in to give it a true rating. Handel's Peanut Butter base is quite exceptional. From first bite it almost reminded me of Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Pie. The main difference being a thicker texture of premium ice cream, and a denser peanut butter flavor. If you have ever had Wegmans Nutter Batter the peanut butter swirls and ice cream reminded me of this rich peanut butter flavor . Each bite packed a creamy and delicious peanut butter taste. Some companies establish a peanut butter flavor, but lacks the true density of a premium peanut butter flavor. The mix-ins in this pint were off the charts. I got well over 20 buckeye pieces througout my pint. Each and every bite was loaded with these chocolate coated buckeye pieces. As you can see in the pictures the inside are filled with a peanut butter and sugar combination. The sweetness of the peanut butter center and the bold chocolate outside made a fantastic combination. Small ribbons of chocolate swirled throughout this pint to enhance the chocolate and peanut butter experience. While the swirls were not large by any means, the amount of buckeye pieces made up for that. If you have never had a buckeye you need to get to a bakery and grab one instantly. Chocolate and peanut butter lovers will have no second thoughts of revisiting this pint in the future. Handel's took a premium peanut butter ice cream, and was consistent from top to bottom with mix-ins. While the swirl could of been larger, the addition gave you the full chocolate and peanut butter experience of a buckeye. Not one bad thing to say about this one, I would have to rank this up towards the top with Graham Central Station, Caramel Pretzel Crunch, Midnight Madness, Oreo Dough, and Pumpkin as my favorites. Grade: A- Found: Handel's Ice Cream McCandless, PA
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Post by thesolution on Mar 19, 2016 18:26:29 GMT -5
Handel's Chocoholic Chunk
Handel's Chocoholic Chunk is a very simple dark chocolate ice cream with chocolate chunks. While simple on paper this flavor has got high ratings on the Handel's line. Sometimes more is not always better. Simple is all you need to make people happy. Handel's has been known to make some good base ice cream, and with a minor inclusion lets see how it adds to the collection. The Handel's Dark Chocolate base is rich and dense in flavor. The consistency provides a creamy and thick texture that is melt in your mouth delicious. While this is not the darkest dark chocolate you will have, it has a step above a fantastic milk chocolate with a dark chocolate edge. The taste is great, and for chocolate lovers they will be very pleased with this experience. The mix-ins are chocolate chunks. These are not Graeter's chunks by any means, they are more like chocolate shards. I would not even call them chocolate chips in size due to them being smaller. The texture and crunch they offer are fantastic, and pair well with the dark chocolate base. Seeing they are small, they are still in a large abundance from top to bottom. The consistency and amount of mix-ins are second to none in every single bite. Very simple overall review on this Handel's flavor. If you are a fan of dark chocolate and chocolate chunks you will want to give this a scoop. While this may be a basic flavor Handel's executed it well. A very rich and delicious base combined with a goldmine of chocolate chunks provides for a good Handel's experience. Grade: B Found: Handel's Ice Cream McCandless, PA
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Post by thesolution on Mar 18, 2016 12:45:11 GMT -5
Handel's S'moresHandel's S'mores is defined as "A Graham Cracker ice cream with mini marshmallows and chocolate chunks." There have been many S'mores released from multiple brands over the years. Personally you see tons of differences when trying to replicate the famous spring dessert. Ben & Jerry's went with a chocolate base, Wegmans went with a Marshmallow base , Handels, 7/11, and Gelato Fiasco start with the graham cracker base. Some people are turned away with a heavy cinnamon or graham cracker base, but lets see what Handel's has to offer on the S'mores market. The Graham Cracker base to me was very similar to 7/11 in regards to quality and flavor. The Graham Cracker base taste is identical to graham crackers you would buy in the grocery store. The enhancement comes with a pleasant cinnamon aftertaste. Handel's and 7/11 both did a fantastic job on this base and really making a high quality offering. Compared to the Gelato Fiasco base which is also a Graham Cracker offering, this packs a stronger graham cracker taste. If you wanted a stronger cinnamon graham cracker base Gelato Fiasco is very heavy in cinnamon compared to Handel's and 7/11. Handel's ice cream is a very dense and pack the incredible homemade flavor in each and every bite. Next up are the mix-ins provided in Handel's S'mores. For one thing, they do not short change you on mini-marshmallows throughout the pint. Almost each and every bite had these soft gooey marshmallows. The texture and taste of the marshmallows are superb. Very similar to Gelato Fiasco with being torched, they are very soft and resemble being cooked right on top of a fire. The last feature is the chocolate chunks. Handel's chocolate chunks resembled chocolate shards which were hit or miss the entire pint. The chunks provided a hard and thick texture on top of fresh marshmallows. The taste of the chocolate was rich, but the amount was subpar compared to the marshmallows. Overall a great pint. For those who really love a graham cracker base this will be a pint not to pass on. Compared to the other S'mores on the market the marshmallow inclusion is near identical to Gelato Fiasco with the torched marshmallow. The chocolate chunks could have been better, but beggars cannot be choosers. If you are a fan of swirls 7/11 takes the cake with ease. For those who love a rich marshmallow base Wegmans will be your go to S'mores. I would have to say 7/11 and Handel's takes the cake over Gelato Fiasco (due to how rich the cinnamon is). I would not hesitate to pick this one up again. Grade: B+ Found: Handles Ice Cream McCandless, PA
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Post by thesolution on Mar 12, 2016 19:50:37 GMT -5
Handel's Salted Caramel TruffleHandel's Salted Caramel Truffle is labeled as "salty caramel ice cream with chocolate, caramel filled, sea salt truffles." Reading that description is almost a replica of 2nd Street, Talenti, 7-11, Sams Club and Haagen Dazs. Going into this flavor I have never had before that really peaked my interest. Caramel filled sea salt truffle are absolutely delicious if done right. The question is will this surpass some of the other Sea Salt Caramel's on the market? The texture of Handel's ice cream is dense, due to being a premium ice cream. The flavor of the salty caramel ice cream is exactly as you would expect. You experience a rush of saltiness, but immediately engulf the sweetness of the caramel. The thick texture of the ice cream provides a rich quality caramel base that leaves you lingering for your next bite. Soon after a few bites into the base you start digging into small cubes of chocolate truffles. The sea salt caramel filled truffles are superb. After breaching the surface of the base you start finding mini rolo replica candies in each and every bite. As I blew through this pint of ice cream I easily encountered over a dozen truffles. Each bite packed a rich milk chocolate flavor, and thick caramel filling. The hint of salt enhanced the chocolate coating and delicious caramel filling in each truffle. These were done very well, if not a step up from Talenti. Overall if you are a fan of Sea Salt Caramel ice cream this is a must get when you visit Handel's. I have had some other offerings in the past but this one would rank towards the top. The dense and thicker ice cream base may be a hit for some. On the other hand the creamy and soft talenti base may persuade others. The salty caramel ice cream is a great combination of rich caramel and just enough salt to increase the quality of the ice cream. The sea salt truffle mix-in consistency from top to bottom are very similar to talenti and 7-11 (in other words loaded). Sam's choice offers a very thick and rich swirl, but the base ice cream needs improved. Haagen Dazs is a good balance of base and mix-ins, but neither separate themselves from the pack. Throw in a swirl to this pint and it could rival 2nd Street Copper Kettle Caramel as the best Sea Salt Caramel on the market. Grade: B+ Found: Handel's Ice Cream McCandless, Pennsylvania
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Post by thesolution on Mar 9, 2016 14:00:14 GMT -5
Handel's Red Velvet Handel's Red Velvet is labeled as "Signature Red Velvet ice cream with a cream cheese swirl." Cheesecake factory has their signature red velvet cheesecake, just like Handel's now has this limited time flavor. Being a big red velvet fan I had no idea what to expect going into this pint. A lot of handel's flavors are on point, while some are a miss. Not every company can have top notch flavors across the board. Being a RV fan I was hoping for a little bit more included on this one, but lets see how it shapes up! Right away you are presented with a fine looking red velvet base. For those who do not know, Red velvet cake usually surfaces as a buttermilk cake with a lot of red food coloring in it to give it its distinctive color. The cake usually contains a touch of cocoa powder. Then the cake is layered with a cream cheese frosting. The red velvet base does taste exactly as you would expect. Very creamy, rich, and a dense consistency which Handel's brings to the table. For those who have had a red velvet cake or desserts in the past, they should not be surprised Handel's delivers when it comes to the base. The only mix-in on this pint is the cream cheese swirl. Very similar to the Ben & Jerry's flavor (without the red velvet cake pieces) the swirl is shown from top of the pint to the last bite. It resembles small lines throughout the base, and has an incredible rich and luscious flavor to it. The only downside to it is the size. This is nothing like a thick and rich turkey hill swirl which can cover your entire spoon. This swirl is so small it is hard to pick up on throughout the pint. Most of the time you are eating nothing but the base, as the swirl is heavily overshadowed. I had higher hopes for this seasonal flavor from Handel's. The base is great, do not get me wrong, but its becomes monotonous very fast. The red velvet flavor is pure, and is far better than the Ben & Jerry's offering. The amount of swirl in this pint was lack luster, but the cream cheese flavoring was great. A lot more swirl, and a touch of something else would really set this flavor off. From what I did experience I would consider skipping this one in the future. I love Handel's and a lot of their flavors, this is one I will not revisit. Grade: C Found: Handel's Ice Cream McCandless, Pennsylvania
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Post by thesolution on Mar 6, 2016 11:53:14 GMT -5
Graeter's Cheese Crown IceGraeter's has released its limited edition flavor on march 1st, 2016 and it was Cheese Crown. Cheese Crown is "The taste of our legendary Cheese Crown Danish imagined into Graeter’s ice cream. Cheesecake flavored ice cream with cinnamon sugar pastry pieces and fondant icing flakes for a decadent treat." This was also available online for a limited run with Cincinnati Pig Tracks in the past. With the high demand and great feedback Graeter's decided to bring this flavor back for a limited time. Upon lifting the lid it looks like a very fine vanilla base, but this is a cheesecake flavored ice cream. If you have ever had Graeter's Vanilla ice cream it is up there with one of the best offered on the market. The base packs a rich vanilla flavor with an incredible sugary and luscious aftertaste. The first bite of the Cheesecake Ice Cream was exactly as I expected. Spot on delicious. Take a basic New York Style Cheesecake and add a touch of sweetness to the base and that is what you get. Graeter's should invest in making more Cheesecake base flavored ice creams, this was superb. The Mix-Ins offered in Cheese Crown are "Cinnamon Sugar Pastry Pieces & a fondant icing flakes". While those both sound very unique and never used in a Graeter's offering before I was curious on the size, taste, and density they would offer. the first cinnamon sugar pasty piece I got reminded me of cinnamon toast crunch/cinnamon graham cracker in taste. . The fondant icing flakes are scattered throughout the pint and add extra richness to the already strong flavored base. The icing flakes was like a replica of a vanilla frosting on a cake. Graeter's tossed in another sweet mix-in that provided a frosting to the cheesecake base. The unique blend of a cheesecake base, cinnamon pastry pieces, and an icing flake makes this different on the Graeter's line. Not many ice creams offer a cheesecake base, or can provide the richness Graeter's does in their ice cream. Take a new york style cheesecake, add a vanilla icing (icing flakes), and a strong blend of cinnamon sugar pieces like a graham cracker crust. Graeter's is known for the signature chocolate chips, but after trying this. They need to invest in more Cheesecake Bases with sweet complimentary mix-ins. Hands down a top 3 flavor next to Buckeye & Cookies and Cream. Black Raspberry may be in a tie for the #3 overall flavor next to this one. Grade: A Found: Giant Eagle, Erie PA
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Post by thesolution on Mar 6, 2016 11:49:29 GMT -5
Graeters Cookies and CreamGraeters which is known for massive mix-ins yet again strikes gold with a basic Cookies and Cream Flavoring. Graeter's Cookies and Cream is labeled as "plain vanilla ice cream. That’s where the Oreo cookies crumble. " Basically whole/halved oreo's thrown into Graeters fantastic vanilla ice cream. If you have never had Graeter's or know how well they take their mix-ins this one may be a surprise. Upon Cracking you get a nice looking vanilla base with tons of specs of broken oreo's and cookies flooding the top. Graeter's uses a french pot process which will use whole mix-ins and they do get broken up into different degrees. Think about Dairy Queen and their blizzard making skills. Sometimes you will get a chunk of a candy bar and sometimes you will get flakes like you would find in Nutty Caramel Swirl off the Ben n Jerry Line with the fudge flakes. The vanilla base is superb. Very rich, elegant, and full of luscious flavor. The consistency of the ice cream is similar to many premium brands. With a very thick, creamy, and delicious base it is no reason Graeter's has such flexibility by establishing the base flavors (Vanilla) very well in their ice cream. For the Oreo Mix-ins you will be digging through halved chunks throughout the pint. I even had specs breaching the surface before my first bite. Literally every bite I had bits or chunks of an oreo, and the great thing is the mix-ins are not rock hard like found in many pints (ben & jerrys for example) they are softer cookies that wont break your teeth upon biting. As you continue to dig deeper the consistency of the mix-ins does not change. From top to bottom you may encounter over 1-2 full oreo's in this pint. The overall way the pint sets up the cookies, dense base, and complimenting flavoring makes this a reason its a top flavor on the line next to Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip and Buckeye Blitz. Those are hands down 3 of my favorite flavors off this line, and will always be safe bets when trying the Graeter's brand. Seasonal flavors may come and go (Cheese Crown, Salted Caramel Brownie Truffle), but this one is a classic. A dense vanilla base packed with quality flavor, and englufed by chunks of oreo's. For a cookies and cream fan you need this in your life. Score: A Found: Giant Eagle Erie, PA
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Post by thesolution on Mar 5, 2016 18:31:41 GMT -5
Ample Hills The MunchiesAmple Hills The Munchies is labeled as "Pretzel-infused ice cream with clusters of Ritz crackers, potato chips, pretzels and mini M&Ms". I have heard nothing but top notch reviews about this flavor. Not often do you see a lot of your childhood favorites combined into one pint of ice cream. I am a big fan of salty and sweet flavors, so this could be right up my alley. Pretzel Infused ice cream is very rare on the market, so that is another key benefit for me being a pretzel lover. The first bite of the flavor was spectacular. The base is very smooth, creamy, and has a great salty flavor to it. It has a hint of vanilla with the strong salty pretzel aftertaste. While this is very unique it may take your taste buds by surprise. If you do enjoy pretzels or salty flavors, this could be a huge hit. Myself I love chocolate covered pretzels, with the addition of MnM's I got the salty and savory combination. Would I like to see this more often on the market? Absolutely, but many companies are not as daring as Ample Hills. Ritz Crackers, Potato Chips, pretzels, and mini MnM's. While that is a mouthful and a long list of mix-ins, how well does this work in the pretzel base? After a few scoops I saw a few different colors which resembled the MnM's. You get the milk chocolate flavor with a small crunch added to the already rich pretzel infused base. The ritz crackers and potato chips were almost missing in my pint. Halfway through I was seeing nothing but the base. I do not know if I got a bad pint, but my mix-ins were very scarce. Other reviews I have seen them loaded from top the brim to the very last bite. I was a bit underwhelmed with my experience here because Ample Hills never short changes anyone on mix-ins. Overall the base was quality, but the mix-ins were not the usual consistency Ample Hills brings to the table. The creaminess and soft base was enhanced by a salty and rich pretzel infused ice cream. The lack of MnM's, pretzels, crackers, and potato chips was underwhelming. 3 total MnM specks and a touch of the other mix-ins left this to be a pretzel infused pint of ice cream. After seeing another half dozen reviews on this flavor packed to the brim with mix-ins, this may be just a bad experience. Ample Hills had a very good idea, I just happened to not get as much as I expected. Grade: B Found: AmpleHills.com
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Post by thesolution on Feb 29, 2016 21:29:02 GMT -5
Haagen Dazs Sweet Cream Coffee Caramel Ice CreamHaagen Dazs Sweet Cream Coffee Caramel Ice Cream is labeled as "we swirl sweet cream and coffee ice cream with thick ribbons of chicory coffee caramel for an experience rich with New Orleans flavor.". When it comes to Coffee based ice creams I always seem to jump the gun because I love coffee. When my Giant Eagle started stocking the new series this was the first flavor I picked up. After having a New Orleans based ice cream flavor (Cafe Au Lait and Beignets) if HD can replicate that flavor with a sweet cream base & a caramel ribbon this will be a hit. Right off first bite there are massive globs of coffee caramel glaze. The initial flavor of the sweet cream base is highly overpowered by the coffee . The sweet cream is more of an after shadow compared to how strong the presence of coffee is. For those who love sweet cream based ice creams ( B&J PB Cookies and Cream, Steve's Whoopie Pies and Sweet Cream, B&J Sweet Cream and Cookies) This may be a letdown right off the get go . Now for those who love coffee this could be a huge home run. The consistency of Haagen Dazs is on the lighter side, a bit thicker than Ample Hills, but less dense than Ben & Jerry's for reference. The Thick ribbons of chicory coffee caramel is spot on. The swirl enhances the coffee flavor to another level. The swirl is thick, lacked with tons of flavor, and packed with a pure caramel taste and coffee after taste. The aftertaste reminds me of fresh grounded coffee beans with a strong surge of caramel that hits your taste buds. Due to the nature of the swirl and ice cream being a new Orleans flavor this will resemble a lighter roast. For those who like dark or bold coffee this won't be as strong as you prefer. New Orleans based coffee, a thick Pralines and Cream caramel swirl, and hints of coffee in every aspect is how I would describe this pint. Haagen Dazs blew this one up for coffee lovers in the ice cream market. How Haagen Dazs managed to combine the light roasted new orleans coffee flavor into the swirl and sweet cream base was magnificent. Since Coffee flavored ice creams are rare, this was one done with high quality and deserves a high grade. Grade: B+ Found: Giant Eagle Erie, PA
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Post by thesolution on Feb 27, 2016 11:47:52 GMT -5
Ample Hills Carolina Jes' PieAmple Hills Carolina Jes' Pie is labeled as " Vanilla bean base with pieces of chocolate chess pie." I have never had a chess pie before, but after reading some reviews this flavor got some good praise. After having a ooey gooey butter cake & the raw deal I am no stranger to the vanilla base offered by Ample Hills. I am intrigued to see just how good this Jes Pie is being a superbowl exclusive flavor. Ample Hills has a very good vanilla bean base. The difference from the basic vanilla flavored base in ooey gooey butter cake and real deal is the extra richness in the aftertaste. The vanilla bean packs a punch that reminds me of fresh coffee creamer you buy in the store. The overall sweetness is not over the top or too rich, but packs a punch. The flavoring is not as sweet as Graeters, but has a much stronger flavor than Ben & Jerry's. The pieces of chocolate chess pie are brilliant. There was a huge chunk breaching the surface on the very first bite. Right away these reminded me of Greyston bakery brownies found in Ben & Jerry's flavors. The chewy and delicious chess pie pieces pack a dense fudge brownie flavor. The consistency of the mix-ins was ludicrous from top to bottom. It got to the point where the pint was 70% Mix-ins and 30% ice cream. These were thick and resembled Graeter's size signature chocolate chips. Overall this is another signature flavor off the Ample Hills line. A legit creamy and soft vanilla bean base loaded with mix-ins. If you missed out on this limited flavor I feel bad for you. Ample Hills is known to get creative with their ice cream flavors, but it goes to show the quality they pack in basic flavors. Vanilla and Chess Pie Pieces were spot on. I would have no problems scooping this again if they do release it. Grade: A- Found: AmpleHills.com
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Post by thesolution on Feb 23, 2016 12:46:38 GMT -5
Talenti Peanut Butter PretzelTalenti Peanut Butter Pretzel is labeled as: "peanut butter gelato with a peanut butter swirl, and chocolate covered pretzel balls". Talenti has had some solid pints and their Chocolate Peanut Butter cup one is no exception. After a very high review on that flavor, and releasing a new peanut butter flavor I am eager to see how it stacks up on the lineup. Still nothing has topped Sea Salt Caramel as my favorite with Almond Butter Chocolate Chunk coming in close behind and Mascarpone being a 3rd. After scooping my first bite Talenti really upped their peanut butter base game in this offering. The first few bites had me thinking of a peanut butter sugar as the base. It tasted like eating the middle of a buckeye candy. Talenti made a perfect 50/50 ratio of a creamy sweet peanut butter with a matching sugary compliment. Job well done on this aspect as the base alone is worth scooping itself. The peanut butter swirl was scattered throughout the pint. The swirl was more along the lines of small chunks randomly placed around the gelato. While some of the other flavors have stronger swirls this one needed more work. The peanut butter is thicker and dense in flavor which goes hand in hand with the sugary peanut butter base. I had a total of two chocolate covered pretzel balls. The texture was crunchy and packed a dark chocolate flavor with a salty aftertaste from the pretzel. All in all this one had some high points and low points. Right away the high point is the base. Take your favorite peanut butter and add a sweet and sugary addition to it and that is exactly what you get. The creaminess of the gelato has it melting in your mouth every single bite. The downside was the swirl and mix-ins. Looking at the pint you can see chunks of peanut butter, but that is all I got. The same is said with the chocolate covered pretzel balls. Talenti can either strike gold or be a swing and a miss when it comes to mix-ins. They need to improve their consistency of mix-ins like Ample Hills from top to bottom. Overall a good flavor, just lacked the mix-ins. Grade: C+ Found: Giant Eagle Erie, PA
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Post by thesolution on Feb 22, 2016 16:25:22 GMT -5
Graeter's Chocolate Coconut Almond Chocolate ChipGraeter's Chocolate Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip is labeled as "Chocolate Coconut Ice cream with signature chocolate chips and almond's". Luckily when I was in Columbus over the weekend I got to find this in the scoop shop for 5$ a pint which is a good price. Chocolate Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip is usually out around the Feb/March months before the new mystery flavors are released. Not being a huge coconut fan I am intrigued at how strong it really is. Some Chocolate flavors are very strong on the Graeter's line. Not to mention all of their signature chocolate chip flavors are spectacular. Lets see just how good this seasonal flavor really is. The Chocolate Coconut base is unique. Right away you get a bold and rich chocolate taste that leaves a coconut aftertaste. The name is definitely on point with Chocolate Coconut as the chocolate is the stronger of the two flavors. If you are a big chocolate fan you should be ok with this offering compared to Coconut Chocolate Chip where Coconut is dominant. Combining both elements of Chocolate and coconut provide a unique twist with a long lasting flavor. Graeter's is known for one thing and that is their signature chocolate chips. Not only are their signature chocolate chips dense and thick in texture, they provide an incredible milk chocolate flavor. Graeter's decided to throw in almond chunks to this offering to put a twist on their classic forte. After a few bites into the pint the chocolate chips are no where near as large as their regular signature flavors. They are specs compared to their candy bar size chunks usually found in their pints of ice cream. The almonds are bigger than the chocolate chips, they resemble halved almonds. These pack a thick texture and nice crunchy aftertaste. The consistency in Graeter's pints are very good as you find mix-ins breaching the surface all the way to the last bite. Wrapping up this was a good seasonal flavor, but not one I would revisit all the time like Buckeye Blitz, Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, or Cookies & Cream which are my three favorite flavors. The chocolate base is great as it packs a dense flavor and provides a minor coconut after taste. The downsizing of the mix-ins is what threw me off. If you know Graeter's they do not skimp on massive mix-ins. Getting small flecks of chocolate chips and bigger almonds was a curveball. Other Flavors (like Buckeye) With other mix-ins including chocolate chips never downgraded the size of their signature chips. Hopefully this was just an off pint. Grade: B- Found: Graeters Scoop Shape Columbus, Ohio (Lane Ave)
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Post by thesolution on Feb 22, 2016 12:23:19 GMT -5
Ample Hills Salted Crack CaramelAmple Hills Salted Crack Caramel Is labeled as "Salted Butter Caramel Ice cream with Deb's famous crack cookies: Saltine crackers coated with butter, sugar, and chocolate" . Before grabbing this flavor the review have been hit and miss. This flavor was either loved or hated. Being a big caramel fan and looking over my options I have not tried from Ample Hills I decided to give it a shot. Hopefully I don't end up with buyers regret. The base labeled as Salted Butter Caramel tasted more like burnt caramel. While this was much different than most caramel bases I have had I found it unique. At first you get a brown sugar caramel flavor with a bold & rich aftertaste. While this is something that may seem odd at first bite it grows on you fast. I can see why there is a median on fans and haters with how dense the flavor is compared to a normal caramel. The mix in of Deb's Famous Crack cookies sounded intriguing to say the least. My mix-ins were loaded from top of the pint to the very last bite. Each crack cookie was coated with a milk chocolate flavor and salty aftertaste. The savory caramel base meets the saltiness of the saltine crackers making a well orchestrated combination. Each spoonful provided thick and dense cookies that had particles of regular saltine crackers. Ample Hills is known for unique and consistent ice cream flavors. This is yet another example of thinking outside the box to make a good flavor. The creamy and fluffy ice cream pairs with a flavorful mix in to provide a killer one two punch. Both ice cream base and mix-inks compliment each other to find a fine balance. While the taste of the base may far different caramel base, its uniqueness may throw some people off. The burnt brown sugar combined with the dark caramel base made for a great offer from Ample Hills. Grade: B+ Found: AmpleHills.com
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Post by thesolution on Feb 19, 2016 10:47:30 GMT -5
Ample Hills Sweet as Honey:Ample Hills Sweet as Honey is labeled as "sweet cream ice cream with pieces of homemade honeycomb candy". Being someone who is a big fan of sweet cream ice cream (think the inside of an oreo) this one peaked my interest. After my first 6 pack I got off goldbely I wanted to grab a few more flavors while the SuperBowl flavors were still available to order. This one, salted caramel crack, and the munchies were the other 3 that really caught my eye. After reading a few reviews I have seen some high praise for this flavor, so I am eager to see what this has to offer. After popping off the lid it is no surprise that Ample Hills is on point with consistency and mix-ins from first bite. There were huge globs of what looked like a honey swirl and honeycomb candy pieces. The sweet cream ice cream is exactly as you would expect. Ample Hills packs a soft and creamy base full of high quality flavor. The sweetness is done just right to make you dive right back into the ice cream for more. If you were to compare sweet cream bases on the market this would be a step up from Ben & Jerry's, Steve's, and Coldstone due to the quality and richness of the ice cream. The homemade honeycomb candy is absolutely brilliant. These pieces are huge globs from top of the pint to the bottom. Each piece has a glaze of honey fresh from a bees nest and harvested to perfection. It tastes identical to fresh squeezed honey right out of a container you would buy in the grocery store. The pieces offer a unique texture and density that give the pint a bit of a crunch. Combine the sweet elements of the honeycomb pieces with the bite of the candy and its a win win for those who love something "Sweet As Honey". Overall going into this pint I have read some good reviews, but after my experience I was shocked at how good this truly was. This one was stellar. From the first bite the base alone was incredible. If you love honey or very sweet things this has your name all over it. The amount of honeycomb pieces and glaze from the honey was laced throughout this pint. Ample Hills really hit a home run here, and I would highly suggest picking this up in a future order off goldbelly or amplehills.com Grade: A- Found: AmpleHills.com
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Post by thesolution on Feb 17, 2016 10:20:33 GMT -5
Ample Hills Denver Broncos Rocky Mountain HighAmple Hills decided to make Superbowl edition flavors for Superbowl 50. Two of the featured flavors were the Rocky Mountain High and Jes Pie (Carolina). Both of which I was lucky to get a 5 pack for off the Ample Hill webpage. Rocky Mountain High is labeled as "Our version of Rocky Road made with Colorado's Left Hand Brewing Company Nitro Milk Stout in a chocolate ice cream, with mini marshmallows and peanut-stuffed brownies." Rocky Road is not a common flavor on the ice cream market, the only other offering I had was Jeni's. The inclusion of the peanut stuffed brownies should make for an interesting combination. If you have ever had Ample Hills you know their ice cream is very soft and creamy. It reminds me a harder gelato that has fantastic quality and strong flavor in each bite. Colorado's Left hand brewing chocolate ice cream reminded me a melted Hershey's bar. The milk chocolate is extremely dense, and packs the fluffy consistency of the Ample Hills Ice Cream. Each bite leaves an everlasting flavor that is great from first bite to last. I found this a step up from Chocolate milk and cookies offered by Ample Hills. Rocky Mountain high features a rocky road mixture of mini-marshmallows and peanut stuffed brownies. Upon my second bite I struck a mini-marshmallow. The description is exactly as you would expect. Short little marshmallows that have a gooey texture and chewy bite to them. They are almost identical to what you would buy in a grocery store. Well done here Ample Hills. The peanut-stuffed brownies were no joke either. My first bite had a 1" sized brownie that started to make me wonder if I was digging into a Graeters pint. The brownies were very soft and similar to the Greyston Bakery ones found in Ben & Jerry pints. The brownies had a great texture, a ton of flavor, and were the stand out feature in this pint. Putting everything together Ample Hills re-did a rocky road flavor with a nice twist. My only gripe is the amount of marshmallows in this pint were minimal. I had a total of 3 mini-marshmallows, but I had a good dose of thick, dense, and delicious brownies. The marshmallows were not as thick as Gelato Fiasco S'mores or Jeni's Rocky Road. The consistency of Ample Hills is usually on point from top to bottom filled with mix-ins, but unfortunately after the half way point I was left with just the base. Besides a slight hiccup in the consistency the base, the features in this pint were done well. I suggest scooping this flavor if they ever did bring it back. Grade: B Found: AmpleHills.com
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Post by thesolution on Feb 14, 2016 17:03:36 GMT -5
Ben & Jerry's Brownie Batter CoreBen & Jerry's Brownie Batter Core is a mix of half chocolate ice cream and half vanilla ice cream with fudge brownie mix-ins and a brownie batter core. The core series have never been a huge hit for myself. I have found much better scoops in PB World, Cinnamon Buns, Everything But The, Oatmeal Cookie Chunk (RIP), PB Half Baked, Chubby Hubby, and many other of the the feature B&J Pints. PB cookie Core and PB fudge core have been my top two by a large margin. Hopefully B&J with these new core flavors have stepped up their game. Let us find out. The base is the basic vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Right away I am not the biggest fan of the chocolate ice cream. It tastes like a watered down milk chocolate. The vanilla is nothing to rave over either. It has a decent flavor and good after taste, but nothing that will wow you from a basic vanilla ice cream. A good aftertaste of vanilla bean or french vanilla would really kick it up a notch. While both flavors are smooth and creamy, the flavor and quality is lacking. Next are the two important things being the brownie batter core and the fudge brownies. Since Ben & Jerry's have been debuting new flavors over the last 6-8 months the brownies have been much larger, denser, and full of flavor. Greyston Bakery out of NY is where B&J does license their brownies from, and this is a huge reason why they are a great compliment in their pints. These could of been a bit bigger then the other pints they were twice the size in (PB Half Baked, PB Brownie Sundae). The Brownie batter core is hands down spot on. Rich, thick, and delicious in flavor. Its thick fudge and brownie flavor reminded me of licking the inside of the brownie batter oreo's but in ice cream form. I could eat a pint of just the core alone it was so well done. Overall it was what I expected. Brownie Batter core is something new and exciting, but nothing over the top quality wise. The core series have never got a great score, but there is room for improvement on each pint they do release. While the brownie batter core was done to perfection, the basic chocolate and vanilla ice cream need work. The brownies could of been larger in size like some of the other flavors on the line, but beggars cannot be choosers. My core seemed to only go half way through the pint, and that is where I first spotted my brownies. The consistency of the mix-ins was really off in my experience. Grade: C+ Found: Wegmans Erie, PA
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Post by thesolution on Feb 11, 2016 16:30:32 GMT -5
Haagen Dazs Cookies and CreamHaagen Dazs Cookies and Cream is labeled as "pieces of rich, chocolaty cookies are dunked in delicious, creamy vanilla ice cream to satisfy the milk-and-cookies kid in all of us." Being a big cookies and cream fan I want to see what HD has to offer. I have only had a few seasonal flavors from HD in the past. Luckily their PB Pie was fantastic and something I would easily rescoop in the future. Besides that they have always been middle of the road when it comes to quality. Lets see if one of my favorite things (cookies and cream) can win me over with this brand again. Upon popping over the pint the fine vanilla base is present and the cookies mix-in are present. Upon first bite Haagen Dazs's texture is very creamy, light, and has a good flavor to it. HD is an upgrade from the basic vanilla base from Ben & Jerry's. The vanilla is bold and has a strong flavor, but nothing top tier like Graeters or Ample Hills. The Vanilla has a french vanilla hint to it, and combined with the creamy base makes a good one two combo. While HD is a brand I never scoop often, I was surprised with the base alone how well the vanilla was done. Onto the pieces of rich, chocolaty cookies. The cookies are smaller in resemblence to Ultimate Shoppe or Graeters. They have a nice crunchy texture and consistency to them as they are scattered from top to bottom. There is a good consistency of mix-ins present at the top and all the way to the bottom of the pint. A few times you may experience a thick chunk of cookie which is a pleasant surprise. The flavor is good, but nothing oreo good. While they cannot trademark legit oreo's into their base, the cookie they utilize could have a stronger cream and chocolate flavor to it. Overall HD Cookies and Cream is good, but does not crack my top 3 cookies and cream of all times. Ultimate Shoppe, Graeters, and B&J Milk & Cookies take the cake with a superior base and mix-ins. Do I think its a good flavor? yes, but there is room for improvement. The base is fantastic. Smooth, creamy, and has a strong vanilla to it. The cookies were not bad, but could be improved in the flavor department. It will be hard to find brands who can match the size of Graeter's and Chocolate Shoppe Grade: B- Found: Giant Eagle Erie, PA
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Post by thesolution on Feb 7, 2016 17:27:34 GMT -5
Ben & Jerry's Coffee Caramel Fudge (Non-Dairy)Ben & Jerry's Coffee Caramel Fudge (Non-Dairy) is one of the four flavors released on their new line of ice cream. Ben & Jerry’s states their Non-Dairy flavor creations are made with almond milk & so boldly loaded with chunks & swirls that you’ll get Ben & Jerry’s euphoria in every bite. I wish more companies would utilize a coffee base because I love coffee. This is exactly why I dived for this flavor first. Luckily my wegmans only had this flavor in stock, and there was only 3 in inventory. My ice cream manager set one aside for me, and now I want to see how this varies from their regular line-up. Coffee Caramel Fudge is right to the point "Coffee non-dairy frozen dessert with fudge chunks & a caramel swirl". If you have ever had Brewed to Matter, Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz, or Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch you may know what Ben & Jerry's basic coffee base tastes like. Upon first bite the coffee off the non-dairy line was very weak. If anything you get a minor aftertaste of coffee. The base is thicker in similar in texture even being non-dairy. The primary flavor of the base is overpowered by the caramel swirl. After a few more bites I was not really finding the coffee flavor. Sad to say being a coffee lover this left me disappointed. Their previous flavors of brewed to matter, and coffee coffee buzz buzz were much denser in flavor. The caramel swirl takes over the flavor of the base. There are streaks throughout the entire pint from top to bottom. The consistency of the mix-ins on this point were present from first bite. The caramel swirl packs a rich flavor, and reminded me of the base from Triple Caramel Chunk. While this was a high point, the fudge chunks are exactly as expected. One of my least favorite mix-ins Ben & Jerry's has to offer. The fudge chunks has a mediocre milk chocolate taste, but are super hard. Nothing like Chocolate Shoppe Mackinac Island Fudge that melts in your mouth. All in all I was skeptical on the non-dairy offering from Ben & Jerry's, and it was a swing and a miss. A weak base overpowered by the caramel swirl left next to no coffee flavor at all. The fudge chunks are similar to the regular Ben & Jerry offerings providing a thick texture and a lackluster flavor. A great concept to those who want a non-dairy based ice cream, but the flavor is just not there. I will skip on trying the other flavors after my experience with this one. Grade: C- Found: Wegmans Erie, PA
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Post by thesolution on Jan 23, 2016 12:34:15 GMT -5
Ben & Jerry's Cake My Day Ben & Jerry's Cake My Day is labeled as " Vanilla Cake Batter Ice Cream with Vanilla Cake Pieces, Buttercream Frosting & Raspberry Swirls". This target exclusive takes some features off other flavors in the past to replicate something new. The raspberry swirls were first used in Save Our Swirled which had a nice compliment to a new pint. The buttercream frosting is a new addition to the vanilla cake pieces. Cake Batter ice cream sounds promising, and will probably be a step up from the original ben and jerry's vanilla ice cream. Lets see if this offering was better than the walmart limited edition Peanut Butter & Cookies. The Vanilla Cake Batter ice cream is immediately much better than the basic vanilla ice cream offered in many Ben & Jerry offerings. You get a strong luscious vanilla, and extra pureness of cake batter in each bite. Ben & Jerry's has done a good job using new ice cream bases to attract their fans, and give them new options for the future. While the density and flavor is an upgrade, the cake batter base is on par with Coldstone as one of my favorites. I would have to say between this and the sweet cream base offered in Peanut Butter & Cookies there is a promising future for better ice cream bases on the B&J line. Vanilla Cake pieces, butter cream frosting, and raspberry swirls make for an interesting combo in this target exclusive. There were shortbread cake pieces in Strawberry not so shortcake that were loaded from top to bottom. Buttercream frosting is a new addition as the raspberry swirl is a replica from two pints in the past. The vanilla cake pieces are dense, and pack a hard consistency to the ice cream. Combines with the cake batter base they offer a good addition to the pint. The buttercream frosting is very hard to note in the pint. Usually buttercream is found on cakes or cupcakes, Ben & Jerry's tended to bind this into the base and enhance the vanilla cake batter ice cream. There were no chunks or swirls of this found throughout the pint. The Raspberry swirls are very identical to SOS & a swirled of difference. The only downfall of the raspberry swirl is its flavor is so strong it takes away and overpowers the other features of the pint. While its good, it is just too strong. it is like eating a cake but having the inside and filling stronger than the actual cake and frosting. Overall another seasonal flavor to start 2016, but nothing that has topped anything of the past. Ben & Jerry's continues to build on making new ice cream flavors that are improvements of the past. The variance of new mix-ins (Vanilla Cake Pieces/Buttercream Frosting) are unique, but they are not perfected by the company just yet. The raspberry swirl featured in three offerings on the B&J line continue to overpower the other aspects downgrading the experience of the ice cream. If Ben & Jerry's could find a happy medium with the strong raspberry swirl and improve the other compliments this could improve this limited edition flavor. The buttercream frosting needs to either be added as a swirl or in chunks, it seemed to be masked in the base as a Vanilla Buttercream ice cream. Grade: B- Found: Target Erie, PA
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