Beer Versus Wine – The Perfect Vanilla Ice Cream Pairing
Congratulations to July’s Beer Versus Wine Challenge winner – KC Hop Talk! Part of the honor includes coming up with August’s challenge. Participants have until next Tuesday, August 12 to turn in their suggestion before we take it to a vote. Winner gets to present September’s challenge. For more on the rules, click here.
August is the month of the year when those of us in the Northern Hemisphere understand the weather will be just a little bit warmer, and we want to fill the days with as many fun outdoor activities as possible. If you are like me, this is also the time of year when we are looking for ways to get away from the heat, and I can’t think of a better way to cool off than to sit down in a shady spot with a healthy serving of homemade ice cream. Yes, ice cream that you make yourself … is there a better summer treat? Some of my fondest memories from my childhood consist of eating homemade ice cream at a big social event at the park or under a shady tree in someone’s backyard. It was always the highlight of the event to get the chance to eat ice cream that was made earlier in the day.
We had the type of ice cream freezer where you turned and turned the hand crack until you felt like your arm was going to fall off. Even though there was a lot of work involved in producing ice cream with a hand crank ice cream freezer, nobody ever complained about taking their turn on the crank; especially, if they wanted to get a serving of ice cream later on. My brothers and I turned it into a contest to see who could outlast the others and we would only stop when our parents said we’d turn the crank long enough.
Once the hard part of turning the crank was done the mixing paddle was taken out of the canister, which meant that was our cue to sneak a taste. That first taste of ice cream right out of the freezer was the moment when you realized all of the effort was time well spent. Even though it was only a taste, it would satisfy everyone until it was time to enjoy a bowl of your own.
Making Ice Cream the Old Fashioned WaySeveral years ago I opted to replace my hand crank ice cream freezer with an electric version. So, now I drag out the extension cord, and sit down to a with a cool beverage to reminisce over those days when I didn’t have this modern convenience to crank my homemade ice cream.
We need some consistency with the flavor for this challenge, so let’s focus the attention on one single flavor of ice cream. I am going to stick with everyone’s favorite (statistically), and request pairing suggestions for vanilla ice cream.
I think this challenge is one where everyone can get involved in adding pairing suggestions, and I can’t wait to read the comments.
Who’s screaming? We all love ice cream! And what beer or wine are you pairing with it?
Apparently you can get wine ice cream now… it’s definitely on my “to try” list.
http://wineawakenings.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/mercers-wine-ice-cream.jpg
I read that recently on a blog. There is also hops flavored ice-cream on the market.
Which begs the question, which beer or wine would you recommend with vanilla ice cream? I hope you can participate in this month’s challenge. Thanks for dropping by!
Wow, hops flavoured ice cream!
I’d pair vanilla ice cream with a glass of sauternes – and yes I have a massive sweet tooth…
Sounds great to me!
I remember one time I was at a local brewery and someone brought out a carton of vanilla ice cream. The bartender scooped it up into glasses and began pouring a dark beer on top of it. Man was that delicious.
I can’t remember the beer, but I do like Trophy Brewing’s Slingshot Coffee Porter. It would be the closest thing to an affogato, which is an awesome dessert that has a jolt of energy.
You continue to surprise me, Art. A beer rec from a wino? Or have you stepped into the dark (porter) side? (See what I did with that play on words there?)
And there’s nothing wrong with a beer float… Did one at home with a bourdon scotch ale we had on draft.
Only if the UM band plays the music of me marching to the brewery.
You know Mrs. G was in the UM band.
Mate, im not sure if I could handle a beer and ice cream combo. However I would probably go a strong dark ale, or even a chocolate flavoured ale.
I like the chocolate flavored ale. Is there a particular you would recommend?
This one ended up on the wrong post,
From Whit Winslow
The PERFECT wine to pair with a vanilla ice cream is going to be Jones von Drehle’s Tempranillo! http://shop.jonesvondrehle.com/2012-Tempranillo-856819004131/
Prosecco. The dryness of the wine combined with the bubbles make a great combination with the sweet and creamy ice cream. I admit to resorting to store bought ice cream, but it was still delicious. I’m not even a huge sparking wine fan, but this worked. It was such a contrast that it worked almost like a salted chocolate.
Interesting choice in Prosecco and not something I was expecting at all. That’s not a bad thing either. I love what you did with the comparison to salted chocolate. The contrast of sweet and salty go great together. You also help prove my point that Prosecco goes with everything. I prefer mine in the morning…
I’m new the the challenge, what a cool idea!
I’d suggest Ballast Point’s Victory at Sea, a very bitter imperial porter with lots of coffee, some chocolate and perhaps a hint of vanilla. My husband brought back a bottle from the states, and I confess I didn’t really like it. Too bitter for me! But a few weeks ago I finally got around to trying an affogato, vanilla ice cream “drowned” in espresso. The bitter espresso makes the ice cream taste even sweeter, and more decedent, without giving it the heavy, sickly-sweet taste that something like chocolate syrup or caramel can.
I think the sweet, clean taste of vanilla ice cream (or even the moody flavours of bourbon vanilla) would do really well against the stormily bitter Victory at Sea.
I’d suggest not just pairing the ice cream with the beer, but actually combining the two into either an affogato or float depending on the ice cream to beer ratio you desire.
Mmmmm… a beer float! Been hearing a lot about those in this challenge. There’s been some chatter on Twitter. Great suggestion in the Ballast Point Victory at Sea!
I’ve been putting some thought into the pairing for this challenge, and I believe the best beer to drink with a bowl of ice cream would be Lindemans Framboise Raspberry Lambic. The sour tart from this raspberry beer is a perfect balance to the sweet creaminess of the ice cream.
http://www.lindemans.be/start/framboise/en
A Lambic. I like it.
Sweet wine goes best with sweet dessert. I enjoy a splash (or three) of Quady Winery’s Elysium gently poured over scoops of vanilla ice cream. It makes for an effortless dessert when company comes over. The black cherry, strawberry and honey flavors are complemented by the subtle scents of roses. In Greek, Elysium means “state of eternal bliss!”
Finally a sweet wine! Where have you been? Seriously, where have you been?
Olde Hickory Seven Devils, a bourbon aged scotch ale is my choice. We had it on draft this winter. Seven Devils has a very root beer like quality. To jump on the theme of beer floats. We actually made one with vanilla ice cream and Seven Devils. That drink could have put the Dairy Queen out of business.