The weather has warmed up, so naturally we dipped into Denver’s ice cream scene to get the scoop.
Little Man Ice Cream. A standard allotment of butterfat-filled flavors conveniently located on the front steps of Linger’s. Plan to go to the funeral parlor for a light lunch, then sit in the shade of the giant milk can for dessert. We found the salted maple pecan to be a nice mix of sweet-salty goodness with nutty crunch, though the pistachio could’ve used some nutmeat. If it’s not too hot out, take your scoop to the selfie-station before it melts.
Sweet Action Ice Cream. There’s nothing gimmicky about this little parlor on Broadway, so they put more effort into unusual, small-batch flavors that change daily. After some tasting, I went with a honey goat cheese that was surprisingly rich in flavor. Unfortunately, the attendant handed me a spoon of nerd candy ice cream after I had my selection in hand. Now I have to go back and pray I can get it again. #PuckerPower
Nuggs Ice Cream. We made a long, hot trek up Colfax to visit this neighborhood gem. It’s definitely a place geared towards families with a mini-vans full of soccer-starved ice cream fiends, but even so, they deliver scoops worthy of gourmands. Nice selection of flavors and generous servings. I doubled down on sprinkles with a birthday cake flavored selection, but I think Jan’s fruit-forward mango was the real winner. Nuggs is worth a stop if you’re in the ‘hood.
Liks Ice Cream. On 13th, just a few blocks off the main Colfax drag, is this local favorite. They have a good selection of homemade ice cream, with a special emphasis on baked-good inspired flavor choices: apple pie? yes! blueberry cobbler? of course! Top of the Rockies (vanilla with raspberry & fudge) is a great choice, too. Can’t decide? Want more? They’ll hand-pack a pint for you to take home.
Smith + Canon. If you want a more intense flavor experience, try this newly opened spot on Colfax. The owner insisted we try every flavor and talked about making each from scratch — clearly there’s a lot of pride and effort that he’s putting into shaping the Denver ice cream scene. If the Thai Iced Coffee is still on the menu, prepare to experience a world of yum.
Scoops Homemade Ice Cream. On a lonely section of 22nd near the hospitals, is a nondescript little shop that serves up unicorn sundaes and delicious cones of strawberry ice cream. Get a packed pint to go because it’s not a scenic or happy spot to linger. But if you need to be in the neighborhood? It’s good to know it’s there.
Our friends marvel at the amount of walking we do on a daily basis. Hopefully this little round-up explains why!