Last weekend, I was in the band for a local production of The Little Mermaid in Bristol, New Hampshire. The location is out of the way for me – almost an hour from home, and much further north than my usual southern New Hampshire ice cream haunts. So it went without saying that it was important for me to get at least one ice cream visit in while I was in a new area.
My investigations brought up two places carrying local ice cream, which seemed pretty great for this relatively small town with a significant vacation community. Both Newfound Creamery and Mill Fudge Factory sounded promising.
Mill Fudge Factory has actually been on my radar for more than a year, but for whatever reason, it’s never happened. Actually, I know at least part of the reason. They don’t keep typical hours. Their “winter” schedule, which is current, has them open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday (with an open mic night!) and from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday. That’s it! So if I wanted to get there, Friday it had to be. Their savory lunch options are well-reviewed too, but I went just for the ice cream.
I headed there before the show, having a very small meal on my way. The location is absolutely gorgeous, in a cute downtown with a mill, right on the river. The building is quaint and they have a fantastic covered porch which I imagine gets used for live music in the summer months? It would be a great place to hang out, and I bet with the wind off the river the bugs aren’t too bad either.
In addition to their fantastic (24 flavors) selection of fudge, they carry about a half dozen flavors of ice cream. You can also “swirl-in” flavors, choosing from fruit, candy and pie flavors. I will definitely have to return and try a pie mix-in. How cool is that?
They generously allowed me to order the smallest size (kiddie), with is only $3.10, and still fit two different flavors in the cup. Since I had already had a light dinner, it was plenty, but my normal portion would be a small. This is most definitely super-premium ice cream, it feels very indulgent, creamy and rich. I went with chocolate and “vanilla fudge surprise” for my two flavors.
Vanilla Fudge Surprise – First of all, this is one of the best ideas I’ve ever heard. Since Mill Fudge is primarily a fudge factory (they ship all over the country, and they offer a subscription service – such a cool gift), for this flavor, they take vanilla as the base and add whatever mystery fudge flavors they want from the 24 they carry. So with every bite, you get a surprise flavor of fudge! Their fudge is really delightful. No graininess which can be so common in fudge. The vanilla was very nice, but somehow it wasn’t my favorite – something about the flavor just wasn’t what I was hoping for. But the fudge was so good! It’s a perfect way to sample the flavors, and if you can’t make up your mind on a type of fudge or want both fudge and ice cream, this is how to have it both ways.
Chocolate – I don’t often go with chocolate, but it’s a classic for a reason, of course. Here it really packs a punch! Super good. Not too sugary and no sign of a fakeness or the kind of sourness that a cheaper chocolate can have. It’s really more like a fudge flavor in its intensity. Highly recommend.
While I was out, I couldn’t resist picking up some maple whiskey fudge for my husband. The tiny piece I sampled was as delightful as it sounds. I really dug the atmosphere at Mill Fudge Factory. I imagine it can get kind of crowded during prime time (not a lot of seating), but I really recommend a visit while you’re in town or even a detour if you’re craving ice cream. And of course if you love fudge, it’s a perfect stop.
Oh, and if you’re wondering – I did try to visit Newfound Creamery. Turns out they closed last year, and although the local Irish pub, Kathleen’s Cottage, bought out their ice cream supply, it’s long gone. I did snag a bite of their “sticky toffee pudding” though. It’s absolutely GIGANTIC, a meal in itself, and out of this world! So long, Newfound Creamery.
Thanks so much for reading. I have been busy visiting lots of ice cream places & collecting information on how ice cream is made too. (Thanks, Amanda!) Since I have a jam-packed summer, I have to stock up now to make sure I have plenty of reviews to share with you. 🙂 Here’s wishing you a delicious ice cream treat in the near future!
p.s. Thanks for doing your usual Amazon shopping using my affiliate link!
In Search of a Scoop 