Beer ice cream facts for kids
Beer ice cream is a special kind of ice cream that uses beer as one of its ingredients. The type of beer used can change the flavor a lot. For example, ice cream made with darker beers usually tastes stronger than ice cream made with lighter beers. Sometimes, a little bit of the alcohol from the beer stays in the ice cream. But often, the ice cream is cooked, which makes the alcohol disappear.
How Beer Ice Cream is Made
Beer ice cream is made just like regular ice cream, but with beer added. Different kinds of beer give the ice cream different tastes.
- Stout beer can make the ice cream taste like malt and caramel.
- Pilsner and India pale ale (IPA) can add a slightly bitter flavor. IPAs can also give a malty taste.
- Wheat beer and lager beers can also be used.
Lighter beers, like lagers, don't add as much flavor. But darker beers, or beers with more malt and hops, give the ice cream a stronger, more unique taste.
You can also add other yummy things to beer ice cream, just like with any other ice cream. Things like chocolate, cherries, caramel, pecans, or marshmallows are popular. Sometimes, people mix beer into ice cream that's already made. Other times, they make the ice cream from scratch, adding the beer as they go.
Some ice cream shops in the United States sell beer ice cream. It has even been served at big events like the Great American Beer Festival. In 2015, a famous ice cream company called Ben & Jerry's worked with New Belgium Brewing Company. They made two special kinds of beer ice cream using New Belgium Brown Ale.
Does it Have Alcohol?
Beer ice cream can sometimes still have some alcohol from the beer. If the ice cream is made with beer that has a lot of alcohol, it might not freeze completely in an ice cream maker. This is because alcohol doesn't freeze easily. However, many recipes involve cooking the mixture. Cooking helps the alcohol evaporate, so it's no longer in the ice cream.
Similar Sweet Treats
You can also make an ice cream float using beer. This is like a root beer float, but with beer instead of root beer. Another similar treat is root beer ice cream. This is a non-alcoholic dish. It's made with root beer and regular ice cream ingredients.
See also
In Spanish: Helado de cerveza para niños
