Maple Walnut
Art's Creamery is on Trapelo Road in the middle of Belmont - a couple of blocks east of Belmont Wheelworks. It's in a short block of retail storefronts, with lots of street parking, especially in the evening - and since it's open until 10pm (11pm on weekends), there's very little contention for it. This being Massachusetts, there's actually another (small) ice cream shop a couple of doors down in the same block1.
No outdoor seating or service, and no indoor seating either; just a long line2 of serving/display tubs of ice cream and gelato, then another counter with a grid of toppings (which might have been self-service in a bygone time.) No frozen yogurt or other items in the "almost but not entirely unlike ice cream" category, other than 3 Vegan flavors including "Vegan Almond Chai". They do have a long toppings list including, correctly3, Chocolate Jimmies and Rainbow Sprinkles. They also have a 3-scoop milk shake, and any-flavor cold-brew Affogato.
They do have a variety of "mystery flavors", like "Chiller Bee" and "Matrix Brownie", but not only are the staff enthusiastic about explaining them, the online menu has more detailed ingredient lists4 than most shops do.
First Visit
Since they had such a broad Gelato selection (and encouraged sampling), I tasted the "Belgian Chocolate Gelato" - pleasantly strong chocolate flavor, but I personally find the texture of Gelato a little off - if you already know you like gelato, though, go for it.
For the ice cream itself, I started with Maple Walnut - which has candied walnuts, making the texture a bit more like Butter Crunch, as well as having a really distinctively maple flavor in the ice cream itself. (Chocolate Jimmies on top.)
I followed that with "Matrix Brownie" - a serious dark chocolate base with brownies, chocolate swirl and some other chocolate crunch to it. Not sure about the theme behind the name, but it is competitive with several of the Extreme Chocolate flavors I've tried - a good choice for a chocolate fan.
Future Visits
Next time around I'll definitely try "Chiller Bee" (assuming it is actually a honey-based flavor) and maybe the "Peanut Butter Banana Fluff". This is also the second place I've seen that lists Butterfinger crumble as a topping, which might be a good addition to add texture to basic Chocolate. It would also be interesting to see if their Cinnamon flavor is more "autumn seasonal" or "butter crunch but with red-hots instead", but fortunately they encourage sampling.
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Google lists Sweet Heart as a Bubble Tea Store, but there was a window sign advertising ice cream when I walked by on the way to Art's. ↩
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The picture is only half of the flavors; there's another entire 16-bucket section next to it, which is how they handle having a large ice cream selection and a similarly broad range of gelato. ↩
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See the Berlin Farms article for more Jimmies vs. Sprinkles detail. ↩
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Oddly only the ice creams have details, the gelatos are title-only - but they also only have literally descriptive titles like "Carmelized Banana" or "Belgian Chocolate". ↩
Mad Maggie's is on 125 in North Andover - technically "inside" 495 east of 93, but far enough east that 495 is no longer a "ring" but is already heading north1 to the New Hampshire border. They have a bunch of parking, indoor and outdoor serving windows, and indoor and outdoor seating.
My first visit was a couple of years ago - it turns out that it's a ten minute walk (on sidewalks!) from Lots Of Eats Thai Kitchen which is really tasty and has lots of Vegan and GF options - and does have a short list of Asian desserts but sometimes you're after more variety, or are in the mood for ice cream instead - or perhaps you just want that ten minute walk between dinner and dessert. That first time I went with "Candy Store Floor" - a flavor they still have (listed under Specialty Flavors which are described as "usually available but may run out" rather than "seasonal") which is a light "malted chocolate" base with m&ms, crushed malted milk balls, chocolate chips, and Nestle Crunch bits. Not for everybody, but it had a lot of flavor and a lot of crunch to it, it certainly hits some specific cravings.
Even as late as 1 November they're still open until 9pm2. They have the usual cups, cones, pints, quarts, and sundaes; they apparently have soft serve but it's shut down for the season (not sure which season.) Toppings include gummy bears and strawberry; they also have Jimmies (no sprinkles though.) The menu also lists frappes, ice cream soda, root beer floats, and cold brew coffee; in addition to ice cream they have a few flavors each of yogurt, sorbet, non dairy, and no-sugar-added. I didn't see them on the main menu, but the parlor has a sign about ice cream cakes, slush by the gallon, and 4-pack cookie sandwiches.
In addition to plain cold brew coffee, one of the window-signs lists a "mad latte" and a "mad chill-a-ccino", both blended ice cream and cold brew drinks; this might be comparable to Berlin Farms Coffee Pick Me Up (which is basically an iced coffee frappe.)
They also list seasonal specials like "Witches Brew" and "Monster Mash", without any further explanation4; the Apple Crisp Sundae is explained in more detail (apple crisp, caramel, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, on any ice cream) and is a fall-only special.
Worth mentioning that they have a sign stating that they make their ice cream on site! This is less common than you might assume - at least for small shops that make their own, the production site is often somewhere else so they don't have to try to fit separate deep freezers and ice cream making equipment into an undersized retail location, where it would take space away from serving coolers and inventory.5
This Visit
While "Candy Store Floor" brought back memories, I started with Maple Walnut - solid maple flavor and large crunchy walnut pieces, a well done example of a New England staple.
Followed that with Mad Moose - I figured it was just "Moose Tracks but fitting into the Mad (Maggie's) theme", which it was - but they point out that "The more common name of this flavor is trademarked by Denali Flavorings" - which is now Denali Ingredients and also owns Eskimo Pie. Apparently it's originally a Michigan Upper Penninsula flavor with mint and chocolate variations and a giant moose brand ambassador/mascot. (Yes, sometimes the "background research" part of this blog takes longer than the "enjoying the ice cream" part, even if you include the driving...)
The specialty flavor list actually goes into a lot of detail on flavor provenance and trademarks - while trademarks are (somewhat) protected, recipes generally aren't, so it's good to see them credit their inspirations, like Bi-Rite Creamery for their particular Salted Caramel flavor.
Wait - what season is that?
Their Seasonal flavors page has some gems like "Maple Bacon" that they make in "late-February / early-March" specifically for Maple Sugaring Season (though they now source their syrup from New Hampshire, since the very local Turtle Lane Maple Farm closed in 2015.)
They further include "Girl Scout cookie season", February and March, for production of the Caramel deLight-based "Coconut Scout Cookie" flavor, and more importantly, "Mint Scout Cookie" from white mint ice cream with crushed Thin Mints. Yes, I've already marked that on my calendar, and plan to borrow a friend's Yeti Cooler to stock up.
The list goes on, for very specialized "seasons" like Groundhog Day and Superbowl Sunday, as well as having Summer and "Hot Weather" flavors - overall, an interesting take on the New England view that ice cream is always in season.
Artwork
Mad Maggie's is decorated inside and out in ice cream themed art. From this neon sign above the main counter...
To this stained glass window in the indoor "parlor" area (this being New England, stained glass windows are entirely unsuitable for use as actual windows, so hanging it as art where it can still get sunlight is appropriate.)
This weathervane seems like it should be outside, but I'm not sure that vane is enough to turn it (and the cone itself is not flat enough to serve either.) Fine as decoration of course.
The Name
According to their FAQ, it turns out that Maggie is one of the owners and the MAD part is that Mike, Amanda, and David are the kids6 that have been involved in the shop from the beginning.7
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In fact, as of this posting this is the northernmost (in Massachusetts) ice cream shop I've reviewed - but it looks like Hodgies Too, Harbor Creamery, and Biggarts could all claim that title, once I get to them. ↩
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Fine print on one of the signs suggests that the indoor "parlor" closes early, but that might just be the indoor serving counter... or maybe they're just nice3 about it when it's cold out, either way they didn't chase the two or three lingering tables out. ↩
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On their about page they specifically note that "we pay very little attention to signs, and remain open until every customer in line has been helped, regardless of our stated "closing time" which is unusual but a "family shop" kind of thing. ↩
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Monster Mash is actually documented on their website, it's basically a purple and green version of Candy Store Floor, or close to it. ↩
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Sullivan Farms even has a standalone freezer about the size of a 20ft shipping container, behind their shop, trading inventory space for parking instead. ↩
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From the Candy Store Floor explanation, David was around twelve years old when the store was founded in 2003 so they're all in their thirties now... ↩
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Mad Maggie's opened in 2003. Mad Willies (a handful of shops south of Boston that I haven't gotten to yet) didn't open until 2006, but also doesn't explain themselves at all beyond that. There's also a Mad Martha's that dates back to 1972 - but that seems to just be named for being on Martha's Vineyard, though the website has a kind of unconvincing backstory tale. ↩
Kay's Dairy Bar is an ice cream shop that also does Fried Things (and burgers) - very "New England Coast Summer" vibes for a place that's an hour and a half from the nearest coastline. While I did get dinner there (after a day on Wachusett Mountain and the Echo Lake Trail) you can just get ice cream, which is really all that matters.
The place is on 2A (at a point where it's mostly a side road from 2) twenty minutes west of Leominster; it might be a good stop on the way to (or from) the Quabbin, and while it's very east of 91, it's still "out where the map is mostly green/forest" and you really have to be looking for it. Vast parking lot, a mix of sheltered and unsheltered picnic benches - definitely a great summer setting, but while there is indoor space to wait for your order, in late October you can expect to retreat to your car to eat comfortably.
They have outdoor windows for ice cream and food, on three sides of the building, as well as multiple indoor lines (the outdoor windows were closed on a late October evening, but seemed recently used.) There were menu screens inside, and also movable chalkboards that suggests that they were still recently posting them outside as well.
The ice cream menu was extensive - including Grasshopper and Peppermint Stick, three different Pumpkin flavors, and an unexplained "Goo Lagoon" (which is a key ingredient in their "Witches Brew" Halloween special sundae, with black raspberry.) They have featured sundaes, "boats"1, and frappes, plus an unusual list of soft serve flavors including Apple Spice Twist, Maple, and Creamsicle (though, as is common this time of year, some of them were offline.)
They also have frozen yogurt, sherbet, and a few dairy-free and no-sugar-added flavors.
First Visit
I started with Maple Walnut, a cozy autumn flavor; sweet with lots of crunch.
The other half was Coffee Cookie Crunch - solidly basic coffee ice cream, recognizable but more in the range of "if you like coffee ice cream - or lattes - that's fine, but consider that you might not actually like coffee" than some of the other strong coffee ice creams I've had recently. Lots of crunch from various chocolate cookies mixed in, overall tasty, just in a more mainstream way than a Coffee Geek way.
Other Desserts
Since they're a "Fried Place"™ they have a couple of interesting non-ice-cream desserts - apple crisp, blueberry crisp, and "pumpkin fritters" with powdered sugar and maple syrup; I tried the fritters (before the ice cream) and they were hot and sweet, crispy on the outside but quite airy inside, not as dense as you might expect. They're probably fall-seasonal, but I'll definitely look for them again next time.
Next Visit
The elusive Creamsicle Soft Serve is on my list for next time, if I haven't been able to actually get it somewhere else before then; there's also a mysterious "Cookie Conundrum" boat. I'll also consider their Extreme Chocolate (possibly with Grasshopper to make a thin-mint-like sundae), Chocolate PB Cookie Dough, or maybe just Butter Pecan.
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The "boats" are likely punning on the fried seafood part of the menu. As seems to be a theme with "summer" ice-cream-and-seafood places like Dairy Joy, they do have a "Chum Bucket" option, which I'm going to guess has Swedish Fish mixed in and (hopefully) doesn't actually get any more nautical than that... ↩
Great Brook Farm Ice Cream is tucked inside of Great Brook Farm State Park right off of Lowell Street (about a mile and a half north of That Rotary.) The state park has $3 parking in a large lot that overflows into a field; the building right near the parking lot has restrooms but you'll need to look around for signs pointing down the hill and around the pond to the ice cream shop itself. (While it's about 750ft from mid-parking to the shop, it does appear to be fully accessible, including the ramps up to the front door.)
You will pass cows1, goats, and chickens on the way to the ice cream (the barnyard and the ice cream place are both on a bit of a plateau with ramps that have "no horses on ramp" signs and other active farm labelling; the goats are often standing at the fence rails angling for attention, though the cows just... are, and the chickens seem to have the run of the place.)
Though there are windows in front - service is at an indoor counter, with one important exception: there's a sign indicating that they'll serve one person with a dog at the window (the rest of the group needs to come inside, though.) There are picnic tables outside and inside - the interior is concrete-floored repurposed barn space - plenty of room for an indoor line in bad weather.
The menus are primarily posted indoors, with a bunch of sundaes including a Fluffernutter, Smores2, and Mud Pie; a Barbie Frappe (very pink) and a Fruit Festival Cooler. They also have floats and freezes, milk shakes and ice cream sodas, plus an otherwise unexplained "Creamsicle Drink"; they also have pints and quarts. Non ice cream options include yogurts, sherbets, and sorbets, though this time of year the only have one flavor of each.
Aside from sugar and wafer cones, they have "Danish Cones" but apparently those are just (vanilla flavored) waffle cones. Toppings include Gummy Bears and Crushed Oreos. They also list a five flavor ice cream flight (which probably works better with their longer summer menu.)
While this is clearly an ice cream place first and foremost - they do have hot dogs, and even a "hot dog special" which is a hot dog, drink, and single scoop of ice cream; the surrounding State Park has miles of trails and that might be a better balanced starting point than a triple scoop of ice cream - I certainly wouldn't know, having headed directly to the Stone Row Trail afterwards.
First Visit
As it is the latter half of October (great time for walking through the woods in the surrounding state park, classic red and orange Autumn Leaves season) they've let their menu get a lot shorter - a bunch of blank spots on the indoor list, and someone came out and crossed out an item on the outdoor menu while I was eating. Of course, they still list 21 different flavors of ice cream - this is just visibly half of their peak variety, suggesting this is a good choice to revisit in the summer.
On the positive side, this meant I felt free to go with classic favorites and not look for anything particularly unique or distinctive - so instead I started with a personal favorite, Maple Walnut, with chocolate jimmies3 on top. The maple flavor was a nice autumn note, and I'm a big fan of the added crunch of the walnuts.
I followed the Maple Walnut with "Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough", which was a reasonable chocolate base, mixed with a sugary cookie dough and chunks of peanut butter - turns out it was "(Chocolate) (Peanut Butter) (Cookie Dough)" rather than "(Chocolate) ((Peanut Butter Cookie) Dough)" but really, who's going to put that on a menu this far from Cambridge. Nitpicking aside it's a good combination, but as one would expect from any reading of the name, a rather sweet one.
Future Visits
I'm likely to come back next summer to try more things that aren't on the menu today, but even from the reduced list, Moose Tracks, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Salted Caramel Chocolate Pretzel do look interesting - or maybe a Coffee Espresso Frappe or Mud Pie Sundae. (I may also try to get better pictures of the chickens...)
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To perhaps over emphasize that this is a working Dairy Farm, inside the ice cream shop was a poster about how "We're the real thing, we have 130 Holstein dairy cows to prove it!" advertising, not the ice cream, but their Composted Cow Manure Garden Fertilizer, available for delivery. They did manage to out-do Trombetta's Farm with their "ice cream cakes and bundles of firewood" sign... ↩
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While Smores Sundae currently starts with Campfire S'mores ice cream, it apparently used to have Graham Central Station, based on taped over bits of the sign. ↩
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For all that they're a state park they call everything jimmies, and have both milkshakes and frappes on the menu; I suppose they're the opposite end of the Massachusetts Is Special spectrum from Berlin Farms with their instructional notes. ↩
Kayleigh's Ice Cream is a brand new1 ice cream shop on 129 in North Billerica2. (There is also signage for "Hello! Tea" but that isn't currently a separate thing - it's just that Kayleigh's has fancy coffee drinks and bubble tea as well as ice cream.) Service is indoors; there are some inside tables, as well as a handful of outdoor picnic tables and a decent sized parking lot.
They didn't have a flavor menu for me to take pictures of - they just had two a pair of 8-bucket ice cream fridges, with the flavors written on the acyrlic cover in some sort of neon paint-pen, which was challenging to photograph. (They also had a pastry display.)
First Visit
I got Maple Walnut and Butter Pecan; the maple flavor came through more than most versions (most maple walnut is basically chocolate walnut, which is actually fine - but at Kayleigh's, the chocolate was good and the maple stood out, which was unusual.) The Butter Pecan was decent and had a nice texture too.
Next visit I'll probably try the "Billerica Rocky Road" (which is apparently snarky commentary on the local road quality) and possibly the "Best Chocolate You Never Have!!!".
Their website also credits Bliss Bros Dairy in Attleboro, MA as their upstream dairy source.
Two weeks after Labor Day and they are still staying open until 9pm - which was convenient for me, but they didn't have any other customers at 8:30pm so I wouldn't count on that persisting.
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The latest reference to their "opening soon" would be in April 2024; their "Grand Opening" party appears to have finally happened in Late June. In mid-September they still have the Grand Opening banner up. ↩
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It took me a bit of map digging to realize why the area seemed vaguely familiar - it's a five minute walk from the apartment I got when I first moved back north to work for HP/Apollo, 3 decades ago. ↩
Alternately "Kimball Farm Ice Cream at Bates Farm" or "Kimball Farm Carlisle" (there are a couple of others including the huge place in Westford with Miniature Golf) this is one of those that you stumble on when driving through "back roads" but still trying to get somewhere - it's on 225, not far from the Concord River (which serves as the Carlisle/Bedford border.)
Lots of parking and some kid-oriented farm entertainment (literally, they have goats.) Picnic tables, some shaded; they also host a Farmer's Market on summer weekends.
Good dense ice cream in traditional flavors; I stop in when I happen to be relaxing on those particular back roads (the Bedford Boat Ramp is actually a good birding spot when there isn't a lot of boat or fishing traffic.) Most recent visit: ½ Butter Crunch and ½ Maple Walnut, solid classics; my friend had a Strawberry Ice Cream Soda. (Their menu also includes Vegan (coconut based) and Sugar-Free options, which I will not be reporting on further.)
It's one of your New England classics - you might not have been looking for it, but if you drive by and think "Hmm, I could go for some ice cream" you will not be disappointed, and it's big enough that it won't be too crowded in the summertime. I've been stopping at Kimball Farms on and off since 2007, and was there most recently this past weekend.