Some places are worth building an entire adventure around. Penn State Berkey Creamery is one of…read morethem. As fate would have it, my Adventure Buddy and I found ourselves in State College on National Ice Cream Day, and there was absolutely no way I was leaving town without finally visiting the home of my favorite ice cream flavor ever...Monkey Business (banana ice cream, peanut butter swirl, chocolate chips). I'd fallen in love with Monkey Business last summer after trying it at an ice cream shop close to my house, but somehow I'd never actually made it to the Creamery itself. Correcting that oversight immediately became part of the day's adventure plan!
We arrived around 12:30 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, fully expecting National Ice Cream Day to mean complete chaos. Surprisingly, it wasn't. Busy? Absolutely. But the line moved quickly, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing and the whole operation ran like a well-oiled ice cream machine.
Then I looked around. Cheese. Sticky buns. Chocolate milk. Bagels. Ice cream. Ice cream. More ice cream. At one point I turned to my Adventure Buddy and said..."I could live here."
Ordering couldn't have been easier. First, you tell the cashier whether you're getting a cone, bowl or shake and pay. Then you move down to the ice cream counter, where you pick your flavor. Finally...you wait for your number to be called so someone can hand you what can only be described as an absurdly generous serving of happiness.
While I waited, I sampled the Grilled Stickies flavor. Big mistake! It was phenomenal! For approximately fifteen seconds, I seriously considered abandoning my beloved Monkey Business and trying something new. Fortunately...I came to my senses. Monkey Business and I have history together.
When my number was called, the gentleman behind the counter handed me a bowl that was significantly larger than I expected. And yes...I audibly squealed. Again. Right there in the middle of the Creamery. I looked at him and said, "You absolutely made my day!" Because he had.
We found a table outside on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather, performed a few completely necessary happy food dances and proceeded to enjoy every glorious bite of what is still, without question, my favorite ice cream flavor on Earth. For only $6. On National Ice Cream Day. Honestly, I don't know how that day could've gotten any better.
PRO TIP: Don't skip the sample spoon! There are so many incredible flavors that it's worth trying something new before committing. Just be warned...you may accidentally discover another favorite!
I also learned that Berkey Creamery ships ice cream to the lower 48 states. This information feels...dangerous. Living only about an hour and a half away, I probably don't need to have Monkey Business shipped directly to my house. But...I may have to test the process someday. You know...in the name of science!
If you're anywhere near State College, do yourself a favor and make the stop. Whether you're a Penn State fan, an ice cream enthusiast or just someone who appreciates an exceptionally well-run small operation, Berkey Creamery absolutely lives up to its legendary reputation. WE ARE...ICE CREAM HEAVEN!