After absolutely demolishing a salty cheeseburger at Tops, we found ourselves cruising around downtown Pensacola looking for something sweet to balance out the sodium overload. That is when we stumbled across The Tipsy Scoop.
Alcohol and ice cream?
Alright. I'm listening.
The Tipsy Scoop is a small, charming ice cream shop built around the idea of alcohol infused desserts. They serve boozy ice cream, milkshakes, and a few other creative concoctions that make you feel like you're doing something slightly rebellious while eating dessert.
Since we were already in full "why not" mode, we ordered the ice cream flights so we could try a little of everything. At first glance the portions looked small, but don't be fooled. By the time you finish the flight you realize you have quietly consumed a heroic amount of ice cream. The presentation is fun and whimsical and adds a little personality to the whole experience.
The ice cream itself was excellent. Smooth, creamy, and the flavors were well balanced.
The alcohol though was more of a polite suggestion than an actual presence.
Naturally I had questions. I asked the owner how much of this ice cream someone would have to eat before actually feeling any impairment. He casually explained that you would probably need to eat several gallons before catching even the slightest buzz.
Several. Gallons.
At that point I started wondering why they even check IDs.
Unless someone is planning an aggressive four hour dairy binge, the only thing you are getting intoxicated from here is lactose.
That said, the ice cream really is delicious and the novelty of alcohol themed flavors makes it a fun stop when you are wandering around downtown.
The atmosphere felt basic and unfinished, and the menu takes a minute to figure out when you first walk in. The staff was friendly, although the conversation felt slightly forced and a little awkward at times.
Overall the vibe feels less like a romantic date night destination and more like a lazy Sunday afternoon stop. The kind of place where you wander in, order a flight of ice cream, debate the science of getting drunk on dairy, and then stroll back out into the Florida heat feeling slightly confused but very satisfied.
With a few tweaks to the atmosphere and counter presentation, this place could easily become one of the more memorable little dessert spots downtown. read more