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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

New product Wednesday, at Dallas-area stores: Blue Bell summer flavors ice cream

by Teresa Gubbins

Four summer-season Blue Bell ice cream flavors have turned up in supermarkets in the past few weeks. Two of them -- Southern blackberry cobbler and Delta Blues -- were actually introduced last summer (although they never made it into my local store, and still have the "New!" slogan on the carton). These are typical Blue Bell, in that they're basically vanilla ice cream with some kind of fruit. (See cherry vanilla, strawberries & vanilla, peaches & vanilla, etc.)

The other two -- Chocolate Extreme and Candy Jar -- have the Rocky-Road-type junk mixed in that younger consumers like.

Supposedly introduced last year, Southern blackberry cobbler nonetheless still has "New!" on the carton. Hrrumph.

Southern blackberry cobbler. Vanilla ice cream with blackberry sauce swirl and what they describe as "flaky pie crust pieces". First of all, there's hardly any blackberry sauce swirl; it's mostly vanilla ice cream. This is in keeping with how Blue Bell usually does things, which is to apply the sauce sparingly. The "pie crust pieces" are little pucks, firm not flaky, with a weird "buttery-crust" flavor that leaves a pronounced aftertaste. You eat them not because they taste good but because they're the only diversion in an otherwise dull ice cream.
Delta Blues. Basically a blueberry version of the blackberry cobbler, but with a much stronger berry presence in the ice cream with bits of blueberry mixed in, along with blueberry sauce and the pie crust pieces. The stronger blueberry flavor in the ice cream makes this one more interesting than the bland, overly sweet blackberry; but this one's harder to find in stores.
Chocolate Extreme. Chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge swirl, chocolate-coated peanut butter cups, pecans, almonds, and walnuts. There are people who like a bunch of crap loaded into their ice cream, and there are people who don't. This ice cream falls into the "loaded" category; however, Blue Bell's trademark stinginess works out well for once. Rather than a whole bunch of stuff barely bound together in ice cream, it's ice cream sprinkled with some stuff. And other than the choco-PB-cups, the stuff that's added -- nuts and fudge swirl -- isn't too rich. Even someone who doesn't usually like chocolate ice cream would find this to be pretty good.
Candy Jar. Caramel ice cream with peanut-butter cups, chocolate chunks, peanut brittle, chunks of caramel, and chocolate crisp pieces. The assortment of stuff is fairly appealing and, like the Chocolate Extreme, there's less junk than you'd expect and so the ice cream benefits accordingly.

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Summer is pretty extreme. And, chocolatey? I dunno.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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You want a fruity ice cream that will knock your socks off? Get Mayfield's Blueberry Cream Pie. Woot! That's some good stuff raht thar. Any of Mayfield's stuff really.

capteucalyptus Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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you know, i was starting to take your suggestion seriously, until you used the "words" Woot, raht, and thar.

Collin Gouldin Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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What, their <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/may/28/new-product-kraft-mac-and-cheese-crackers/#c26605">defense of MSG</a> wasn't enough? ;)

David Gouldin Staff

1 year, 4 months ago
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Just what is it with Blue Bell ice cream and Texas? Why does everyone advertise "we sell it here!?

I mean, I know that Texas is so up on itself and all, but the stuff is barley middle of the road at the best of times, and Ton Thumb Bucket quality at its worst. They must spend more on advertising than product development and quality control, for sure.

Billusa99 Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Bill, I think it has more to do with the fact that they're <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bell_Creameries">based in Texas</a>.

Not that I care, or anything.

Brett Hoerner Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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Now WAIT just a dad-blamed minute.

Pavel skewers me for "racially-neutral yet still ominous helicopter" and yet Blue Bell walks away unscathed in these politically charged times without admonition to rethink perhaps a Southern Summer-berry Cobbler.

I am insensed! And demand an apology.

(But isn't there always one guy in the bar spoiling for a fight... I just think I might can take Pavel today)

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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I've never taken the Gouldins seriously, just based on the pictures.

twisteddog Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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hmmmmm ...

<code style="font-size: 1.5em">if username == 'twisteddog':</code>

David Gouldin Staff

1 year, 4 months ago
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I was hoping to get a review of the new Key Lime Pie flavor before investing in a half gallon... any chance of that, perchance? Maybe next week? Or is it not new enough? I appreciate the ice cream reporting regardless.

Fezziwig Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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fezziwig, i am here to serve. but the Key Lime Pie flavor, i was under the impression it was introduced a few years ago? ... <a href="http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-2761905/Blue-Bell-plans-new-Florida.html">this article</a> says it came out in 2003. which is not to say that i wouldn't write about it ... are you a fan of the actual dessert Key Lime Pie?

i predict more ice-cream-themed new products coming up in the next few wks. now's the time

Teresa Gubbins Staff

1 year, 4 months ago
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David - use your powers only for good!

And yes, of all things, ice cream reporting is critical but so often overlooked in the hubbub of celebrity fertility tests and local corruption. Thank you TGub.

I personally love the Summer-berry Cobbler - especially the hunks of crust, and Bill, I'll gladly leave the generic ice cream to you. My uncultured palate prefers Blue Bell.

Jason Rice Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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Stickin' with Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Buns May 2008 flavor.

Meanwhile, I'm moonlighting as Collin and David Gouldin's agent here; pimping that they write a weekly column together called "Off The Edge Somewhere" where they interview each other about anything randomly. New-Age Pegasusian Seinfeld. (Thought came to me as I wrote my latest commentary...second paragraph.) Serious. I'm there.

Rawlins Gilliland Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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I'm really less witty than you think.... but do be looking for a story on Dipping Strawberries in Chocolate towards the end of the month ;-)

Collin Gouldin Verified

1 year, 4 months ago
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Can't go wrong with Blue Bell's Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream

Dunkel Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Blue Bell Cherry Vanilla. Simple. Good.

BobS Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Generic ice cream... bwaaaaaaaahahahahaha!

Blue Bell, meet pot.

Billusa99 Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Pot, meet kettle.

Kettle, meet Jason.

Billusa99 Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Yes, I like key lime pie (as long as it's not too heavy on the Eagle brand milk) and think the lime with graham cracker could be an intriguing ice cream flavor. Alas, although when I saw the Key Lime flavor it was new to me, clearly I am out of the loop on Blue Bell's seasonal introductions. Maybe I'll get crazy and try it.

By the way, I am forever in your debt for the Hola, Fruta! scoop.

Fezziwig Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Fezziwig, I have been making my way slowly through a half-gallon of Blue Bell's Key Lime Pie during the past week, and it's workin' for this key lime pie fan. This is the first I had heard of it too -- somehow I'd missed it during previous seasonal rotations. But I have to say I think it's pretty good.