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The Scoop on Maine’s Ice Cream Stands

Maine has been churning out delicious ice cream for decades, both by the scoop at ice cream stands and restaurants and by the gallon at grocery stores. There are even a few farms that skip the middleman and make their own ice cream.

The bedrock of Maine’s ice cream revolution are Shain’s, Gifford’s and Beal’s. Shain’s of Maine has been leading the charge, producing more than 50 different flavors of traditional ice cream, as well as frozen yogurt, no fat/no sugar options, sorbets, sherbets and seasonal flavors. Beal’s Ice Cream has several brick-and-mortar locations in Portland, Gorham, and South Portland, as well as an ice cream truck. They have more than 100 different flavors in their repertoire, served up on their house-made Swiss cones. Gifford’s ice cream’s delicious flavors are available in stores as far west as Illinois; but at heart, it remains a family ice cream stand.

The original Gifford’s stand opened in Skowhegan in 1980. But that makes them the new flavor on the block compared with some of the state’s other classic cones. Round Top Ice Cream in Damariscotta has been around for about 90 years; they’re so old-school you won’t find them online, and they don’t take credit cards. Dorman’s Dairy Dream opened in Thomaston in 1951.

For Mainers, the opening of the local ice cream stand is the unofficial start of summer. Places like Mainely Custard in Freeport is the place to be after all that outlet shopping. Try the blueberry flavor at Butterfield's Ice Cream in Dover-Foxcroft for a true taste of Maine goodness. These small-town stands are big on flavor. Tubby’s Own Ice Cream in Wayne declares that their “Peppermint Schtick” is “Santa’s favorite all year.” For a little more adventure, Tubby’s “Tree Hugger” is made with local maple syrup and granola. And make sure to save room for the internationally-inspired flavors of Rococo Ice Cream in Kennebunkport, Ogunquit and Wells. They even have a test kitchen where you can try the latest flavors and share your worldly feedback.

Around Portland, even more fearless flavors are gaining ground. Gelato Fiasco boasts bold flavors like ginger cardamom and pomegranate lime. Local favorites at Willard Scoops in South Portland include “Sunburn” (a strawberry and habanero combination), as well as PB&J. Red’s Dairy Freeze’s yearly opening is highly anticipated in South Portland, where the soft serve is worth the line.

The most creative of all may be Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream, with brilliant (and cleverly named) flavors like “Bay of Figs.” They’ve been raking in the foodie accolades with flavors like nectarine champagne, pear Riesling, mango jicama habanero, apple parsley and “Atlantic Brewing Stout with fudge.” In New Gloucester, on Sabbathday Lake, Bresca & the Honeybee at Outlet Beach serves all natural, homemade ice cream throughout the summer. In the category of “you can’t go to Maine without trying this,” Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium in Bar Harbor offers Lobster Ice Cream. Ben & Bill’s has 64 hard-serve flavors and 12 gelatos, but it’s their lobster creation that’s been making waves with appearances on the Food Network and The Today Show.

Even if your go-to flavor is classic vanilla, the effort and pride Mainers put into their ice cream is sure to make the plainest scoop the best you’ve ever had. Check out the Real Maine Ice Cream Trail for more of Maine's favorite ice cream spots.