Pumphouse Creamery

Date visited: Monday, July 2

As I drove home in sweltering heat from an afternoon spent melting at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, I started fantasizing about ice cream cones. I probably needed water, but all I could think about was which would be more refreshing, chocolate or vanilla? Or maybe a sorbet?

As I mentally constructed the perfect cone, my thoughts drifted to the Pumphouse Creamery (4754 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis; 612.825.2021) where I've had two amazing ice cream experiences.

I knew I would like the Pumphouse before I even set foot in it's little shop. A co-worker had discussed its blood orange sorbet in hushed tones reserved for really special things, and on a completely separate occasion, two friends launched into a conversation on the merits of its oatmeal cookie ice cream and the fact that its beer flavor (made from Surly beer) was actually better than one would assume beer ice cream would taste. (On a loosely-related note, I've found that Surly's beer is actually a lot tastier than most beer.)

I stopped in the shop for the first time about a month ago, and it lived up to my high expectations. A sample of the beer ice cream was tasty, and my sea salt/caramel/pecan ice cream cone was the stuff that dreams are made of. On my return visit last Monday, I happily snagged a chocolate with cocoa beans and almonds ice cream cone. And if it gets as hot as its supposed to be this weekend, I'm guessing that I'll be making a return visit -- in reality, not just my daydreams.