Pav's Creamery and Hoppin' Frog Brewery
Two local companies are churning out tasty collaborations.
This pair of Akron mainstays team up each winter as Pav's turns the brewery's cinnamon- and nutmeg-spiced Frosted Frog Christmas Ale into a boozy ice cream. Malt grains used to make the beer, plus the beer itself, are emulsified with sweet cream. "The Frosted Frog, it's just a smooth, rich, consistent flavor that's better than other beers we've tried," says Pav's owner Nik Pappas.
Mason's Creamery and Rising Star Coffee Roasters
Made with Rising Star's Apocolypto roast normally used for espresso, this ice cream really wakes up your taste buds. It gets its dark coffee flavor as the beans soak in heavy cream. How long depends on how badly co-owner Jesse Mason needs a pick-me-up. "We have to sample everything as we're doing it, so sometimes that jolt is really what we're looking for," he says.