Stranger Things are happening at Baskin Robbins

I’m almost too excited to even write this post. If you haven’t seen Stranger Things on Netflix, please watch it and report back. I was late (read: years late) to the Stranger Things party because no one ever properly explained how awesome the show is to me. Stranger Things follows a group of kids in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s as – you guessed it! – strange things start happening and one of their own vanishes. There are monsters, super powers, glorious 80s references, and supremely talented performances. 

One of the most charming aspects of Stranger Things’ third season is that one of the characters (Steve, my favorite) gets a summer job at Scoops Ahoy, an ice cream parlor in the new mall, before all hell breaks loose and spends most of this season in his sailor work outfit. During one particularly hilarious moment, Steve describes Scoops Ahoy’s U.S.S. Butterscotch sundae in a complete panic. So imagine my surprise when I see on Twitter that Baskins Robbins has turned into Scoops Ahoy for the summer. What?!

“The U.S.S. Butterscotch, you’ve got to try it! It is out of this WORLD!” – Steve

This is not a drill, people. This is without a doubt the best marketing I’ve ever seen and I would very much like to offer my kudos to the folks at Netflix for coming up with this. This also happens to be the most Rose Table collaboration ever so I ran out as soon as I could (I read the news around midnight last night and was at Baskin Robbins twelve hours later) to investigate for you all. You’re welcome.

It would be hard to miss the Scoops Ahoy branding: it’s all over the store! The employees wear the most adorable “Stranger Things Are Happening at Baskin Robbins” shirts, which you can buy as a souvenir. (Side bar: I wanted one but sadly, my Baskin Robbins was out.) There’s even a Scoops Ahoy Employee of the Month cutout photo op. This is obviously the greatest photo of me ever taken!

“It’s this stupid hat. I am telling you, it’s totally blowing my best feature.” – Steve

There are three Stranger Things flavors: the U.S.S. Butterscotch, Eleven’s Heaven, and Upside Down Praline. The U.S.S. Butterscotch is butterscotch ice cream with butterscotch pieces and a toffee flavored ribbon. You can also get this as a whimsical sundae with strawberry and chocolate scoops, a split banana, and three waffle cone sails. Eleven’s Heaven plays on the fact that superhero Eleven can’t get enough Eggo waffles in the series. Here waffle cone-flavored ice cream has chocolate-coated sugar cone pieces and chocolate ribbons. Upside Down Praline aims to “turn your world upside down” with chocolate ice cream, praline pecans, and a chocolate caramel ribbon. This is a play on the Upside Down, an alternate dimension that plays a huge part in the show.

I went in for the U.S.S. Butterscotch but it’s Eleven’s Heaven that has my heart. Holy wow. That is some damn fine ice cream. All of the flavors are incredible creamy but it’s the chocolate ribbons and waffle-cone flavor that gets five gold stars from me. I got all three flavors in a Stranger Things chocolate-dipped cone, which has red, white, and blue sprinkles since the third season takes place the week of Independence Day. I loved them so much that I got all three flavors in to-go pints since they’re limited edition. Perfect timing, since I happened to be out of ice cream.

You can get collectible Stranger Things containers if you buy a quart but I have a small freezer so I stuck with the pints. Also new for the summer are several Stranger Things treats: the Elevanade Freeze made with vanilla ice cream and lemonade, the Byer’s House Lights cookie pizza with m&m “lights” (so clever!), a Demogorgon Sundae with a blood-red sauce, and my personal favorite, the Upside Down Sundae with a waffle cone piece at the top and toppings on the bottom.

I’m happy to report that I have gone back in to try some of the Stranger Things Sundaes for you. (Hard hitting journalism, I know.) The U.S.S. Butterscotch sure is cute with its little waffle cone sails but I feel like this is a real missed opportunity not to feature the Stranger Things flavors. My sundae came with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, with butterscotch sauce, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, cherries, and a banana. I would have preferred for the three Stranger Things flavors to be involved, or at least the U.S.S. Butterscotch!

The Upside Down Sundae was a really treat. Now I’m noticing in the photo above that it’s supposed to come with Upside Down Praline but mine was served with Eleven’s Heaven. Either way, it’s much more fun to have a limited edition flavor and I loved the concept of this sundae. Putting the toppings at the bottom makes eating this sundae a sort of treasure hunt. Definitely order this one!

Tell me which Scoops Ahoy treat you’d most like to try and who your favorite Stranger Things character is!

Happy streaming,

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