Blue Moon ice cream knows how to distinguish itself in a freezer case: with a color resembling pureed Smurf.
"The moment customers come in, especially children, it's the first thing that catches their eye," said Brian White Jr., owner of 2 Scoops in St. Paul, one of the few places in Minnesota that serve the unusual treat.
Like its namesake celestial event, Blue Moon sightings can be rare once you get beyond its home turf of Michigan and Wisconsin. Here in Minnesota, a handful of ice cream shops and a devoted fan base have helped Blue Moon expand its Midwestern reach — with a cult status enhanced by its mysterious origins and enigmatic flavor.
Katie Romanski, owner of Minnesota Nice Cream in Minneapolis and Stillwater, is one of the flavor's most vocal local evangelists.
"I'm here to bring Blue Moon across the border and teach people what it's about and how delicious it is," she said. "It takes a little bit of convincing, but when people try it, then they're like, 'When is Blue Moon coming back?' "
Her affinity for the flavor dates back to her childhood in Wisconsin Rapids. "Every time we went to get a scoop of ice cream, I always had Blue Moon and I never knew what it was," she said.
When Romanski offers Blue Moon in her soft-serve rotation, reactions are split between instant recognition and total befuddlement. "The Wisconsin people will be like, 'Blue Moon, I love it!' Other people are like, 'Does that taste like beer?' We do a lot of explaining."
Kyle Farizel, owner of Cold Front in St. Paul, forgoes words in favor of having curious customers rely on their taste buds: "Our best description is just to let people try it," he said.
