The Berkey Creamery debuted its 150th anniversary flavor, Birthday Cake, this weekend during Arts Fest. The Creamery sold a record 16,270 scoops over the weekend, and the new flavor was a hit. “We sold out [of Birthday Cake] on Saturday. We made 100 tubs, and it was gone in about three days,” Creamery manager Tom Palchak said.

We sent a trio of staffers to try the newest addition to the Creamery’s lineup.

Doug Leeson — Cone

Simply put, the Creamery’s new Birthday Cake ice cream rules.

I was aware of skepticism throughout the Penn State community prior to my taste-testing this past weekend, but the skepticism proved to be for naught. Strawberry Cheesecake lost a very close vote to be the Creamery’s new flavor, the voters ultimately got it right.

Rather than the typical vanilla, chocolate, or fruity flavors on the menu, Birthday Cake is more like an innovative twist on cookie dough ice cream with icing mixed in. It was refreshing, it was unique, and it’s something I’ll be sure to have again. All that’s left to do is decide on a name. BirthDae Cake?

Corny

— DaeSean Hamilton (@SkeeterMills__) July 10, 2015

Never mind.

After I had finished eating and all was said and done, I was left with one regret: getting a cone on a 90 degree day. Accounting for drippage, I think the squirrels ended up having more of my ice cream than I did.

Megan Fleming — Cup

When I saw the original lineup of potential flavors, I was a strong proponent of Strawberry Cheesecake. I didn’t have high expectations (mainly because my flavor of choice lost) but one bite of Birthday Cake changed my mind. And I wasn’t alone — when I got my scoop the tub was already close to empty, and the people behind me in line were raving they were back for more Birthday Cake.

The color is a little odd, somewhere between a mint green and a sky blue with orange and green cookie bits and blue frosting mixed in. But color aside, the cookie, cake, and frosting create a medley of deliciousness sure to please any Creamery connoisseur.

Maybe it’s because it was really hot outside, or because I was eating ice cream for breakfast, but Birthday Cake was the best dessert I’ve had in a long time. I didn’t bother to get a Flavor Passport because from here on out I’m getting Birthday Cake.

If you want to get technical, I’m not sure what business the cookie bits have in the mix with frosting and cake-flavored goodness. But who am I to question 150 years of experience?

Steffen Blanco — Milkshake

When the Creamery announced Birthday Cake won, I knew I had to try a milkshake. There’s just something about milkshakes that refresh you, especially after a long, hot day walking around State College.

At first, I was apprehensive about the whole idea of turning birthday cake into a Creamery flavor, with my initial thoughts being it would be way too sweet. However, I was fortunately mistaken. With an appealing bluish tint and cookie bits throughout the entire shake, I got a strawful of goodness as soon as I took a sip of my milkshake. The cake batter mixed in with the vanilla ice cream perfectly in a match made in the deep confines of the Rodney Erickson food science building.

Birthday Cake is an excellent addition to the Creamery’s variety of flavors and I’m looking forward to seeing how it stacks up against long time favorites like Peachy Paterno and even Alumni Swirl. Maybe the Creamery will even start making Birthday Cake ice cream cakes for those special occasions.

Did you get a scoop, cone, or shake of Birthday Cake this weekend? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

Image: Steffen Blanco