Ben & Jerry's Review

The Familiar Face

Ben & Jerry's needs no introduction. Cherry Garcia, Half Baked, Phish Food — these are some of the most recognizable ice cream flavors in America. Their scoop shop at 1 Old Town Square puts that familiar lineup right in the middle of Fort Collins' busiest pedestrian area.

We understand the appeal. There is comfort in consistency. You know what Americone Dream tastes like whether you buy it in Burlington, Vermont or Fort Collins, Colorado. For visitors who want a safe, reliable choice, Ben & Jerry's delivers exactly that.

The Problem: You Can Buy This at King Soopers

This is the fundamental challenge for any Ben & Jerry's scoop shop. Every pint they serve is available at your nearest grocery store for roughly half the price. The shop-exclusive flavors add marginal value, but the core product is identical to what is sitting in the freezer aisle.

In a city where shops like Glacier Ice Cream are producing 40-plus handcrafted flavors with locally sourced ingredients, paying scoop-shop prices for a national grocery brand is a tough sell. The ice cream is fine — but "fine" and "worth a special trip" are different things.

The Mix-In Game

Where Ben & Jerry's has always excelled is the mix-in game. Nobody does cookie dough chunks, fudge cores, and caramel swirls better at scale. If your ideal ice cream is loaded with stuff — chunks, ribbons, pockets of fudge — this remains the benchmark. The scoop shop scoops are generous and the quality is consistent.

The flavor catalog is deep. The Fort Collins location carries the core lineup plus shop-exclusive flavors that rotate seasonally. There is always something to try, even for regulars.

Non-Dairy Options

One area where Ben & Jerry's deserves real credit is their non-dairy lineup. The range now includes coconut cream, oat milk, and sunflower butter bases across multiple flavors. Non-Dairy Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Non-Dairy Phish Food, and Non-Dairy Cherry Garcia all hold up well against their dairy counterparts.

For a national chain, the dairy-free commitment is real. The variety exceeds what most local shops offer in the non-dairy space, though Heaven Creamery's 18-plus vegan options still lead the Fort Collins market overall.

The Social Mission

Ben & Jerry's is one of the few ice cream brands with a genuine social mission — fair trade sourcing, climate justice campaigns, and community action initiatives. Whether that matters to your scoop-buying decision is personal, but it is worth noting that this brand is trying to do more than sell ice cream. The fair trade ingredient sourcing is real and verified.

The Old Town Square Location

The location at 1 Old Town Square is prime real estate. Outdoor seating with people-watching, foot traffic all summer, and a steady stream of tourists. The shop itself is compact and can get crowded on weekend evenings, but the line moves fast.

The challenge is the neighborhood competition. Walrus, Josh & John's, Old Town Churn, Kilwins, and Gelato & aMore are all within walking distance — and each offers something you cannot get at the grocery store.

Our Take

We rate Ben & Jerry's at number eight — not because the ice cream is bad, but because context matters. In a city with one of Colorado's best local ice cream scenes, a national chain feels out of place on a "best of" list. The product is consistent, the non-dairy options are genuinely good, and the social mission adds value. But there is nothing here you cannot get at the grocery store.

If you find yourself in Old Town Square and the line at the local shops is too long, Ben & Jerry's is a perfectly fine fallback. Just know that Fort Collins has better to offer.

Rating: 7.0 / 10