A Scoop Worth the Drive: Grassroots Ice Cream in New Milford

Every Connecticut ice cream lover knows we're spoiled. From Ferris Acres and Rich Farm to Arethusa and Walnut Beach, our little state is packed with destinations worth the drive. Tucked away in the bucolic hills of New Milford is another scoop-shop that deserves a visit. It may fly a bit under the radar, but Grassroots Ice Cream has built a loyal following by serving handcrafted scoops in both familiar favorites and wonderfully off-the-beaten-path flavors.

 The story behind Grassroots is as inspiring as the ice cream itself. Founders Eliza and Lee Florian lost their young son to Adrenoleukodystrophy, a rare genetic disease that today can often be treated if caught early through newborn screening. Rather than allowing tragedy to define them, the Florians became tireless advocates, persuading Connecticut lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at screening newborns for this fatal disease. Then, just one day after this heartfelt legislation became law, they opened the doors to Grassroots Ice Cream in Granby on July 4, 2012.

The Grassroot storefront worked with local chefs to create small-batch flavors for their restaurants. Customers, drawn from both CT and Mass., were almost cult-like in their desire to be the first to sample the new flavors when they were introduced. In 2016, Yankee Magazine featured Grassroots as a destination for unique small-batch ice cream.

In 2022, the Florians sold the business to Mark Sproule and Brandon Pappalardo, who expanded to New Milford in 2023, followed by Simsbury in 2024. While Grassroots may not have the statewide name recognition of some of Connecticut's larger ice cream destinations, every visit I've made over the past few years has convinced me it's more than worthy of the drive.

The New Milford shop fits perfectly into one of Connecticut's most charming downtowns, with locally owned businesses, a shop selling 50+ different olive oils and vinegars, a store dedicated to transporting visitors back to the ’50s and ’60s with nostalgia, a bulk foods market, an excellent smokehouse, and plenty of places that invite you to slow down and wander. Housed beneath its "Wicked Good" sign, Grassroots feels right at home with its throwback vibe.

The interior is brightly painted, a huge mural on one wall displaying their “Wicked good” mantra (probably better received in Granby with the Massachusetts customers), and in the rear of the store is the scoop section. On your first visit you need to allocate a couple of minutes to read the handwritten flavor offerings, as well as their policy of unlimited samples.

 The menu has something for everyone. Traditionalists will find vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookie dough, sweet cream, and mint Oreo. Grassroots’ tradition has always been creativity, and the current selections also include flavors like honey lavender, Mexican hot chocolate, blood orange chocolate chip, gooseberry pie, and several other unique variations. My only disappointment was that the ice cream is not visible from the front, half the fun of visiting an artisan creamery is admiring the colorful tubs while choosing a flavor.

 Over the years, I've tried quite a few offerings, both as a taste and a scoop. Since I am a big fan of coffee-based flavors (with a hard stop at 6PM), I saw the Coffee Caramel Chip, and I decided to give that a try. The coffee flavor is smooth and mellow, with chunks of chocolate, and a mild caramel sauce intertwined throughout. My tastes on the last visit included both cookie dough and dark chocolate salted caramel, equally delicious.

Grassroots Ice Cream is uniquely positioned within the CT ice cream scene, offering flavors for both the traditionalists and the adventurous, melding creativity with a willingness to surprise people with every scoop. Whether you gravitate toward timeless classics or flavors you never imagined could work, there's something for everyone. Combined with the charm of downtown New Milford, a visit to Grassroots is more than a stop for dessert, it's one of those quintessential Connecticut experiences.

Grassroots Ice Cream

4 Park Pl
Granby, CT 06035

(860) 653-6303

12 Bank Street,
New Milford, CT 06776

(860) 799-0057

2 Wilcox Street
Simsbury, CT 06070

(860) 256-8889

https://www.grassrootsicecream.com/