Schweddy Balls? Maybe not.
Updated September 13 at 7:30 am
Ben & Jerry's has a new flavor: Schweddy Balls. You've probably heard. It's been all over the interwebs. It's inspired (if that's the word) by the famous SNL in which candy maker Pete Schweddy (played by Alec Baldwin) brings his "Schweddy Balls" to an NPR food show (it's embedded after the jump).
Anyway, Fox44 in Burlington is reporting that "all" Price Chopper locations won't be carrying the ice cream because of the name. We put in a request for comment with Price Chopper Thursday afternoon about the story, but haven't heard back (we'll update if we do), so we can't confirm. They've admittedly had more important things to focus on this week. (We also didn't hear back from Hannaford -- maybe no one wants to touch the Schweddy Balls issue. Hannaford got back to us -- their response after the jump.)
Said a Ben & Jerry's spokesman to Time about the name: "The name is irreverent. But we've always been about having some irreverence and having some fun ... We're not trying to offend people. Our fans get the humor."
So what's in Schweddy Balls? From Ben & Jerry's site: "vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and is loaded with fudge covered rum and milk chocolate malt balls." Reviews of the flavor have been... mixed. [NY Mag Grub Street]
The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop on Lark Street in Albany says the flavor is currently available there (it was sold out as of the evening of September 12). The RPI scoop shop says it might have the flavor this weekend. And the Saratoga shop says maybe by the end of next week.
Here's the response from Hannaford's Michael Norton to the Schweddy or no-Schweddy question, :
We routinely do not get the limited availability, seasonal items from Ben and Jerry's and this one is in that category. So, we did not make a decision (carry or not carry) on this specific item. Our routine practice is to stock the established flavors and, as a group, not to stock limited availability, seasonal items.
____
[via @NNatario via @celly_shortstop]
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
This is yet another SNL skit that the entire world except me seems to find overwhelmingly hilarious. I just don't get it. A little funny, sure, but not worth its own ice cream flavor. Maybe it's just the presence of Alec Baldwin that make people obsess over it.
... said Merfe on Sep 9, 2011 at 6:08 PM | link
funny! I love Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and really appreciate their boldness in experimentation. You guys did some great research to publish this blog... I do want to know where I can get this stuff... too bad there are 'weather emergencies' in our area preventing these corporations from being able to comment about such a useless topic right now. Have you guys seen Middleburgh and Schoharie, NY? Sad to see that you care so much for an ice cream store that was started in 1978... when villages that were established in the 1700's were destroyed by the recent flooding. !!!
... said aaron clermont on Sep 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM | link
what a hilarious riff on a 10? 15? year old reference! Those cats at Ben and Jerry's are really the bee's knees!
23 skidoo!
... said Rebecca on Sep 10, 2011 at 9:58 AM | link
Haha, wow, What's with the completely unnecessary sarcasm in these comments? God forbid anyone would want to laugh at something. I think it's great- it makes me smile. Anything that makes people smile in these tough times is okay in my book.
I was actually at the Westgate PC on Friday and didn't see it. I'll just grab it at the scoop shop on Lark.
... said Summer on Sep 11, 2011 at 9:36 PM | link
I'm sorry.. did I get rerouted to the Tablehopping blog by mistake? You people are negative! @ Aaron- there's always something terrible going on in the world and in our own backyards. That doesn't mean we can't laugh at funny things at the same time.
I think it's hysterical and will definitely try it should I see it.
... said Casey on Sep 12, 2011 at 6:58 AM | link
We had a hurricane three weeks ago. How dare we talk about ice cream?!
... said Summer on Sep 12, 2011 at 11:24 AM | link
@ aaron clermont: I quickly glanced over the past week's postings on AoA to see how many times they mentioned the storm/flooding/devastation. I counted 9, including this gem about fundraisers that includes a link to a previous article (uncounted in my unscientific search) titled: "How to help the Irene flood response? (updated)":
"Raising money for local farmersFarmieMarket's Sarah Gordon and All Good Bakers are raising money for local farmers affected by flooding (FarmieMarket says one of its farmers had to pull out of the online market because flooding caused a total loss). AGB's Britin Foster says they're working with the Regional Farm and Food Project to distribute the money. Earlier: How to help the Irene flood response? (updated)"
As you can see, AoA has covered the storm, flooding and recovery effort extensively. Chiding them for caring about ice cream and little else comes off as disingenuous.
Also, Shweddy Balls.
... said Kerosena on Sep 12, 2011 at 1:17 PM | link
I would just like to point out that I tried it, and Shweddy Balls are indeed delicious.
... said Maximilian on Sep 12, 2011 at 8:04 PM | link
Ha! Found pints at the Mobil on Western near the uptown UAlbany campus. Didn't buy any because they don't price anything there, & I refuse to buy price unknown (or to inquire about prices on everything). But if you want it....
... said Gabby on Sep 13, 2011 at 9:24 AM | link
$5.49 at the uptown campus Mobil. Worth every penny!
... said Kerosena on Sep 14, 2011 at 10:29 AM | link
The Lark Street shop had it last night and it is delicious!
... said Amanda on Sep 14, 2011 at 1:48 PM | link