Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
Locally owned Walrus Ice Cream is considered a Fort Collins staple, having been around since 1987, but it shouldn’t be. I had high hopes for a renowned ice cream shop, and they did not live up to that.
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Unfortunately, I have been let down by Walrus too many times, and I would much rather spend my $5 on a pint of Blue Bell or Häagen-Dazs than one scoop I don’t want to finish.
I do appreciate and admire that Walrus is a local business. They make their ice cream in house, and The Foundry at Colorado State University serves a local product. I’m also not one to turn my nose at a good ghost story. But ultimately, all these great aspects don’t mean as much when I’ve had their products many times and haven’t liked it once.
What’s not to like? It’s ice cream, right? Not exactly. Ice cream is traditionally made with milk and cream to give it a smooth and creamy texture, plus some kind of sweetener and often stabilizers of some kind. Many types of ice cream also contain eggs, as a custard-based ice cream is one of the most popular types. Eggs aren’t required, though; higher milk fat content can create a creamy texture without any eggs, which typically results in Philadelphia-style ice cream.
“As someone who hails from America’s Dairyland, I’ve had my fair share of frozen desserts, and I’ve had amazing ice cream from local businesses.”
The biggest issue I have with Walrus is that the texture is not creamy. Every time I have Walrus Ice Cream, I wonder if it has been freezer burned. But after trying it so many times — I’d say at least 10 — it lends itself as an issue with the ice cream itself, not how it is stored. It is not a pleasant experience, and I have particular issues with textures of foods.
In terms of flavors, I’ve tried many, but only a handful stick out to me for various reasons: vanilla, for being the most flavorless ice cream I’ve ever had; a couple chocolate variations had a rich, complex flavor, but the texture ruined it; chai was OK, but the flavor was there for a moment and then disappeared; and Blue Moon was sad — it just didn’t taste right.
Blue Moon is a Wisconsin creation, and no one really knows what the flavor is exactly — but I do know that Walrus’ wasn’t it. Vanilla is a flavor I love in most foods and drinks, whether that be a cake or coffee creamer, and ice cream is no exception. Many people label it as simple and boring, but good vanilla is anything but. Vanilla is an incredibly finicky plant and deserves better recognition for the complexity and layers it adds.
That being said, Walrus vanilla ice cream had no flavor. I would consider myself a consumer of many vanilla ice creams, and my favorite thus far is Blue Bell, which you can get at most any grocery store. I’m still on the hunt for a good vanilla from a local business but haven’t yet found one. Considering vanilla is a base flavor for many ice cream variations with add-ins or other flavors, it shouldn’t be difficult to have a good vanilla ice cream. However, Walrus has apparently found that difficult. I had high hopes, and they were dashed very quickly.
As someone who hails from America’s Dairyland, I’ve had my fair share of frozen desserts, and I’ve had amazing ice cream from local businesses. I feel like my 11 years in Wisconsin give me some ground to stand on in the ice cream world.
Furthermore, I don’t want to come off as a hater or negative person – I like to think I’m anything but. Through my experiences with Walrus, I’ve learned that I simply have higher ice cream standards, at a detriment to some businesses as well as my wallet.
I really wanted to like Walrus; I love finding a new favorite spot to visit, especially one with one of my favorite desserts, nestled in Old Town. However, I have been disappointed every time, and I say this all because I want it to be better.
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I’ve heard Walrus used to be very good and has declined in recent years. If that is true, I have hopes for the quality and experience of Walrus to be better.
Reach Aubree Miller at letters@collegian.com or on Instagram @aubree.miller07.
Walter Eric Solveson • Oct 8, 2024 at 10:41 am
At least their portions are tiny.
Mike • Oct 7, 2024 at 7:07 pm
Couldn’t agree more! Walrus used to be great under the original owners but hasn’t been good in a long, long time. It still retains its legendary status for some reason though. It feels good to buy from a local business instead of a Ben & Jerry’s or something, but in the end I want delicious ice cream and I won’t settle. This is probably an even more controversial opinion, but I feel that the silver grill is also a grossly overrated “legendary” local business.
Angel • Oct 7, 2024 at 4:41 pm
I bet $100 this article was written by a white person, I don’t disagree you’ve made some great points it’s just who really cares. I’m sure there was a million other things you could’ve made this article about and I know it says you don’t wanna come across as a hater but that’s basically how it seems. You’re kinda acting like you’re a Culinary expert which idk you might be but to me ice cream is ice cream just go to Dairy Queen if you’re gonna be picky. How bout you open up a ice cream shop and see if you could do it better
Wally • Oct 4, 2024 at 9:23 pm
Hard hitting stuff Aubree. Respectfully, the lines out the door and three decades in business would say your overly critical opinion is in the minority. Maybe lighten up bit.
Armory • Oct 3, 2024 at 10:53 am
Spot on! Walrus has terrible ice cream. Has a gummy texture and lacks any kind of flavor. Really missed the mark. Yuck.. I keep hoping it’s just “this one batch” or “maybe it’s old”, but it’s always the same bland flavor and mysterious goo texture. Like eating cold bubble gum. It’s gross actually. Old Town Churn is way better.. Any pint from King Soopers is better for that matter.
Marcia • Oct 2, 2024 at 5:06 pm
It’s sad that you have to diss a small business (and woman-owned at that!) Walrus is a pillar in the Fort Collins community and serves its customers with homemade style ice cream. You don’t have to care for the taste of it – but you should appreciate the impact of this small business in Fort Collins.
Steve • Oct 3, 2024 at 8:52 am
It’s not homemade, Walrus buys ice cream mix from a mega-dairy processor in Denver.
Wally • Oct 5, 2024 at 12:31 pm
I make homemade spaghetti but my ingredients are store bought. They produce their ice cream in house. Are you expecting the diary to come from mainlining a cows utter directly to the churn. Should ice be spring feed to the spicket?
steve • Oct 2, 2024 at 4:49 pm
Spot on Aubree. Great location, overrated ice cream.
Harry Derderian • Oct 2, 2024 at 8:36 am
Fully agree. Excellent review!
Lisa • Oct 2, 2024 at 7:40 am
Aubrey Miller, we have been local to Old Town Fort Collins for 37 years. We give back to the community and CSU in nurmous ways. Our amazing employees are students and community members. We would appreciate the opportunity to show you our business.
Lisa Paugh
David Gaczewski • Oct 7, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Just want the readers that we prefer Walrus ice cream so much that we buy two quarts and 8 chocolate dipped cones to take home. The only ice cream nthat we prefer to buy elsewhere is Cherries Jubilee from Baskin Robbins in Windsor. Not surprised at a bad review by an Aubrey.