Craft Beer and Wine Shoppe Serves Up Adult Ice Cream, Too

MILFORD, NH — Barley & Hops may look like your ordinary beer store from the outside; however, once inside, customers will find more than 500 craft beer labels, a large number of carefully selected wines, and The Dessert Bar, where owner Chris Perry serves up his own Chris’ Wicked Ice Cream. The ice cream is made with locally brewed beer or wine, and customers must be at least 21 years old to taste it.

According to Perry, he has worked in the ice cream business for over 10 years, and became serious about mixing beer with ice cream a couple of years ago, when he created Chris’ Wicked Ice Cream. Last summer he took his ice cream to beer fests, and decided he would find a place that he could serve it up on a more regular basis. He opened Barley & Hops in May 2016 and The Dessert Bar officially opened a couple of months later, he said.

“The community support has been fantastic,” Perry said. “They are happy there is something like this in Milford.”

Besides the craft beer selection, Perry is excited about the mid-segment wine selection he offers.

“You can’t find most in the state liquor store or in the grocery store,” he said. “There is no stress buying wine here, everything we have is good.”

The wine and beer tasting area is where Perry created The Dessert Bar. The production room is right behind the tasting area, and Perry said it was easy to add a freezer.

“It’s like a test kitchen, I guess,” he said about being able to test out new ice cream flavors and receive customer feedback.

Chronicle covered Chris’ Wicked Ice Cream in a segment recently, and according to Perry, interest sparked.

“People from all over the state and Massachusetts came to try it. It’s been fun,” he said.

Perry has four part-time employees, but said he works every day.

“It’s sort of my baby right now,” Perry said. “I want to make sure it’s run the way I want.”

“The goal of the store is focused on customer service- to be welcoming to everyone,” Perry added.

More Info: Barley & Hops is located in Lorden Plaza on Nashua Road in Milford. Customers can sample beer on Thursday nights, and wine once a month. On Oct. 4, 2016, Barley & Hops will host a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club, Perry said.

Caption: Second Picture, Owner Chris Perry at The Dessert Bar.