Ben and Jerry's have now released a new line of flavors called their Core lineup, which features six new flavors with centers of either fudge, caramel or raspberry jam. It might be a revolutionary concept in theory if you can guarantee that every bite has every flavor, avoiding a common complaint about swirled flavors that might only have fudge in some parts. The first one I wanted to tackle was Salted Caramel. I have had some amazing salted caramel ice creams in the past, especially 2nd Street Creamery's Copper Kettle Caramel and Jeni's Salty Caramel. Salted Caramel Core is labeled as a sweet cream ice cream with blonde brownies and a salted caramel core. Upon opening the lid it's obvious the core is going to be rich and thick from the initial look and there are scattered blonde brownies all over the place, which is always a plus.
For my first bite, I went right for the thick caramel core and found it to be more of a butterscotch flavor rather than a true caramel. Do not get me wrong, it was pretty good, but it really threw me off a bit being a caramel labeled flavor. This reminded me of the base in Scotchy Scotch Scotch, but with a denser flavoring with the core. The overall sweet cream base doesn't differ much from their regular vanilla, but with some added saltiness. This would be my first time trying Ben & Jerry's blonde brownies after skipping on Rockin' Blondies due to the lackluster feedback. These were unique and a major hit for me. They provided a nice moist and scattered mix-ins that were enjoyable.
As I continued to plow down the pint, it seemed the core was hit or miss and in different areas, which I've seen in other reviews as well. It didn't really solidify all the way throughout the pint. Overall, its rich, butterscotch flavor was very profound and didn't really come off as being a true caramel. Some people say its way too salty, but you get a great combo of sweet and salty from the sweet cream ice cream and the butterscotch/caramel core that makes for a great combo. The brownie pieces add a great texture to the pint. Without a doubt, my first try of the core series was good, but nothing mind blowing. I have high hopes for the Hazelnut and the Peanut Butter Fudge, which I will try in the near future.
Where Bob Found It: Target (Erie, PA)
Bob's Grade: B