You can find Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream right in the North Hills of Pittsburgh

On a trip to State College at age fifteen, I learned three things: never walk in front of a color guard flag, a broken tooth is not a great look on me, and Penn State Berkey Creamery serves some life-changing ice cream. I nearly lost my mind when I found out that the same ice cream can be enjoyed right here in the North Hills of Pittsburgh at Kaelin Farm Market.

It all started with a school trip. There I was, among McDowell High School’s dance team and the marching band, ready to perform in “the big college city.” I was mesmerized by the stadium’s size and the crowd’s booming cheers. College kids were drinking booze from bottles covered in paper bags along the sidewalk on the way into the stands. Band members from over twenty high schools played in step in their plumed hats, and dancers in sequined leotards tumbled, kicked, and pirouetted.

After putting on a show in the stadium, all the band members and dance teams marched onto the street. It was quite an experience to be among the dancing fools in the parade.

When the parade concluded, I strutted over to introduce myself to some of the color guard and dance squad gals from a rival school, when, like the teenager I was, I walked right into a twirling metal flagpole and spit out half my front tooth.

The reaction from the high schoolers around me was a mix of horrified gasps and roaring laughter. My mouth felt like it had been hit by a Mack truck rather than a frilly flag, and I was drooling blood all over my letterman jacket. My trip to State College, Pa. was officially the worst trip of my life.

But there was light at the end of the tunnel — the best ice cream I’d ever eaten.

While a trip to Penn State Berkey Creamery was not originally on our itinerary, the chaperones must have felt terrible about my swollen lips and missing tooth. They must have assumed that a big ol’ ice cream cone wouldn’t just heal the tears, but it would also decrease the swelling. And, of course, all the other kids were very much on board.

Penn State Berkey Creamery’s ice cream had a texture unlike any other I’d experienced. It is so very thick and creamy, unlike the icy generic tubs my mom bought from Tops or the light soft serve at our favorite family-run ice cream shop in Erie. The flavors, also, were spot-on. Coffee ice cream tasted like coffee; Death By Chocolate was filled with chunky chocolate bombs, and the vanilla bean had actual beans in it.

When I discovered on the McCandless PA Community Forum, nearly thirty years later, that I could find this ice cream right in my backyard, and without paying the price of a busted tooth, I was thrilled. I decided right then and there to take a trip to this hidden gem with my kids.

But what I found at Kaelin Farms was better than just one of the best ice creams I’ve ever had.

First, I didn’t realize it was peach season, but there were big, juicy peaches fresh from the farm in their produce section. I grabbed a bag. And there were baskets of the reddest, ripest strawberries I’ve seen in years. My son wouldn’t stop eating them. I also grabbed several heads of purple broccoli for a Fourth of July broccoli salad. The store also boasted a bunch of baked goods, including homemade pies, and a fantastic selection of fancy cheeses. (Their pinot grigio cheese spread is my new favorite thing ever.)

Then, we got to the good stuff. Each of us ordered a bowl of peach ice cream. The selection was small that day: only peach and vanilla. But the ladies working there told us there are normally more flavors available, including their favorite, Death By Chocolate.

We sat up in the loft surrounded by teacups, quilts, and various Americana-inspired tchotchkes. It was the perfect, peaceful place to enjoy the delicious ice cream. From the window, we could see the width of the farm, rows of various crops, blowing trees, and enough wide blue sky to feel like we were out in the country.

Penn State Berkey Creamery ships to 48 states, packaging their creamy treats in dry ice packs. And while it was quite an experience enjoying this national dairy contest award-winning ice cream at the original location as a teen, it was much more relaxing, inspiring, and enjoyable the second time around at Kaelin Farm Market.

This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2025.