Alaska is full of adventure. While many of these adventures are found in the wondrous wilds of the Last Frontier, other adventures require little more than an adventurous palate. In Anchorage, Wild Scoops certainly falls into the latter category. This unique small ice cream shop in Anchorage is not only where you can find delicious handcrafted Alaskan ice cream, but also unique, wild, and delicious flavors. Simply put, Wild Scoops is an adventure in Alaska that every taste bud will love taking.

Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our 2024 Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.

Wild Scoops may well become one of your favorite destinations in Anchorage, Alaska. This unique and delicious ice cream shop prides itself on being local, adventurous, and wildly delicious and we believe no better words can describe this business.

This ice cream shop wasn’t necessarily something that was planned — rather, it all began with an ice cream cookbook. At the time, owner and founder Elissa Brown was working as a middle school science teacher. She stumbled upon the ice cream cookbook at the library and started testing out its recipes.

“I became obsessed with ice cream as the perfect blank canvas for creativity,” Brown says. “You can infuse anything in cream, add a little sugar, churn it, and you have an inventive new flavor... just like I was teaching my students to conduct science experiments, I started doing my own ice cream experiments.”

Brown began filling her freezer with all types of ice cream and would even host monthly tastings. “I saw how ice cream was such a perfect community-builder,” she explains. “Strangers bonded over ice cream, everyone loved sharing their opinions, and everybody left a little happier.”

Brown moved to Anchorage nearly a decade ago and realized there wasn’t a local, homemade ice cream shop. As she got to work learning about her new city and its many offerings, she turned to ice cream once again. This time, however, she began using local and seasonal ingredients.

“I tried to make ice cream that told a story of our surroundings and evoked a sense of place. I started to develop my own sense of place as I tried out new flavors like spruce tips and birch syrup, and I learned about the cycle of the seasons.”

In 2015, Brown began selling her ice cream at Saturday farmers’ markets, and in 2017, she opened her downtown shop. Over the next few years, she continued to grow, opening two more scoop shops and moving her test kitchens twice to allow for more space.

“As we've grown, we've stayed true to crafting wildly delicious and adventurous local flavors, she said. “Our mission is to connect Alaskans with a sweet sense of place and share an authentic taste of Alaska with our guests.”

Since Wild Scoops has opened, they have created hundreds of flavors and every flavor has a story. They also use all types of local products in their ice cream, creating a true Alaska-proud product.

And while the ice cream is certainly delicious and you’ll have a hard time choosing your favorite flavor, don’t forget about the waffle cone! The batter is made entirely from scratch and they are lightly spiced, perfectly complementing any scoop of your choosing.

If you aren’t in the mood for a waffle cone but still want to try it, consider the frozen nachos — they're the perfect frozen treat that you can even share... if you want.

"To me, it's incredible to have a zany idea for an ice cream product, and then be able to make hundreds of them and share with our whole community," Brown says. "I love that!”

And Wild Scoops certainly does make an impact on the community. By purchasing many of its ingredients from locals, Wild Scoops has collaborated with more than 40 different businesses.

Says Brown: “We're honored to serve as a space where the community can gather. Friends and family can meet up here for a scoop to celebrate happy occasions."

Many thanks to Wild Scoops owner Elissa Brown for sharing the story of this delicious ice cream shop in Anchorage, Alaska. Learn more and support this delightful small business by visiting the Wild Scoops website, Wild Scoops Facebook page, and the Wild Scoops Instagram.

Of course, Wild Scoops is only one of the many amazing businesses in Alaska that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only Alaska, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In Alaska on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.