Friday, March 4, 2011

Ben & Jerry's Clusterfluff
Now known as What a Cluster
An Ice Cream Review


[New for 2011, left after 2014]

I'm so excited, that I need to start with this:

Do I like it? YES!

Do I love it? YES!

Was it love at first bite? OH YEAH!

Sorry, I don't mean to be melodramatic, but I've adored "fluffernutters" since I was a kid and now Ben & Jerry's has come out with the ultimate tribute to the wonderful mixture of Peanut Butter & Marshmallow. For reference, local company Brigham's did introduce a fluffernutter ice cream five years ago, but unfortunately the flavor disappeared long before I ever noticed it.

Sorry Jimmy Fallon, but at the moment, I dub this the best new flavor of 2011!
Ben & Jerry's Clusterfluff >> What A Cluster Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Caramel Cluster Pieces,
Marshmallow Swirls & Peanut Butter Swirls

Notice how they've "fluffed" up the packaging. Now maybe I'm a little biased because I adore PB&M in sandwiches and crackers, but to me, this is the flavor to beat. Clusterfluff is the mighty combo of Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Caramel Cluster Pieces, Marshmallow Swirls & Peanut Buttery Swirls.

A freshly opened container

Let me say it right off the bat that the star here is the Peanut Buttery swirls. I started my eating adventure as soon as I got in the car so the swirls were still cold and fairly solid. They remind me very much of the salty PB swirls that I love in Turkey Hill's Peanut Butter Cup. Now I didn't taste the marshmallow directly at first, which you may think is a bad thing, but don't fret. Instead the marshmallow takes a back seat and builds up the PB&M vibe that grows with every bite. It's epic really. Man, I'm so excited, I feel like a kid again. It's unique products like these that keep me blogging.

The caramel cluster pieces vary in size but many are small. Look at the picture above and you will see that they are literally everywhere. I got at least one in every bite and sometimes 2 or 3. They are somewhat crunchy but I felt like they were more of a thud than a pure crunch. In fact, the peanut butter flavor is so strong that I couldn't even really pick up on a caramel taste. Part of me is tempted to say that you don't even need these cluster bits, but the other part worries that a crunchless version would lose that fluffernutter vibe.

Is there anything I don't love? Well, this flavor comes in at a whopping *320* calories and a mighty 7 grams of protein per serving! Guess what? I don't care about the calories because this is such a rich and sweet treat that a single serving filled me up. I didn't want to stop, but another bite would have pushed me over the edge. Take my advice here, you have to go real slow on this one and just enjoy every small bite. This is a mighty treat and it needs to be savored. Awesome job Ben & Jerry's!

Geez, I was talking to a friend and realized the only catch here would be if you don't like peanut butter and marshmallow! Well, maybe this will make you a convert, go give it a try!

For a second opinion, check out Rodzilla's positive review of this new treat.

On Second Scoop: Now that my belly is once again full of clusterfluff (mmmmm, mid morning snack), let me say it again that I love this flavor. I expect my peanut butter flavored base to have a bit of peanut butter grit to it and they succeed. The included cluster bits add a nice subtle crunch to the whole thing. To finish it off the marshmallow sits in the back and pushes you towards the sweet joy that is peanut butter & marshmallow (fluffernutter!). I think you could probably bump the marshmallow content up a little bit just so the flavor was a little stronger, but you'd have to be careful because we're dealing with a flavor that is already very sweet and sugary. This flavor even has an awesome lingering aftertaste that is calling me to go finish off the pint... so so so tempted to finish off the pint right now.

The Final Scoop: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, It's gone, all gone.... what will I do without my daily fix?? Stuck on a dessert island with just three flavors? Milk & Cookies, Clusterfluff, and.... hmmm, not sure which chocolate flavor to bring... flourless chocolate cake maybe?

Update: As of the end of June 2011, Ben & Jerry's has renamed Clusterfluff to What a Cluster. Yes, they've gone from a risque name to a terrible name. I know they change the names to be more meaningful sometimes, but this was obviously a response to negative feedback from consumers. I get trying to be cute, but try explaining the name to a little kid. --- note that this may have been a trademark issue with fluff, and not so much a foul language thing.

2014 Update: the news of What a Cluster's demise has been greatly exaggerated. It is still very much alive (though it has not transistioned to the new Non-GMO packaging yet). We will keep an eye on it though just to be safe.

2015 Update: Sorry, it's now officially cancelled.

Verdict?  AWESOME
Buy Again?  YES

48 comments:

  1. i have to admit that i was not initially enticed by this flavor. but after your review, i might have to try it out.

    but to call it the 'milk & cookies' of 2011, that's just blasphemy, dude.

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  2. I didnt say it was milk & cookies, for that would be blasphemy, instead I say it's the breakout flavor of 2011 (though I might be definitely be biased because of my love for PB&M)

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  3. I just tried this flavor the other day at our local scoop shop. I too LOVED it! I even liked it better than the seven layer bar flavor with coconut, which I was expecting to be the winner. Now if they would just start selling Clusterfluff in pints..... Here's hoping.

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  4. Oh yum the flavour looks amazing!! I wish they did flavours like this in the UK, we barely have any :(. Would love a peanut butter ice cream!

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  5. clusterfluff should be hitting your freezer aisle soon (it just hit ours in the last few days)

    wait, what, there's no B&J pb ice cream in the UK? that's just wrong, how do we fix that?

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  6. Great review! I wanna try this so bad. Were you able to find it at your local grocer or is this another "Exclusive" flavor?

    On a side note, B&J has another new "Exclusive" flavor for Walmart - Blueberry Cheesecake! http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpost.php?p=641373383&postcount=4914

    Sucks for us NYC folks of course. Hopefully it will eventually become a normal flavor like Flourless Chocolate Cake.

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  7. Spotted this at Hyvee in Peoria (IL). It's top-notch and I think it will become a huge hit with staying power.

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  8. dear god, please get a hold of and review that blueberry cheesecake flavor that anonymous mentioned!!!!

    please!!!!!!!!

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  9. Although it didn't rock my world Clusterfluff is my fave out of the new flavors. I really appreciate that there's a peanut butter flavor without any chocolate in it. That's my big complaint with Oatmeal Cookie Chunk. That ice cream would be pure perfection without the chocolate. Anyway, I get more of a plain PB sandwich taste or a PB Oatmeal cookie taste because of the oats in the caramel clusters. I didn't taste any fluffernutter but that to me is a good thing. I love the salty PB mixed with the sweet PB ice cream.

    Normally I would be all over the Blueberry Cheesecake but B&J's gets one thing wrong....the cheesecake crust. It's like sand. I know they are trying for something that won't go to mush but it's just so gritty and yucky. I got Pumpkin Cheesecake and Carrot Cake from Wal-Mart. Carrot Cake is a winner but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Pumpkin Cheesecake made me sick.

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  10. I was stoked when I got all 4 of the new B&J flavors and I tried Clusterfluff b/c of the review. I have to say I didn't really taste the PB ice cream base at all, but I loved the salty swirls and clusters. I def don't think this one will be my fav though :( I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Can't wait to try the rest - besides maybe this one will taste better to me on second scoop!

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  11. On second scoop this flavor did taste better to me! Blame it on the fact I ate the first half pint out of the container so all the goodies, i.e. the peanut butter swirl and caramel clusters were on the bottom. Definatly tasted more like a fluffernutter and I could really taste the salty vs sweet this time around!

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  12. After eyeing it for a couple of weeks I bought a pint today. This ice cream is insane and perfect. I bought the clusterfluff for my husband and Maple Blondie for myself. The Maple Blondie was good but I wish I had bought two pints of Clusterfluff.

    For those of you looking for the Blueberry Cheesecake flavor I've seen 3 Walmarts that carry it so it would be a good place to look.

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  13. clusterfluff is simply the BEST! totally made my day! :)

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  14. This is by far the best flavor ever produced, and I have eaten enough ice cream to fill the Grand Canyon. Clustrfluff is highly addictive and super good. Just try it, you will be hooked right away.

    Coconut Phil

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  15. What happened to Clusterfluff?

    Visited the web-site today and the ice cream flavor is now...

    What a Cluster

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  16. let's be honest, clusterfluff was pretty risque, though I am surprised they changed it.

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  17. I can't believe they think "What a Cluster" is a better alternative. At least Clusterfluff could be perceived as a goofy, cute made-up word. But the phrase "What a cluster" immediately makes your mind fill in the unspoken naughty word if you know it and makes absolutely no sense if you don't.

    Either way, this flavor is the first one since Ben & Jerry's was bought by Unilever—11 years ago!—to join the ranks of my favorites!

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  18. The name was changed in response to a Cease and Desist letter and in order to prevent a lawsuit. Clusterfluff, better name? Obviously. But if it needs to be named What a Cluster to stick around...I'll take it!

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  19. omg just got my hands on a pint of this today and sad to say that 3/4 of the pint is now gone :( it is absolutely delicious!!! i can't really taste the marshmallow, though....but thats fine since i am a huge peanut butter fan!

    we also bought the late night snack, which i thought was horrible. maybe it was just the pint we got, but it was extremely bland and had no flavor whatsoever.

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  20. The name had to change because of the company who owns Fluff, not because of the risque-ness. Do you think they would name something Schweddy Balls if that were the case?

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  21. I bought this the other day. It's 2012 and the name on the pint was definitely Clusterfluff! So, not sure if they went back and changed the name back to what it used to be? Either way, this is AMAZING, and my new fav. flavor! I was out to get two pints for a night of sinful eating that my husband and I like to partake in every once in a while :) I got myself Americone Dream and got Clusterfluff for my husband. Thinking I wouldn't like his, I tasted it, and OMG, it was so good, I ended up giving HIM the Americone Dream and keeping the Clusterfluff all to myself! LOL

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    Replies
    1. that's really weird. I'm guessing it was an old buried pint, and the website still says what a cluster, but you never know!

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    2. Yeah, it definitely had to be an old pint. All the newest shipments still say "What a Cluster"

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    3. I jus came from the store and they had a bottom shelf full of "clusterpuff" it was weird and yea u know I bought 4 pints of it I'll send u the picture to your email

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    4. Ok, I got the picture, so much clusterfluff! As long as someone hasnt shelved a whole lot of old product!

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  22. Is this similiar to their Peanut Butter cup ice cream at all? Is this peanut butter swirl the same kind used in the Banana Peanut Butter Greek Frozen Yogurt?

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  23. I don't get it. Why was clusterfluff a risque name?

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  24. There are two arguments, the second being the more accepted one.

    1) clusterfluff is a play on clusterf*&#

    2) FLUFF is actually a specific brand of marshmallow creme. The funny thing is that clusterfluff still exists in other countries.

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  25. Call me crazy but I've never heard the term clusterf@#$ before, so thanks for the clarification!

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  26. Ok I've been to a lot of different stores even out of the city and can't find this anywhere no updates on it bein discontinued has anyone else been able to find it?

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  27. Replies
    1. Ok coo as long as it's not discontinued I'm happy thank u

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  28. Still called 'Clusterfluff' in Australia. Saw it in the stores today.

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  29. Anyone else in southern Cali can't find this anymore? It's been months since I've seen it

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  30. Cluterfluff is seriously the best ice cream i have ever eaten!

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  31. So bummed to see this one go away. Easily a top five flavor from the Vermonters

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  32. I just had Clusterfluff for breakfast. It's a live and well here in Australia!

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  33. Clusterfluff is being fazed out here in Australia, which means B&J sales but nooo i dont want it to go

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  34. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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  35. Cairns, Australia. My partner and I have scoured our town for Clusterfluff. It seems we ate through the LAST 3 tubs here. Pretty sad that it's been discontinued. One of the best flavours, if not the best. BRING BACK CLUSTERFLUFF!

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  36. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  37. (Dean was asking to bring this flavor back to Australia before I ungraciously hit delete instead of reply - sorry about that)

    I could go for a pint of this right now myself!

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  38. My all time favorite flavor B&J flavor . . . must be some way we can get it back in the US!! Any ideas?

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  39. I still miss it 😭

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  40. I wonder what we have to do to bring this back!?!! Seriously, I haven't eaten this since 2011, been searching for it like it's my love g lost mama or something, sad to know it had a different name so I didn't even know what to look for, and now it's just gone!?! 😭😭😭

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  41. Does what a cluster sell in Australia? It did when it was named clusterfluff. YUMMMMM!

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  42. Nope :(
    https://www.benandjerry.com.au/flavours/ice-cream-pints

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