Two barrels. One old engine.

Some of the best things in life start with a little curiosity, a bit of old-fashioned ingenuity, and absolutely no intention of starting an ice cream business. That’s exactly how Double Barrel Ice Cream began.

In the summer of 2023, Austin Young found himself with an old John Deere hit-and-miss engine and a question: What could I build with this thing?

For Austin, building something out of something old was nothing new. Growing up at The Kleffner in East Helena, Montana, he spent years alongside his father restoring historic buildings, repairing equipment, and learning to see potential in things others might consider junk.

So when the idea came up to use that old engine to churn homemade ice cream, it was just the kind of project he couldn’t pass up.

With a little creativity, some mechanical ingenuity, and two wooden ice cream barrels, Austin built an old-fashioned ice cream maker powered by the antique engine.

Then came the first batch. And there was a lot of it—far more ice cream than Austin and his family could possibly eat.

As Austin remembers it, “I guess I’m going to have to sell ice cream now.” And just like that, Double Barrel Ice Cream was born.

The name Double Barrel came naturally. After all, we were making ice cream in two wooden barrels. But as the idea grew into a business, the name took on a whole new meaning.

The antique John Deere engine that started it all is known as a hit-and-miss engine, named for the unique way it fires to maintain its speed. And what else is known for being hard to miss with? A double-barrel shotgun.

Suddenly, everything clicked: Double Barrel Ice Cream. Always a Hit. Don’t Miss It.

What started as a clever name became our motto, our identity, and a reminder that sometimes the best ideas come together when you least expect them.

People often ask us what makes our ice cream so good. Is it a secret family recipe? Some special ingredient? A closely guarded formula?

The answer is a whole lot simpler. We believe it’s not just what’s in the ice cream. It’s how you make it.

From the beginning, we’ve used a traditional small-batch, slow-churn process, surrounding our barrels with ice and salt just like ice cream makers did generations ago. There’s no rushing the process.

The result is a rich, thick, incredibly creamy ice cream that’s so dense we have to scrape it right off the paddle.

It’s the kind of ice cream that takes you back—the kind that reminds you of summer evenings, family gatherings, and simpler times.

We love experimenting with flavors, from timeless favorites to creative combinations you might not find anywhere else. But no matter what’s on the menu, the goal is always the same: make ice cream worth coming back for.

Double Barrel may have started as one of Austin’s many building projects, but it quickly became something much bigger.

Austin and his wife, Ashley, turned that first batch of ice cream into a family-run business, purchasing an enclosed trailer and converting it into their first mobile ice cream shop.

By late summer 2023, Double Barrel was rolling into local events, serving scoops and introducing East Helena and the surrounding communities to our old-fashioned ice cream.

And something pretty special happened. People kept coming back. Some customers started seeking us out at events just to get their favorite ice cream. Others would stop by and ask the same question: “Where can we get your ice cream when you’re not at an event?”

At first, we didn’t have a good answer. But the more we heard that question, the more we realized that Double Barrel could be more than a seasonal ice cream trailer. Our customers weren’t just asking for more ice cream. They were showing us there was a place for Double Barrel in the community year-round. And we were listening.

When the opportunity came to partner with Kevin Schulte of Galaxy Roasting, it felt like the perfect fit. Kevin had already created something special in downtown East Helena: a welcoming coffee shop where people could sit, visit, and connect.

By sharing that space, we could bring something new to Main Street while building on something we both believed in: that a local business can be more than a place to buy something. It can be a place to belong.

Today, you’ll find Double Barrel Ice Cream at 10 West Main Street in East Helena, Montana, sharing a home with Galaxy Roasting. We’ve also welcomed our good friend John Grieshaber to the team. John’s creativity, enthusiasm, and willingness to take on the day-to-day operations of the shop played a huge role in making our storefront a reality.

And while our permanent location gives you a place to enjoy Double Barrel throughout the year, our original ice cream trailer will still be out serving up scoops at seasonal events. We’ve come a long way from that first batch in two wooden barrels, but we haven’t forgotten where we started.

There’s something about an old-fashioned ice cream shop that brings people together. Maybe it’s the excitement of a kid picking out a flavor. Maybe it’s a couple sharing a treat after dinner. Maybe it’s grandparents making memories with their grandkids, or old friends sitting down and catching up.

Whatever it is, we think the world could use a little more of it.

We live in a time when we’re more connected through technology than ever, yet genuine, face-to-face connection can sometimes feel harder to find. We want Double Barrel to be a small part of changing that: a warm, comfortable place to slow down, bring your family, meet a friend, share a laugh, or simply enjoy a really good scoop of ice cream.

For Austin, who grew up learning the value of restoring and preserving things from the past, there’s something especially meaningful about that. What started with giving an old engine a second life has grown into an opportunity to bring back a little of what made the old-fashioned neighborhood ice cream shop so special.

Good ice cream. Good people. Good memories. That’s what we’re building.

We never set out to start an ice cream business. We just wanted to see if an old John Deere engine could make a batch of ice cream. But thanks to the incredible support of our customers, friends, family, and the East Helena community, that little experiment has become something we’re truly proud of.

We’re grateful for every person who has stopped by our trailer, shared our ice cream with a friend, brought their family to our shop, or encouraged us along the way. You’re the reason we’re here.

And we hope that when you walk through our doors, you’ll find more than just your new favorite ice cream. We hope you’ll find a place that feels a little like home.

With gratitude,

Austin & Ashley Young
Founders, Double Barrel Ice Cream