Perhaps there's no sweeter way to beat the summer heat than with a scoop — or two, or three — of ice cream.

Protein-infused ice cream is rapidly emerging as a major trend, with established and new brands like Rivo, Nymble, Blue Bell, and David Protein introducing "better-for-you" frozen desserts.

From among the local shops that occupy the top of the ice cream heap, these four excel with their singular approaches.