Stewart's Ginger Beer
A reader named Ronald Amon seems to know a lot about -- and is quite concerned about -- one of our favorite beverages in the whole wide world:
Stewart's is now owned by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group -- a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes. Cadbury Schweppes wanted all of the beverages under one group. You can call Crystal (800-762-7753) and give her your zip code and she will tell you where you can buy Stewart's Ginger Beer. THEN GO OUT AND
BUY IT. Because the problem is that Stewart's Ginger Beer is really low in production due to sales percentages with a 1% availability nationwide. In fact, sales production on all Stewart's beverages are not that high due to sales percentages and a lack of demand. They claim people aren't buying because Stewart's is an older line of products. But this should be the reason for greater demand. I sure hope they don't discontinue the line
entirely because the Ginger Beer is the greatest. I even suggested that
they change the name to a gourmet ginger ale and maybe that would kick up
the sales a bit. Apparently the Richmond VA market has several places to
purchase Stewart's Ginger Beer but as you go north or east from Richmond it
is hard to find.
As much as I like Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray, I would call for Stewart's Ginger Beer with my last meal on this Earth. (Some people would order a fine wine; I'd order a "Jamaican-style Ginger Beer with a zesty pepper flavor.") It lives up to its advertising claim: This is not your mother's ginger ale. And it leaves a scary burn on the back of your throat. For this reason, I'm not a regular swigger. I savor Stewart's, have one every now and then; it's like taking my palate to an amusement park.
I haven't been to the Stewart's on Pulaski Highway for a while, but it's still in business -- open daily until late September, when they close for the season. You can buy root beer by the jug there. If you've never had one, try the "steamburger." ("A loose meat sandwich," served with a plastic fork, a Sloppy Joe without the barbecue sauce.)
I had a suggestion for a new sales slogan for Stewart's, but I don't think they ever used it. Stewart's is known as "Home of the Steamburger," which is catchy and intriguing to the steamburger-uninitiated. But it's the huge root beer float that's worth bragging about. When he was about eight years old, my son, Nick, came up with a new slogan after his first attempt to finish the thing: "It's the float that makes you bloat."
Muster a strong Bawlmer accent and say it aloud. It works.
Comments
LOVE Stewart's Ginger Beer! The "scary burn" is just the ginger kicking in. Another great ginger kick is Trader Joe's Triple Ginger (fresh, candied, powdered) Gingersnaps. FABulous, and cheap at twice the price!
Posted by: Dottie | September 4, 2007 10:10 AM
There's nothing like Stewart's ginger beer for a nasty stomach ache. It tastes great and it settles your stomach too.....can't beat that...unless you mix it bourbon ;o)
Posted by: Margaret | April 11, 2008 10:52 AM
I love Stewart's Ginger Beer but have a problem locating it. I know the company was boughtout by someone (Cadbury?). Did they stop making it?
Posted by: maurice wainwright | May 7, 2008 5:18 PM
I am a huge fan of Northern Neck Ginger Ale and it's patrician brother, Carver's Ginger Ale. Both were (maybe still are) produced in Montross,VA on Virginia's Northern Neck. Coca Cola bought out the Carver family (independent Coca Cola bottlers) a few years ago and things haven't been the same. It's harder and harder to find NN even in Virginia and the price of Carver's has gone up and their distribution down. Let's hope that Dr. Pepper is a better steward of small brands than Coke has been.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | August 7, 2008 8:48 AM
I read the blog last week and mentioned Stewart's to my wife, who commuted on Pulaski Highway from northeast of Baltimore to Hopkins Hospital for many years. She rminded me of a late night burger run to Stewart's that was too late for them.
Friday morning we visited the Mitchell Courthouse in the morning and stopped by Stewart's for a carryout lunch. After ordering three Steamburgers, my bride, a native of Chicago, asked if we order condiments or put them on ourselves.
The counter girl, a woman born in the middle twentieth century, just like us, asked if we had ever had a Steamburger, then she produced two small cups of the meat.
My wife took a taste, looked at me, then turned to the countergirl and said, "Make that two hamburgers and one Steamburger." Sometimes there is just no accounting for people's taste.
Posted by: Bruce Robinson | August 12, 2008 9:06 AM
I'm health conscious and love the Stewart Ginger Beer, but because it contains "High Fructose Corn Syrup" it drasticly reduces my consumption. Now I can't find it at all. please use a more natural healthy sweetener like sugar so I can continue to enjoy Stewarts products. "High Fructose corn syrup" has to go!
Posted by: Howard Nichols | December 6, 2008 9:34 AM
It's official. The only ginger beer without the cloying taste of lemon or lime is DEAD. Officially retired. The wimpy American palate has won again. Dan, is there any way you can use your influence to get the recipe from Mom Stewart?
Thanks!
Posted by: disappointed man | August 6, 2009 10:23 AM