
After a five-year absence, Stewart’s Shops’ Mountain Brew beer will return to the Ballston, Spa, New York-based convenience-store chain in mid-February.
Stewart’s Shops is teaming with Adirondack Mountains’ craft brewer Paradox Brewery on the comeback of the beer, which is a new recipe and will be 19.2 ounces.
This is the only alcoholic beverage with the Stewart’s Shops name on it, Robin Cooper, public relations manager, told CSP.
Paradox Brewery is a new vendor for Stewart’s Shops. “Before we ceased production in 2020, Stewart’s had worked with two previous craft beer suppliers,” Cooper said. “Previously, Mountain Brew was sold in 12-ounce cans. We had a light and an ice version of the beer.”
Stewart’s frequently changes ice cream flavors in its shops, and its biggest fans “always get excited when we bring back one of their favorites,” the c-store chain said. “The decision to revive Mountain Brew is no different.”
Stewart's Shops is No. 23 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of company-owned retail outlets.
The old beer recipe had some fans because of the taste, Stewart’s Shop said, adding that while some loved the value, “others didn’t love it for any reason.”
“Mountain Brew is a great example of a fun nostalgic product, and maybe the world could use a little more fun and nostalgia right now,” said Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops, which last month completed its acquisition of Jolley Stores.
By teaming with Paradox, Stewart’s said it has found a way to bring back Mountain Brew with a good value and a bolder new recipe that already is winning the taste buds of some early samplers.
“The feedback so far has been phenomenal,” said Emily Close, marketing manager for Paradox. “Mountain Brew has a deep connection to the community, and reimagining it has been a true labor of love.”
The partnership between Stewart’s and Paradox “brings together two iconic New York brands each with a strong connection to the communities where we do business,” Stewart’s Shops said.
To celebrate this milestone, Paradox hosted an event at its brewery in North Hudson, New York, Jan. 22 as the first batch of Stewart’s Mountain Brew was canned.
Founded in 1945, Stewart’s Shops is an employee- and family-owned convenience-store chain known for its milk, ice cream, coffee, Easy Food meals and other convenience items. There are 357 Stewart’s Shops in upstate New York and southern Vermont.
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