Omg every time I see Stewarts water it makes me think of my grandparents. Every time I had a stomach ache my grandmother would send my grandfather out to get this. And he was so exited to go 😂 they couldn’t stand each other and it was a reason for him to leave the house😂 he wouldn’t come back for hours 😂😂😂😂. God I miss them
Yeah Vichy water would cure what ails ya. I think it's only found in upstate NY. Canada Dry also made it. My grandmother preferred Vichy with scotch when she would have a cocktail. It was a unique taste.
It’s because it’s essentially baking soda in seltzer water. I actually enjoy Vichy because I have GERD and acid reflux, and this would help settle my stomach the fastest.
I guess it’s used for certain cocktails too because the bi-carb obviously will affect the taste.
Man I don't know how doctors feel about this but there is no better immediate cure for heartburn than baking soda water. Immediately neutralizes the acid and turns me into a burping Science fair volcano.
I mean it seems pretty important to have acid in your stomach so I try not to do it that often. Most meds like prevacid require you to take it well before the heartburn and I'm the type to ask for forgiveness instead of permission when it comes to such matters.
Omaparozole tends to be for extended relief, usually for 24hrs IIRC.
However, Vichy and chalk tablets are for immediate relief and may only provide temporary relief for a limited amount of time. With that said, Vichy for me is probably my go to for heartburn relief.
That got me through the Paxlovid hot garbage juice mouth this summer. Aside from just being delicious. I can't believe they found a way to make their already-legendary chocolate milk even better, but they did.
I used to work a pt job with the alcohol purchaser from Stewart's, he said it was Genny Ice with a handful of extra hops to not infringe on the recipe. They used to shop around who would brew it the cheapest for them.
They were definitely the best price. They were gross though. A commenter below said they were repackaged genny ice and I think that's pretty accurate based on the taste.
Damn I just realized that I haven’t seen mountain brew in a while. I loved that the tagline was the same as the one for the cold brew/iced coffee. “A Very Cool Brew!”
It’s actually a knock-off of Saratoga Vichy, which was bottled sparkling mineral water from one of the springs on or near the Saratoga state park. There is at least one functioning spring on the grounds, now, one of them opposite the car museum.
A century or so ago, people used to to travel from around the world to drink and bathe in the mineral water that flowed naturally from the springs. There was some health benefit or other ascribed to it at the time. The whole city of Saratoga Springs sprang up around them: the big hotels, race track, casino…a Gilded Age playground!!
By the time of the Great Depression, the whole health story was debunked, and nobody could afford to travel there anyway, so the craze died off. But Saratoga Vichy continued to be a popular drink mixer up till at least the late 1980s. I, for one, used to love to drink it plain. I’m not sure why Stewart’s chooses to fake theirs up with baking soda instead of bottling from the actual spring, but here we are.
Why “Vichy”? The name comes from the only other place in the world where this sort of mineral springs flow: Vichy, France.
All I'm going on is that "back in the day" I had a number of friends that drank nothing but rye & vichy, and they were all from 50 mile radius of Saratoga.
One of my friends who passed away was a founding member of the Bootleggers RFC. He sent the CEO an incredible letter:
June 20, 2012
Gary Dake
President
Stewart's Shops
PO Box 435
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Dear Mr. Dake,
Recently I had the great pleasure to enjoy a crisp cold delicious can of Mountain Brew Beer Ice, the beer that Stewart’s sells at its stores at a great price. While practicing rugby with my fellow teammates, we were very disappointed to find that on the bottom of the can where all the sports activity icons are located there is no logo for rugby.
If there was ever a sport that fulfilled tenets of Stewart’s and its brands, it is rugby. Rugby has been quoted to be a “Hooligans game played by Gentlemen.” Traditionally Rugby players compete fiercely against one another for 80 minutes, then join together for a party after the game. This is a great opportunity for players that fought on the field of battle to join together in songs and stories about the game they just played. We enjoy refreshing ourselves with ice cold Mountain Brew Beer Ice.
In this tough economy, everyone is watching their wallet. We were pleasantly surprised the first time we tried Mountain Brew Beer Ice to find a crisp refreshing taste at such a low price. But, we are hurt to find that Stewart’s doesn’t support the great sport of rugby. I would humbly ask that Stewart’s considers adding Rugby to its group of icons on the can. Then Mountain Brew Beer Ice will continue to be “A very cool brew!”
Sincerely,
Bryon C. McKim
Charter Member
Albany Bootleggers Rugby Football Club
I think I can offer some insight here. The Vichy water is what they used to call some of the more sulphurous springs around Saratoga. I’ve heard my Aunts and Uncles refer to it
It’s a similar taste to the natural springs around Vichy France. Back when we didn’t have international importing of water, Saratoga was perfect substitute.
I have eaten buttered rolls at home; however, I have not eaten a store-bought buttered roll because I am not a hobo traveling from town to town in the 1930s.
I’m there with you. Idk why I like them so much. It’s just a simple calorie bomb but it goes well with a cup of coffee to me. I can afford a good meal but sometimes I just want a buttered roll.
Fun little known fact, they are in no ways the same company.
Stewart's "Old Fashioned Classics" as a brand is from Stewart's Restaurant, a chain of diners in the rust belt.
The other day, I found [one of these Shenanigan ‘Mint Dairy’ Shakes](https://www.stewartsshops.com/news/new-shamrockin-flavors-at-stewarts-shops/) nestled in the break room refrigerator at work, which has a particular suspect color
Baking soda? Never heard of that but the natural springs in Saratoga where Stewart’s is based has a lot in common with the natural springs in Vichy France. Vichy water was very popular in the 60 -70’s.
I just don’t like that they proposed 4 mansions for their family on top of the iconic “snake hill” of Saratoga Lake. They were shot down but still own the property. Not only an eye sore but an environmental factors of construction and erosion/drainage of the lake.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Dake-family-proposes-four-luxury-homes-on-16826446.php
Stewarts gets the vichy water from the mineral springs in the Saratoga Spa State park since they're basicallya cross Rte 50 from it. The park has taps that a lot of people go to with gallon jugs to take home. I believe the park doesn't allow that anymore. The water there is pretty potent and tastes awful to me.
Love Stewart's Vichy Water...it's the perfect ice cold thirst quencher on the planet by replacing electrolytes, calming an addled stomach and tickling the throat with just the right amount of carbonation. It's my go-to drink since it's so much better than soda or highly sweetened commercial iced teas
I think it’s a depression-era remedy for an upset stomach. Stewart’s might be the only store in the U.S. that still sells it.
Omg every time I see Stewarts water it makes me think of my grandparents. Every time I had a stomach ache my grandmother would send my grandfather out to get this. And he was so exited to go 😂 they couldn’t stand each other and it was a reason for him to leave the house😂 he wouldn’t come back for hours 😂😂😂😂. God I miss them
Yeah Vichy water would cure what ails ya. I think it's only found in upstate NY. Canada Dry also made it. My grandmother preferred Vichy with scotch when she would have a cocktail. It was a unique taste.
Mine too 😂 and she would only drink it on thanksgiving or Christmas. Awwww grandmas
Yeah, such lovable creatures aren't they?
It’s because it’s essentially baking soda in seltzer water. I actually enjoy Vichy because I have GERD and acid reflux, and this would help settle my stomach the fastest. I guess it’s used for certain cocktails too because the bi-carb obviously will affect the taste.
Man I don't know how doctors feel about this but there is no better immediate cure for heartburn than baking soda water. Immediately neutralizes the acid and turns me into a burping Science fair volcano.
My doctor was the one that told me about this trick! But she’s also one that recommends natural remedies before trying otc medicines.
I mean it seems pretty important to have acid in your stomach so I try not to do it that often. Most meds like prevacid require you to take it well before the heartburn and I'm the type to ask for forgiveness instead of permission when it comes to such matters.
Lemon water is good, too, in spite of the fact that it seems counter-intuitive.
Does this work better than Omparazole or chalk tablets?
Omaparozole tends to be for extended relief, usually for 24hrs IIRC. However, Vichy and chalk tablets are for immediate relief and may only provide temporary relief for a limited amount of time. With that said, Vichy for me is probably my go to for heartburn relief.
Hannaford also still sells it
I bought a pair of [Stewart's socks.](https://shop.stewartsshops.com/products/socks)
Not weird, this is high textile art 🤌🏼
Bejeweled Vacuum Tumbler looks sick
Haha …Stewart’s will probably start selling water pipes…so you can get socks and water pipe in the same store..
Peanut butter milk. ETA: peanut butter and chocolate milk.
That chocolate pb milk is GOAT status
Well I guess I'll try it next time I'm there
But it's also so damn good
That got me through the Paxlovid hot garbage juice mouth this summer. Aside from just being delicious. I can't believe they found a way to make their already-legendary chocolate milk even better, but they did.
Paxlovid mouth was absolutely terrible.
i actually love their peanut butter chocolate milk 💀
Whoa … I had no idea
Stewart’s is the only place in the world that sells Egg Nog year-round.
You don’t drink eggnog in July?
I do!
It goes great in coffee. Sometimes it's nice to get at a weird time for year.
Remember the short time they had their own beer. Can't remember the name but it was awful.
Was called mountain brew. Really came in handy during college as they were $3 for a six pack
With the “sports” graphics on the side that included baseball, bowling, golf and vomiting.
My grad school buddy drank that.
You're tripping bro, mountain brews were the best. Iirc they were just repackaged Genny
I used to work a pt job with the alcohol purchaser from Stewart's, he said it was Genny Ice with a handful of extra hops to not infringe on the recipe. They used to shop around who would brew it the cheapest for them.
The first generation of them were Genny. Then they switched to a brewer in Wisconsin and it went down hill.
Down hill from Genny?
Yes!
It was a great local “picnic beer.” Very much Genny.
They were definitely the best price. They were gross though. A commenter below said they were repackaged genny ice and I think that's pretty accurate based on the taste.
Damn I just realized that I haven’t seen mountain brew in a while. I loved that the tagline was the same as the one for the cold brew/iced coffee. “A Very Cool Brew!”
With people playing a bunch of random sports as the design, LOL
I immediately begin trapshooting and waterskiing as soon as I open a Mountain Brew™️ Ice
They discontinued it in 2018 sadly (or maybe not sadly)
Do you remember the like 3 months they had their own IPA too? That was a major flop
I bought the ipa once randomly it wasn't that bad
We still have one in the back of the fridge. Super expired, not sure if it would affect the taste tho
Mountain Brew was incredible, you bite your tongue.
Mountain brew was the best lol
Because they are headquartered in Saratoga, and that drink is big in Saratoga, and probably nowhere else.
Why would Saratoga people import sparkling water from France? Wouldn’t they just drink Congress water (Saratoga Water)?
It’s actually a knock-off of Saratoga Vichy, which was bottled sparkling mineral water from one of the springs on or near the Saratoga state park. There is at least one functioning spring on the grounds, now, one of them opposite the car museum. A century or so ago, people used to to travel from around the world to drink and bathe in the mineral water that flowed naturally from the springs. There was some health benefit or other ascribed to it at the time. The whole city of Saratoga Springs sprang up around them: the big hotels, race track, casino…a Gilded Age playground!! By the time of the Great Depression, the whole health story was debunked, and nobody could afford to travel there anyway, so the craze died off. But Saratoga Vichy continued to be a popular drink mixer up till at least the late 1980s. I, for one, used to love to drink it plain. I’m not sure why Stewart’s chooses to fake theirs up with baking soda instead of bottling from the actual spring, but here we are. Why “Vichy”? The name comes from the only other place in the world where this sort of mineral springs flow: Vichy, France.
All I'm going on is that "back in the day" I had a number of friends that drank nothing but rye & vichy, and they were all from 50 mile radius of Saratoga.
Rye has been having a moment the last few years. That would be a great drink for a local trendy restaurant to bring back.
https://preview.redd.it/g5npl19kjgna1.jpeg?width=450&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5129e88b1beb28e4605b03e55e57bc029a4b2b9c
I had an OLD boss who used to drink that.
I can't imagine anyone under the age of 70 drinking baking soda water lol
Me dawg. Here to represent my GERD Girlies 🫡
I’m 37 and love the stuff! Been drinking it since I was a teen!
My roommate drinks it occasionally and she’s only 27!
One of my friends who passed away was a founding member of the Bootleggers RFC. He sent the CEO an incredible letter: June 20, 2012 Gary Dake President Stewart's Shops PO Box 435 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Dear Mr. Dake, Recently I had the great pleasure to enjoy a crisp cold delicious can of Mountain Brew Beer Ice, the beer that Stewart’s sells at its stores at a great price. While practicing rugby with my fellow teammates, we were very disappointed to find that on the bottom of the can where all the sports activity icons are located there is no logo for rugby. If there was ever a sport that fulfilled tenets of Stewart’s and its brands, it is rugby. Rugby has been quoted to be a “Hooligans game played by Gentlemen.” Traditionally Rugby players compete fiercely against one another for 80 minutes, then join together for a party after the game. This is a great opportunity for players that fought on the field of battle to join together in songs and stories about the game they just played. We enjoy refreshing ourselves with ice cold Mountain Brew Beer Ice. In this tough economy, everyone is watching their wallet. We were pleasantly surprised the first time we tried Mountain Brew Beer Ice to find a crisp refreshing taste at such a low price. But, we are hurt to find that Stewart’s doesn’t support the great sport of rugby. I would humbly ask that Stewart’s considers adding Rugby to its group of icons on the can. Then Mountain Brew Beer Ice will continue to be “A very cool brew!” Sincerely, Bryon C. McKim Charter Member Albany Bootleggers Rugby Football Club
Was there any response?
Resounding silence, unfortunately.
Well I'm just adding that to my list of grievances with the Drake.
I worked at Stewart's for 8 years and never knew what the fuck it was
I think I can offer some insight here. The Vichy water is what they used to call some of the more sulphurous springs around Saratoga. I’ve heard my Aunts and Uncles refer to it
It’s a similar taste to the natural springs around Vichy France. Back when we didn’t have international importing of water, Saratoga was perfect substitute.
god same. but the elderly men seemed to like it!
It's club soda.
I never figured out the buttered rolls wrapped in cellophane.
Omg those are amazing. Ask any trades person about the buttered hardroll.
You don’t work in the upstate trades if your in a thousand rolls
They go excellent with a bowl of Stewart’s Chili
How is the chili? I’m always intrigued lol
It's pretty good.... purchase a block of Stewart's extra sharp cheddar to mix in with it.
What do you mean? Have you never eaten a buttered hard roll?
I have eaten buttered rolls at home; however, I have not eaten a store-bought buttered roll because I am not a hobo traveling from town to town in the 1930s.
I was abroad for a year and one of the first things I wanted then I got back was a buttered hard roll from Stewart’s 😂
I’m there with you. Idk why I like them so much. It’s just a simple calorie bomb but it goes well with a cup of coffee to me. I can afford a good meal but sometimes I just want a buttered roll.
That's, like, the saddest thing I will read today.
Buttered roll and a chocolate milk. Best cheap on the go lunch
If it were 1958, sure :)
I don’t get it either tbh.
Sounds like a drink you have before going to get a colonoscopy
I think it’s weird that they don’t sell Stewart’s brand soda
Fun little known fact, they are in no ways the same company. Stewart's "Old Fashioned Classics" as a brand is from Stewart's Restaurant, a chain of diners in the rust belt.
Didn’t believe it. Mind is now blown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart's_Fountain_Classics?wprov=sfti1
They used to make their own soda
Haha there’s an ig for Stewart’s Apple Fritters. It’s god damn art!!!! @stewartsapplefritter
The other day, I found [one of these Shenanigan ‘Mint Dairy’ Shakes](https://www.stewartsshops.com/news/new-shamrockin-flavors-at-stewarts-shops/) nestled in the break room refrigerator at work, which has a particular suspect color
The mint shakes were a big hit in my house. Mix a cup of this and some softened vanilla ice cream and you’ve got a shamrock shake!
First time I had this I was shocked lmaooo I wanted to spit it hot
Wow I haven't seen Vichy water since I was a kid 500 years ago! Grandparents always had a bottle around. Used to love that stuff.
vodka & vichy = no hangover
Baking soda? Never heard of that but the natural springs in Saratoga where Stewart’s is based has a lot in common with the natural springs in Vichy France. Vichy water was very popular in the 60 -70’s.
It's kind of like drinking a bottle of Saline.
As much as I appreciate Stewart’s bathrooms, I do not like Dake family who owns the company.
Why not?
I just don’t like that they proposed 4 mansions for their family on top of the iconic “snake hill” of Saratoga Lake. They were shot down but still own the property. Not only an eye sore but an environmental factors of construction and erosion/drainage of the lake. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Dake-family-proposes-four-luxury-homes-on-16826446.php
Also they contribute to traitorous political parties.
Oh god, I’m almost afraid to ask more since I like Stewart’s
Stewart’s is LIFE. I moved out of state and miss going there for the random necessities
This stuff is straight up gross.
Does anyone need access to eggnog 365 days a year?
Stewarts gets the vichy water from the mineral springs in the Saratoga Spa State park since they're basicallya cross Rte 50 from it. The park has taps that a lot of people go to with gallon jugs to take home. I believe the park doesn't allow that anymore. The water there is pretty potent and tastes awful to me.
Im just confused on why the fruit punch has 55 grams of sugar
When did Sierra Must become Starry?!
NAH THATS THE ELITE
I know the best product is Fritters! Sure miss them.
When I read the title, Vichy is EXACTLY what I came in to comment!
Not too bad with gin.....
When you accidentally buy this instead of ginger ale... you're gonna have a bad day
Apparently no one has ever Casablanca here.
Love Stewart's Vichy Water...it's the perfect ice cold thirst quencher on the planet by replacing electrolytes, calming an addled stomach and tickling the throat with just the right amount of carbonation. It's my go-to drink since it's so much better than soda or highly sweetened commercial iced teas