By Rebecca Riddell
Northern Neck locals may be finding themselves dismayed when perusing the soda aisles in their local grocery stores. The familiar green Northern Neck Ginger Ale cans that most of us know and love have recently vanished from shelves.
This community staple is just one of many products that has fallen victim to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a national shortage of aluminum, production of this beloved beverage has screeched to a halt. The future of the beverage hangs in the balance, as it is unclear when—or even if—production will resume.
According to CNN, the problem stems from “the coronavirus and changing habits related to it.” To put it simply: with the closings of restaurants and bars, individuals have resorted to consuming their beverages at home in their convenient aluminum cans.
The demand for beer in kegs dropped dramatically and companies responded by cranking out more canned beverages. Soda machines have become increasingly irrelevant, so producers responded accordingly as well. In the height of the pandemic, when shoppers began hoarding in fear of prolonged quarantine, canned sodas were snapped up alongside toilet paper and paper towels.
Despite changing economic situations and world events, Northern Neck Ginger Ale has proven to be a brand that can stand the test of time. Production of the beloved beverage began in 1926. At this point in history, the soda market was on the rise — and a Montross business man by the name of Arthur Carver saw an opportunity to capitalize. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company was established in the heart of Montross, and popularity began to grow shortly after production and distribution started. The beverage was touted as the best in the area and it wasn’t long before it began a revered local symbol. Individuals
from our area and beyond claimed the drink to be the purest- and best-tasting in the region. Even today, most locals will still claim this to be true.
The Carver family sold the prized family formula to Coca-Cola in 2001. Production in Montross was effectively shut down, and the beverage is now being produced in Sandston, Virginia, by Coca-Cola Consolidated, which is an independent bottling company for Coca-Cola. The debate exists over whether or not the soda has the same “true to its roots” taste after changes in production.
The passion for the beverage is so great in the Northern Neck and surrounding areas that there have even been legislative efforts to bring recognition to the product. According to WRTV Channel 6 (Richmond), a petition began circulating in 2018 to formally have Northern Neck Ginger Ale named the official state beverage of Virginia. The petition garnered a lot of interest, and in 2019, Delegate Margaret Ransone even filed a bill in an effort to bring statewide recognition to the soda.
It’s become increasingly clear that the soda brand has earned a place of significance in most homes in our region. For many, the drink holds special memories of bonding with family and friends. Family recipes have been developed to include the tasty liquid. Bottles have been kept and put on display as cherished reminders of the past.
The Sandston Coca-Cola plant has made assurances that production will resume at some point, though they do not have a firm timeline. Until then, ginger ale lovers across the area have only memories to savor and optimism that the tradition will live on.
