Polar Beverages is a

soft drink A soft drink (see #Terminology, § Terminology for other names) is a class of non-alcoholic drink, usually (but not necessarily) Carbonated water, carbonated, and typically including added Sweetness, sweetener. Flavors used to be Natural flav ...

company based in

Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...

. It is a manufacturer and distributor of sparkling fruit beverages,

seltzer Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescence, effer ...

ginger ale Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavoured with ginger. It is consumed on its own or used as a mixer, often with spirit-based drinks. There are two main types of ginger ale. The golden style is credited to the Irish doctor Thomas Joseph ...

drink mixer Drink mixers are the non-alcoholic ingredients in mixed drinks and cocktails. Mixers dilute the drink, lowering the alcohol by volume in the drink. They change, enhance, or add new flavors to a drink. They may make the drink sweeter, more sour ...

s, and

spring water A spring is a natural exit point at which groundwater emerges from an aquifer and flows across the ground surface as surface water. It is a component of the hydrosphere, as well as a part of the water cycle. Springs have long been important f ...

to customers in the United States. It is the largest independent soft-drink bottler in the United States. It markets beverages under its flagship brand, Polar Beverages, and under the brands Adirondack Beverages, Polar Seltzer, and Cape Cod Dry. In addition to its own drinks, Polar bottles and distributes national brands for companies such as

Keurig Dr Pepper Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. ( ), formerly Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (1979–2014) and Keurig Green Mountain (2014–2018), is a publicly traded American beverage and coffeemaker conglomerate with headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts, and ...

. The company has two bottling plants and six distribution facilities; it also offers corporate water services and beverage vending equipment. It is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that traces its roots to 1882, and is run by Ralph Crowley Jr., the great-grandson of founder Dennis M. Crowley.

History

Polar was founded by Ralph’s great-grandfather, Dennis Mark "Boss" Crowley. The business began in the 1880s as the J. G. Bieberbach Company, a liquor company. In 1916, the company took on the Polar name. The company stopped selling whiskey during

Prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...

and began selling carbonated beverages like waters, ginger ales and drys. The company is a member of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerc

Products and Flavors

Polar Beverages produces drinks flavored with natural fruit flavors. An in-house drink mixologist creates five limited edition varieties at two separate times of year to incorporate new flavors.

Polar Seltzer

Source: * Cranberry Clementine * Pineapple Pomelo * Toasted Coconut * Cranberry Lime * Ruby Red Grapefruit * Georgia Peach * Mandarin * Triple Berry * Vanilla * Raspberry Lime * Orange Vanilla * Strawberry Watermelon * Blueberry Lemonade * Pink Apple & Lemon * Ginger Lime Mule * Black Cherry * Lemon * Lime * Pomegranate * Blackberry Mango

Seltzer JR

* Werewolf Howls * Unicorn Kisses * Yeti Mischief * Mermaid Songs * Pixie Lights * Dragon Whispers

Expedition: Flavor

* Clementine Bramble * Nectarine Lemon * Cranberry Raspberry * Apple Pom Bomb * Island Blueberry * Blood Orange Punch

Limited Edition

An asterisk (*) denotes a returning flavor. * Summer 2025: Passionfruit-O-Guava, Poolside Grape Pops, Blueberry Lavender, Raspberry Limoncello*, Strawberry Crème* * Winter 2024: Nectarine Grapefruit, Spiced Pear, Blood Orange Cranberry*, Frosted Boysenberry*, Elderflower Starlight * Summer 2024: Papaya Breeze, Seaside Watermelon Punch*, Raspberry Limoncello*, Peach Iced Tea, Strawberry Crème * Winter 2023: Black Cherry Vanilla*, Pomegranate Champagne*, Blood Orange Cranberry, Frosted Boysenberry, Yuzu Orange Blossom * Summer 2023: Raspberry Limoncello, Pineapple Guava, Seaside Watermelon Punch, Passionfruit Blueberry*, Dragon Fruit Lemonade* * Winter 2022: Black Cherry Vanilla, Pomegranate Champagne, Key Lime Grapefruit, Cranberry Bramble*, Prickly Pear & Citrus* * Summer 2022: Dragon Fruit Lemonade, Guava Mule, Passionfruit Blueberry, Pink Summer Iced Tea*, Strawberry Margarita* * Winter 2021: Prickly Pear & Citrus, Cranberry Bramble, Upside Down Plum, Pomegranate Apple*, Concord Clementine* * Summer 2021: Watermelon Mojito, Tropical Cherry, Pink Summer Iced Tea, Blackberry Mango Punch*, Strawberry Margarita* * Winter 2020: Pomegranate Apple, Concord Clementine, Grapefruit Melon Kiss, Ginger Peach*, Blackberry Citron* * Summer 2020: Strawberry Margarita, Blackberry Mango Punch, Kiwi Pink Grapefruit, Perfectly Plum Summer, Raspberry Rosé* * Winter 2019: Berry Sweet Grapefruit, Ginger Peach, Pink Lady Apple & Lemon, Blackberry Clementine*, Blood Orange Sangria* * Summer 2019: Nectarine Lemon, Strawberry Honeydew, Mango Cherry Bliss, Raspberry Rosé*, Blueberry Tangerine* * Winter 2018: Hibiscus Cloudberry, Blackberry Clementine, Vanilla Zen, Cranberry Cider*, Ginger Lime Mule* * Summer 2018: Pineapple Lemon Twist, Mango Cherry Bliss, Blueberry Tangerine, Raspberry Rosé*, Cucumber Melon* * Winter 2017: Blood Orange Sangria, Ginger Lime Mule, Blackberry Citron, Cranberry Cider*, Winter Citrus & Berry* * Summer 2017: Pineapple Grapefruit, Raspberry Rosé, Strawberry Sunrise, Mango Berry*, and Watermelon Margarita* * Winter 2016: Cranberry Cider, Pink Peach Bellini, Late Harvest Berries, Winter Citrus & Berry*, Tart Cherry & Lime* * Summer 2016: Tangerine Limeade, Watermelon Margarita, Raspberry Pink Lemonade, Mango Berry, Pomegranate Sangria* * Winter 2015: Tart Cherry & Lime, Winter Citrus & Berry, Blackberry Apple, Champagne Strawberry*, Cranberry & Clementine* * Summer 2015: Tropical Mai Tai, Strawberry Watermelon, Guava Mandarin, Blueberry Lemonade*, Pomegranate Sangria* * Winter 2014: Champagne Strawberry, Cranberry Clementine, Ginger Apple, Blackberry Bergamot, Toasted Coconut Créme * Summer 2014: Raspberry Mojito, Blueberry Lemonade, Cucumber Melon, Pomegranate Sangria, Mango Papaya

Seltzer'ade

* Coconut Limeade * Pineapple Lemonade * Blood Orange Lemonade * Strawberry Lemonade * Starfruit Lemonade * Raspberry Pink Lemonade * Mango Limeade * Watermelon Lemonade * Blueberry Lemonade * Tart Cherry Limeade

Mixers

* Tonic Water * Diet Tonic Water * Tonic Water With Lime * Diet Tonic Water With Lime * Club Soda * Club Soda With Lemon * Club Soda With Lime * Vichy Water * Ginger Ale * Diet Ginger Ale * Golden Ginger Ale * Ginger Ale With Green Tea * Half & Half * Diet Half & Half * Bitter Lemon * Sour Lemon * Tom Collins

Polar FROST

* Arctic Twist * Black Raspberry * Kiwi Strawberry * Lemon Lime * Lemonade * Nordic Berry * Orange Mango * Pink Grapefruit * Pomegranate Berry

Polar Sparkling Dry

* Pink Grapefruit Dry * Diet Pink Grapefruit Dry * Orange Dry * Diet Orange Dry

Polar Sparkling Soda

* Birch Beer * Diet Birch Beer * Diet Double Fudge * Cream Soda * Diet Cream Soda * Root Beer * Diet Root Beer * Black Cherry * Diet Black Cherry * Diet Grape * Raspberry Lime * Diet Raspberry Lime

Polar Classic Cane Sugar Soda

* Orange Cream * Black Cherry * Root Beer * Vanilla Cream

Polar Spring Water

Partnership with Keurig

In July 2020, Polar partnered with Keurig Dr Pepper to expand their market nationwide. Under the partnership, the Crowley family retains company ownership with direct access to Keurig's delivery and marketing network.

Mascot

polar bear The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can Hybrid (biology), interbreed. The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear ...

named Orson has been the company's

mascot A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, sports team, university society, society, military unit, or brand, brand name. Mascots are als ...

since 1902. Next to the company's billboard near I-290 in Worcester, a large inflatable version of Orson can be seen smiling and "waving" to passersby. The oversized bear is tied down by wire, to keep the bear in place during rough weather, and to prevent theft. Orson has sometimes been stolen by local

fraternities A fraternity (; whence, " brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in the Western conce ...

as a

prank A practical joke or prank is a trick played on people, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.Marsh, Moira. 2015. ''Practically Joking''. Logan: Utah State University Press. The perpetrat ...

Sponsorships

Polar Beverage's Seltzer line is an official drink of

US Sailing The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) is the national governing body for sailing in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offe ...

under a 3 year marketing partnership signed in 2024. Kissing Bridge, located in Colden, NY, also signed on as a separate sponsor in 2024. Polar is the

naming rights Naming rights are a financial transaction and form of advertising or memorialization where a corporation, person, or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, object, location, program, or event (most often sports venues), typical ...

sponsor for Polar Park in Worcester, home of the Worcester Red Sox baseball team, Triple-A affiliates of the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

Controversy

Conflict with Coca-Cola

In 1994, Polar made a

TV commercial A television advertisement (also called a commercial, spot, break, advert, or ad) is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization. It conveys a message promoting, and aiming to market, a product, service or idea. ...

where a polar bear considers drinking a

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...

, but throws it into a recycling bin marked, "Keep the Arctic pure." The polar bear then reaches down into the freezing Arctic water and pulls out a can of Polar Seltzer and drinks from it contentedly.Cocaine-Cola, the Velvet Elvis, and Anti-Barbie: Defending the Trademark and Publicity Rights to Cultural Icons
Steven M. Cordero. ''Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, 1998'' Coca-Cola filed a

motion In physics, motion is when an object changes its position with respect to a reference point in a given time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and frame of reference to an o ...

for an

injunction An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a special court order compelling a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. It was developed by the English courts of equity but its origins go back to Roman law and the equitable rem ...

against Polar in

United States District Court The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district. Each district cov ...

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, contending that the commercial made Coke's product appear impure. The court granted Coca-Cola's motion because the commercial "implied that Coke asnot pure" and misrepresented the nature and quality of Coke, thereby potentially harming the soft drink irreparably. The injunction required Polar to revise the ad. According to Polar, the judge's ruling affirmed the right of Polar to use a polar bear in its ads, but limited them from discarding the Coke can.

References

External links

Polar Beverages - Official website

Hoovers.com

PSBC - The Painted Soda Bottle Collectors Association
{{Birch beer Drink companies of the United States American soft drinks Companies based in Worcester, Massachusetts Food and drink companies established in 1882 1882 establishments in Massachusetts Economy of the Northeastern United States Privately held companies based in Massachusetts Food and drink companies based in Massachusetts Soft drinks manufacturers Family-owned companies of the United States Carbonated water