Snowville’s Spice Nog unavailable until 2022
The holiday season will be a little less sweet for fans of Snowville Creamery’s products.
The Pomeroy, Ohio, milk processing plant will not be producing its Spice Nog – the rich, creamy, egg-less nog that typically would be flying off shelves this time of year.
Snowville is awaiting its new pintfiller, which has been delayed due to supply chain issues amid the pandemic. Once it arrives, the company will be able to offer its whipping cream, half and half, and chocolate milk in consumer-recycled plastic pint bottles early next year.
But Spice Nog lovers will have to wait until the 2022 holiday season to indulge.
“I think I’m probably the most devastated of all,” said Heather Fuston, business development and marketing manager at Snowville, which produces dairy products sold at stores across Ohio and the Midwest. “I’m probably Spice Nog’s biggest fan. I love it because we don’t have any artificial ingredients. We don’t use any thickeners. My kids have been asking about it, too.”
Snowville General Manager Anna Shields confirmed the product is a bestseller.
“We have people that go on a Spice Nog hunt every year,” she said. “I think for a lot of people, myself included, it signifies the start of the holidays because it’s such a unique, warm, comforting blend of flavors.”
Those flavors include cardamom, mace and turmeric, which gives the drink its golden color.
Shields said Snowville has plenty of other popular products to help make up for the loss of Spice Nog sales, including new mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. The company partnered with Indiana-based Italian cheesemaker Golfo di Napoli Dairy on the offerings.
Despite the delay, Shields and Fuston said they are excited to finally meet consumer demand for smaller containers, which also will be more affordable.
“(And) we’re going to be able to be in more markets than what we’ve been able to be in the past, like doughnut shops, cafeterias and other places that have wanted our milks but can’t take a half-gallon container,” Shields said.
Customers also may recognize a new look for Snowville; the woman-owned company updated its branding, giving the signature maiden logo a look of empowerment rather than servitude, Shields said.
Customers at Weiland’s Market in Clintonville haven’t started voicing disappointment about the lack of Spice Nog yet, but it’s inevitable, as the treat always sells out, said co-owner Jennifer
Williams.
“Our customers love Snowville,” she said. “They love all their product line. I’m sure they will be disappointed. At the same time, I’m sure they understand that things happen. You can’t get too mad at Snowville for something that is out of their control.”
As an alternative, Weiland’s customers likely will purchase eggnog from Wooster-based Hartzler Family Dairy – another popular brand, Williams said.
People will just be extra excited when Spice Nog returns in a smaller size next year, she said.
“People often buy more than one half gallon of Snowville at a time,” she said. “But I think a smaller bottle is better for smaller households, and then people will have it fresh more often. I think
they’ll be thrilled.”
While Weiland’s customers have no problem buying Snowville products by the half-gallon, the Hills Market Downtown hasn’t seen the same demand. In fact, the store stopped carrying Spice Nog at the location altogether.
“I think it’s going to sell better next year in pint size, actually, because a lot of our customers are getting singleserve items or smaller items,” said Amanda Anderson, wine and cheese director. “I actually am looking forward to being able to bring it back in. It is delicious and it’s sad that it doesn’t exist this year.”
Email: ethompson@dispatch.com Twitter: @miss_ethompson