PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Fishtown favorite is seemingly no more.
Production of Arctic Splash iced tea in its pint-sized carton has been discontinued, according to Fishtown bar Interstate Drafthouse. It will only be available in gallon and half-gallon jugs going forward.
"We only have a limited supply of Arctic Splash cartons in stock, when they are gone it could be the end," they wrote on Instagram.
Interstate Drafthouse is known for using the cartons for its Fishtown iced tea cocktail. The cartons are even better known, though, for turning up almost everywhere in Fishtown. Social media accounts have emerged to track the littered cartons.
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Distraught fans of the lemon-flavored drink and its paper container have sounded off on social media. "Please pray for me during this troubling time," tweeted Defector writer Dan McQuade.
"Not sure it's Arctic Splash if it doesn't come in a carton," tweeted @obiwankimberly.
"This is like that movie 'Moonfall' where the moon fell but more Fishtown centric and with more dire consequences," Instagram user leoslashlandis commented.
Some residents, however, had a less drastic outlook. "It's not even a Philadelphia product," Kensington resident Mike Miller told KYW Newsradio. While Arctic Splash has become a Philadelphia icon, it is produced by Dallas-based Dean Foods.
Miller said while the drink — pronounced "Artic" Splash, he specified — has become fashionable thanks to Interstate Drafthouse, it is admittedly a Fishtown staple. "It's something you can get at every bodega and corner store," he said. "You don't have much of a choice, it's just there."
He did say the ubiquitous cartons aren't just popular because of their portable size. "Some people swear by drinking it out of the carton versus out of a plastic container," he shared. "That's the age-old question, is it better in a carton or a jug?"
Soon, Fishtown residents will only have one option.