Buoy Beer Sells River Barrel Distributing
After four years in the distribution business in Washington State, Buoy Beer has sold its River Barrel Distributing to an industry veteran and employee. Joe Cohen has stepped in as the new owner of River Barrel Distributing and is excited to take over the growing beverage distributor.
Since its beginnings in 2021, River Barrel Distributing has flourished from a startup into a thriving distribution company, now representing a diverse range of respected beverage brands. With this growth comes an evolution in the company’s needs and resources. To sustain River Barrel Distributing’s expansion and continue its trajectory, Buoy Beer recently made the strategic decision to transition ownership and operations to Joe Cohen, River Barrel Distributing’s Sales Manager.
Cohen brings a dozen years of experience in the craft beverage industry, having led River Barrel Distributing’s sales division since its inception and previously serving in sales roles with Breakside Brewery and other regional brands. His passion for craft beverages and commitment to quality position him to guide River Barrel into a promising future.
Since stepping into his leadership role, Cohen and the River Barrel team have partnered with four exciting new brands that are part of its expanding portfollio. The distributor has recently added Little Beast Brewing, Hetty Alice Beers, and Living Haus Beer Co, all from the Portland area along with Norway’s iconic Aass Brewing (pronounced “ouse”).
River Barrel Distributing Brands:
Single Hill Brewing
Future Primitive
Bauman’s Cider
Zoiglhaus Brewing
Stemma Brewing
Freight Supply Co.
Lowercase Brewing
Trap Door Brewing
Ancestry Brewing
Triceratops Brewing
Sig Brewing Co.
Bellingham Cider Co.
Terramar Brewstillery
Hetty Alice Beers
Little Beast Brewing
Living Haus Beer Co.
North Jetty Brewing
Alesong Brewing
Dalliance Beer Project
De Garde Brewing
Stiegl Brauerei
Sullivan’s Brewing
Van Steenberge
De Brabandere
Flensburger Brauerei
Aass Brewery
Pilot House Distilling
Underberg Bitters
Eternal Wines
Purple Hands Wine
Prolific Wines
aprch CBD Seltzer
Driftwest Probiotic Soda
Altitude NA Refreshers
WellBeing NA Beer
Sober Carpenter NA Beer
“I’m deeply honored to lead River Barrel and incredibly grateful to Buoy for their foresight in founding RBD,” Cohen shared. “With the support of our suppliers and dedicated team, I’m excited to build upon the values that make RBD an industry leader and to further serve our customers and the vibrant beverage enthusiasts across Western Washington for years to come.”Under Cohen’s leadership, River Barrel Distributing is committed to strengthening relationships with local suppliers, enhancing distribution services, and maintaining its mission of delivering a top-tier portfolio of unique, high-quality craft beverages to Western Washington.
River Barrel Distributing’s service area currently spans the counties of King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Snohomish, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, Kittitas and Chelan in Washington State. To learn more, visit riverbarrel.com.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.