Pepsi Co. has purchased large Washington beer and cider distributor Corwin Beverage according to reports, in the process their smaller regional distributors Kendall’s Pioneer and Browar Polska will be completely shuttered. This isn’t just behind the scenes drama, it is a major blow to small craft brewers who are going to be left out in the cold with no simple way to deliver their product to key accounts. The major acquisition and closure of the smaller distributors is especially damaging to the southwest Washington craft beer industry that relies on those beverage companies. More than a dozen brands will now be left without a distributor, and with the real possibility of closure.

Kendall’s Pioneer Distributing and Browar Polska are specialty distributors that provide high-quality craft beer, import beers, wine and cider products to retailers, bars and restaurants across Washington state. Kendall’s Pioneer serves clients between southwest Washington and Yakima while Browar Polska serves clients in the Seattle-Puget Sound area and points in eastern Washington. Both are business units of Corwin Beverage Company, a fourth generation family-owned business that has distributed refreshments in western Washington since 1941.

Northbank Brewers Alliance, a group of small independent brewers representing SW Washington including Vancouver and parts of the gorge, was the first to publicly address the situation. Stating “This consolidation serves to injure the Northbank brands held by Corwin and will echo for years to come in southwest Washington craft beer.”

North Bank Brewers official statement:

Breweries such as Everybody’s Brewing who just launched a major brand overhaul, and small favorite locals like Trap Door Brewing, Grains of Wrath, 5440 Brewing, Fortside, Swift Cider, Little Beast, Barrel Mountain, and Thunder Island Brewing are among the brands affected. One such brewery owner who wishes to remain anonymous tells the New School:

The sudden dissolution could put some breweries/cideries out of business, and will make it much more difficult for taphouses as well.

This is a developing story, check back for updates…