ABOUT RIVER BARREL DISTRIBUTING - Craft Beverage Distribution for Western Washington
River Barrel Distributing is an independently owned craft beverage distributor serving Seattle & greater Western Washington. We specialize in a curated selection of top-quality craft beer, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, spirits and wine for bars, restaurants, and retailers across the region. Founded with a dedication to quality and customer service, RBD takes pride in supporting the artistry of craft beverages and connecting passionate producers with beverage enthusiasts. RBD’s service area currently spans Washington counties, including King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Snohomish, Kitsap, Jefferson, and Chelan.
We are a proud trade member of the Washington Brewshed Alliance & Washington Brewers Guild.
Our Story
River Barrel Distributing began with a hands-on, grassroots approach to distribution — built from the ground up with a focus on relationships, accountability, and care for the product. What started as a small operation has grown into a full-service distribution partner, while staying true to the values that shaped us from day one. Today, River Barrel Distributing operates with a dedicated sales and operations team and an expanding delivery network across Western Washington. While we’ve grown, our mindset remains the same: stay nimble, stay service-driven, and always put our partners first.
What Sets Us Apart
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Curated, Intentional Portfolios
We believe less is more. Our portfolio is carefully built around producers who share our commitment to quality, consistency, and long-term partnership — not trends or volume for volume’s sake.
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Freshness-Driven Distribution
From cold-storage to efficient routing, we prioritize product integrity at every step. Fresh beer tastes better — and that matters to everyone involved.
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Retailer-First Service
We support our retail partners with responsive sales reps, clear availability through our Fresh Sheet, and easy ordering through our DSD portal. Our goal is to simplify ordering and help accounts make confident buying decisions.
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Local Knowledge & Community Focus
As a locally owned distributor, we understand the Western Washington market and its unique retail landscape. We’re proud to support the craft beverage community that makes this region special.
AN INTRO FROM OWNER JOE COHEN
MEET OUR TEAM
Joe Cohen
Owner/General Manager
Fave Beer Style: West Coast IPA
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Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, gardening
Sean Dunn
Eastside Sales
Fave Beer Style: Lagers, anything from Rice Lagers to Schwarzbiers
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Hobbies: Watching Tottenham Hotspur games and horror movies, golfing, and cooking
Peter Mullins
Lewis & Thurston Sales
Fave Beer Style: Pilsner, Sours, and high ABV whiskey
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Hobbies: hiking, and landscape photography
Madison Scott
Admin Coordinator
Fave Beer Style: Lagers, Kolsch, and anything Dark & Sweet
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Hobbies: Digital art, paddleboard, finding new bars
Kyle Frye
Operations Manager
Fave Beer Style: anything lager
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Hobbies: Metal detecting, and rockhounding
Greg Duncan
Central Seattle Sales
Fave Beer Style: Porters but a classic WCIPA hits the spot too
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Hobbies: got into leatherworking recently. I like making functional items including bags and wallets
Nick Weitzel
West & South Seattle Sales
Fave Beer Style: BA-Bwine & Grisette
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Hobbies: DJ (vinyl), hiking, kayaking, music, gardening
Sean Larson
Pierce & Kitsap Sales
Fave Beer Style: Lagers , Pilsners and Big Stouts
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Hobbies: Attending Live Events (Sports, Music, Comedy)
Ben Fuller
Sales Manager
Fave Beer Style: cider, BA-beers
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Hobbies: BBQing, writing & recording songs
Rob Jones
North Seattle Sales
Fave Beer Style: Mexican Lagers, Italian Pilsners and Kolsch
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Hobbies: Traveling, music production, skateboarding, ibuprofen
Jesse Porter
Snohomish Sales
Fave Beer Style: WC IPAs, Pilsners and BA sours
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Hobbies: Watching Seattle sports, playing guitar, thrifting