Beverage Distributing in Washington & Oregon
In 2008, Columbia Distributing, Mt. Hood Beverage, and Gold River Distributing united to form Columbia Distributing as we know it today. With this merger and the 2018 acquisitions of Marine View Beverage and General Distributors, Inc., our company is now one of the country’s largest malt beverage distributors. Size is not our only distinction, however. Columbia Distributing boasts an extensive selection of beverages, including craft beer, wine and spirits.
Here’s how we got to where we are.
Columbia Distributing
Started in 1935 by Chris Maletis, Sr., Columbia Distributing has distributed some of the best-known brands in the beverage business.
In 1993, Ed Maletis, grandson of Chris Maletis, Sr., acquired the rights to the Miller Brewing product lines for the Portland market. Adding Miller to the existing craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverage portfolio of the family-owned Maletis Beverage enabled expanded beverage distributing throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Mt. Hood Beverage
Mt. Hood Beverage was originally part of Portland food wholesaler Wadham & Company. This company traces its roots back to the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. Incorporating the Olympia Brewing Company line, it became one of Oregon’s first wholesale distributors of malt beverage products. Later, as Coast Distributors, its distribution grew to include western Oregon and Washington.
In 1990, Dan Agnew and Dick Lytle merged Coast Distributors with United Beverage to create Mt. Hood Beverage Company. Representing Coors Brewing Company, G. Heileman Brewing Company, Pabst Brewing Company, a host of domestic and import breweries, and many brands of wine, Mt. Hood Beverage led Oregon’s beverage industry.
Gold River Distributing
In 1977, the Lytle and Agnew families bought Gold River Distributing, their first wine and beer distributorship. Based in southern Oregon, the company focused on the Blitz, Lucky, and Gallo brands.
Over the next 10 years, the families made additional acquisitions and negotiated the rights to carry the Miller Brewing and Coors product lines. Merging the distributorships under the Gold River name, this beverage distributor claimed more than 50 percent market share of beer and wine sold in the area.
Beverage distributor math… 🤓 Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner! Are you ready?
🍻 Dos Equis Lager Especial
✏️ “A golden pilsner style beer with a nuanced blend of malts and earth tones. Flavorful yet light-tasting and smooth. Balanced composition and clean finish.” ABV: 4.2%
🍸 Tres Agaves Blanco Tequila
✏️ “Smooth on the palate with a subtle complexity, and aromatic notes of citrus and pear native to our Tequila Valley home, this organic tequila is a representation of the time-honored traditions of 100% de agave tequila making, at an exceptional value.”
#columbiadistributing #cincodemayo #dosequis #tresagaves @dosequis @tresagaves
Beverage distributor math… 🤓 Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner! Are you ready?
🍻 Dos Equis Lager Especial
✏️ “A golden pilsner style beer with a nuanced blend of malts and earth tones. Flavorful yet light-tasting and smooth. Balanced composition and clean finish.” ABV: 4.2%
🍸 Tres Agaves Blanco Tequila
✏️ “Smooth on the palate with a subtle complexity, and aromatic notes of citrus and pear native to our Tequila Valley home, this organic tequila is a representation of the time-honored traditions of 100% de agave tequila making, at an exceptional value.”
#columbiadistributing #cincodemayo #dosequis #tresagaves @dosequis @tresagaves
Lone River Bloody Maria in a Can 🍅 Cocktail Recipe
2 Lone River Ranch Water Spicy Hard Seltzers
1 oz blanco tequila
5 oz bloody mary mix
Chili lime seasoning
Garnish on a skewer (optional)
1️⃣ Remove can tops with soft-edge can opener and sip a 1/4 from can.
2️⃣ Combine tequila and bloody mary mix over ice in mixing glass.
3️⃣ Pour tequila mix evenly between cans and (gently) top off with ice.
4️⃣ Insert garnish skewer and sprinkle with chili lime seasoning.
👉 Option to roll top top part of can side in seasoning before removing can top.
🌶️ Lone River Spicy
✏️ “Made with organic agave nectar, a zesty hint of lime, and notes of muddled jalapeño.”
👉 Spicy is part of the Ranch Water Variety Pack, which also includes: Original, Blackberry, and Prickly Pear.
👉 Lone River also has variety packs of their Ranch Rita in Classic, Spicy, Mango, and Blood Orange; and Lemonade Splash in Original, Blueberry, Hot Honey, and Prickly Pear.
We proudly distribute Lone River products throughout Oregon and Washington. Find it locally by visiting their site’s product finder page.
#columbiadistributing #loneriverranchwater #ranchwater @ranchwater
Lone River Bloody Maria in a Can 🍅 Cocktail Recipe
2 Lone River Ranch Water Spicy Hard Seltzers
1 oz blanco tequila
5 oz bloody mary mix
Chili lime seasoning
Garnish on a skewer (optional)
1️⃣ Remove can tops with soft-edge can opener and sip a 1/4 from can.
2️⃣ Combine tequila and bloody mary mix over ice in mixing glass.
3️⃣ Pour tequila mix evenly between cans and (gently) top off with ice.
4️⃣ Insert garnish skewer and sprinkle with chili lime seasoning.
👉 Option to roll top top part of can side in seasoning before removing can top.
🌶️ Lone River Spicy
✏️ “Made with organic agave nectar, a zesty hint of lime, and notes of muddled jalapeño.”
👉 Spicy is part of the Ranch Water Variety Pack, which also includes: Original, Blackberry, and Prickly Pear.
👉 Lone River also has variety packs of their Ranch Rita in Classic, Spicy, Mango, and Blood Orange; and Lemonade Splash in Original, Blueberry, Hot Honey, and Prickly Pear.
We proudly distribute Lone River products throughout Oregon and Washington. Find it locally by visiting their site’s product finder page.
#columbiadistributing #loneriverranchwater #ranchwater @ranchwater
Extra perfection ✨ Enjoy straight from the can or over ice.
🍋🟩 Cayman JackED Margarita
✏️ “At 10% ABV, Cayman Jacked offers vibrant lime essence balanced with the sweet agave nectar.”
🍓 Cayman JackED Strawberry Margarita
✏️ “At 10% ABV, ripe and juicy strawberry stars as the cental flavor complemented well by agave nectar.”
👉 Available in 19.2oz cans only.
🚛 We distribute Cayman Jack products throughout Oregon and Washington. Find it locally by visiting product finder page on Cayman Jack’s site.
#columbiadistributing #caymanjack @caymanjack
Extra perfection ✨ Enjoy straight from the can or over ice.
🍋🟩 Cayman JackED Margarita
✏️ “At 10% ABV, Cayman Jacked offers vibrant lime essence balanced with the sweet agave nectar.”
🍓 Cayman JackED Strawberry Margarita
✏️ “At 10% ABV, ripe and juicy strawberry stars as the cental flavor complemented well by agave nectar.”
👉 Available in 19.2oz cans only.
🚛 We distribute Cayman Jack products throughout Oregon and Washington. Find it locally by visiting product finder page on Cayman Jack’s site.
#columbiadistributing #caymanjack @caymanjack
As our friends at Fremont Brewing note: “Because beer is 95% water, you can’t make great beer without clean water.” 💦🍺💦
🌎 We proudly recognize our brewery partners for their commitment to Washington Wild’s efforts through their Brewshed® Alliance.
💧 Washington Wild Brewshed Alliance
✏️ “Our Brewshed® Members joined the Washington Wild Brewshed® Alliance because they value a wild and green Washington. And they know that protected water upstream leads to quality beer downstream. That’s what we call the Brewshed Connection.”
@wa_wild
@chainlinebrew
@deschutesbrewery
@dru_bru
@fremontbrewing
@georgetownbrewingco
@goodlifebrewing *Alliance Special Partner
@hopworksbeer
@ironhorsebrewery
@metierbrewing
@newbelgium *Alliance Special Partner
@pikebrewing
@silvercitybrewery
#columbiadistributing #earthday2025 #waterconservation #brewshedalliance #WABrewshed
As our friends at Fremont Brewing note: “Because beer is 95% water, you can’t make great beer without clean water.” 💦🍺💦
🌎 We proudly recognize our brewery partners for their commitment to Washington Wild’s efforts through their Brewshed® Alliance.
💧 Washington Wild Brewshed Alliance
✏️ “Our Brewshed® Members joined the Washington Wild Brewshed® Alliance because they value a wild and green Washington. And they know that protected water upstream leads to quality beer downstream. That’s what we call the Brewshed Connection.”
@wa_wild
@chainlinebrew
@deschutesbrewery
@dru_bru
@fremontbrewing
@georgetownbrewingco
@goodlifebrewing *Alliance Special Partner
@hopworksbeer
@ironhorsebrewery
@metierbrewing
@newbelgium *Alliance Special Partner
@pikebrewing
@silvercitybrewery
#columbiadistributing #earthday2025 #waterconservation #brewshedalliance #WABrewshed