Scout Distribution and Columbia Distributing’s joint venture, Scout Idaho, announced its launch portfolio today.
The company will begin taking orders in southern Idaho on October 31, with deliveries following on November 1 for the following brands:
- Western Collective (Garden City, Idaho)
- SweetWater Brewing Co. (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Boss Rambler Beer Club (Bend, Oregon)
- Harland Brewing Co. (San Diego, California)
- Coronado Brewing Co. (San Diego, California)
- Great Notion Brewing Co. (Portland, Oregon)
- Backwoods Brewing (Carson, Washington)
- Craftwell Cocktails (Corvallis, Oregon)
- Dru Bru (Snoqualmie Pass, Washington)
- pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River, Oregon)
Scout’s territory for pFriem will exclude seven counties — Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, Latah, Shoshone, Nez Perce, and Clearwater — as the craft brewery has existing distribution agreements in the state.
The launch in northern Idaho will follow on November 28, with deliveries beginning November 29.
Scout and Columbia announced the JV in early September, bringing together the Southern California-focused independent distributor and the largest total beverage wholesaler in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho marked uncharted territory for both companies.
Speaking to Brewbound at the time, Scout CEO Jeff Hansson and Columbia president and CEO Chris Steffanci said Idaho was attractive due to its fast-growing population, with capital city Boise benefiting from the migration of consumers from their core California, Oregon and Washington markets.
Scout Idaho’s goal is to reach 1 million cases in five years. Andrew Phillips, who spent more than 13 years at Anheuser-Busch, last serving as commercial director, is leading Scout Idaho as VP and general manager.