Crux Fermentation Project Partners With Columbia Distributing For Reliable Availability
(Bend, OR.) It’s time. The crew at Crux Fermentation Project has met its threshold to self-distribute its limited quantities of experimental, artisan ales. After completing a thoughtful and thorough selection process, Crux is excited to announce its partnership with Columbia Distributing and its newly assembled team focused exclusively on specialty craft beer.
At the heart of Crux’s brewing pursuits are those special artisan beers that are experimental and high-touch. Larry Sidor, Crux Fermentation Project Founder and Brewmaster, expands: “The complexity and nuance of barrel-aged beers like our [BANISHED] Tough Love and [BANISHED] Freakcake are what get us brewers really inspired.” These beers are of limited quantity, and the challenge for Crux has been in effectively reaching a broader geographic area beyond Central Oregon and Portland. “We’re excited to share our [BANISHED] beers with more beer lovers in the northwest along with our crowd favorites such as Outcast IPA and Impasse Saison.”
“We recognize the importance of reaching more quality points of distribution so that discerning craft beer drinkers can more easily find Crux beers— both in bottles and on draft,” said Russell Crecraft, Crux Fermentation Project President. “Columbia [Distributing] has assembled an impressive team of craft aficionados that understand the importance of quality. They get that there is a valuable niche for these special beers— there’s significant alignment behind the vision for Crux’s future.”
The agreement will expand the footprint of Crux in both Oregon and Washington. While not entirely new markets for Crux, Columbia Distributing can support more locations and increase frequency of delivery, two important tasks that Crux could not fulfill on their own. Adds Sidor: “Self-distribution requires a great deal of effort that distracts us from what we’re best at— making beer.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Crux Fermentation Project. Our goal is to offer the world’s best beers to our customers. Crux fills that bill perfectly,” said Gregg Christiansen, CEO of Columbia Distributing. “The addition of Crux to our portfolio enables Columbia to supply beer from the region’s most exciting emerging craft brewery. We look forward to offering our customers the exceptional craft of legendary brewmaster Larry Sidor and his team in Bend,” Mark Walen, President of Columbia Distributing— Oregon.
ABOUT CRUX FERMENTATION PROJECT:
Crux Fermentation Project, established June, 2012, is located at the epicenter of Bend and at the heart of the brewing process. We’ve designed our brewery to allow for non-traditional brewing methods like decoction mashing, open fermentation, oak barrel aging, wild yeast strains and experimental hops. All our beer is bottled and labeled by hand in small batches right at the brewery. Brewmaster Larry Sidor is always in pursuit of the next great beer, whether by reinterpreting a classic style or abandoning it altogether. If you’re in Bend, stop by the Tasting Room at 50 SW Division Street, Bend, Oregon 97702. You can also find Crux at www.cruxfermentation.com, Facebook.com/cruxfermentationproject and Twitter.com/cruxbrew.
Larry Sidor, Crux founder and brewmaster, has been brewing for over 30 years. The former brewmaster of Deschutes Brewery, Larry created memorable beers such as The Abyss, The Dissident, and Red Chair. Experimentation and innovation in brewing has always been Larry’s driving focus which has inspired the design and vision of Crux.
Paul Evers, also a Crux founder, is president and chief creative director at tbd, a branding firm he founded in 1997. The tbd team has worked in the craft beer space for over ten years, creating authentic and innovative branding programs for Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR, Odell Brewing in Fort Collins, CO, 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco, CA and now Crux.
ABOUT COLUMBIA DISTRIBUTING:
Columbia Distributing is one of the nation’s largest beverage wholesalers. They recognize specialty craft requires a distinctive focus in order to deliver what is really important in beer—quality products, timely service, and a genuine concern for their customers’ needs. That’s why Columbia Distributing has created a specialty craft team to deliver craft beer using their nine primary distribution facilities throughout Oregon and Washington. For more information, please visit Columbia Distributing online at www.coldist.com.
