Drop Bear Brewery of Eugene and Blossom Barn Cidery of the Applegate Valley have launched the Oregon Makers Cooperative, a self-distribution partnership that allows each company to sell the other’s cans and kegs directly to retailers. The goal is to expand reach while keeping sales, margins, and storytelling in the hands of the people who make the beverages.
“No one can tell the story of craft beverages better than the producers themselves,” said Drop Bear Brewery founding brewer David Lehane. “We’re already talking with buyers about our Australian and international-style beers, and now we can also showcase Oregon’s only cidery specializing in perry—hard cider made from pears. That’s a compelling lineup.”
For many small producers, traditional distribution falls short. “It’s incredibly challenging to find a distributor who will consistently support small brands,” said Blossom Barn Cidery co-founder Jeremy Hall. “We don’t have the budget to hire sales staff outside our local area.”
Blossom Barn operates a tasting room in the heart of Applegate Valley wine country, while Drop Bear runs a taproom in south Eugene. While on-site sales remain important, wholesale distribution is critical for moving volume in cans and kegs. Through the cooperative, each producer can focus on production while leveraging the other’s existing sales relationships.
“We can serve accounts in Grants Pass, Medford, and Ashland,” said Blossom Barn co-founder Erin Chaparro, “but we can’t grow pears, make and package cider, and build relationships hours away. David and Lorraine are already calling on accounts in the Willamette Valley and can present our small-batch perries alongside their beers.”
The cooperative model allows the producers to retain roughly one-third more margin than conventional distribution. “Selling a bit more beer at a higher margin can be the difference between breaking even and profitability,” said Drop Bear co-founder Lorraine Lehane.
The launch comes amid ongoing consolidation in the beverage distribution industry. In January, Columbia Distributing announced an agreement to acquire Point Blank Distributing, heightening concerns among small producers about losing shelf space and tap handles to larger brands.
By contrast, the Oregon Makers Cooperative keeps sales in the hands of independent producers invested in quality and authenticity. The founders hope to expand the cooperative to include other non-competing beverage producers—such as wine and mead—creating new distribution opportunities without competing within beverage categories.
Contact: Jeremy Hall, Blossom Barn Cidery (541) 514-2347 jeremyanderin@blossombarncidery.com
David Lehane, Drop Bear Brewery (541) 656-0127 david@dropbearbrewery.com
