River Mile 38 Brewery sale is underway

Owners of the River Mile 38 Brewery in Cathlamet this week announced its sale to two new area residents.

The new owners will be Rex Czuba and Javier Sanchez.

On behalf of the brewery, Richard Erickson submitted this statement:

"Five years ago, we announced our desire to build a local brewery where friends and family could come together and enjoy great beer, while also giving back to the community through new jobs and tax dollars. We are proud to say that River Mile 38 has accomplished this mission. We have become a fixture in Wahkiakum County, a place where people from all walks of life come together to share a good time with brews made by local craftsmen. Each year, the brewery has grown in sales and the demand upon us to produce more beer and spend more time attending to business has overwhelmed us. We believe the brewery will continue to grow in the future, so we have decided it is time for new, young, energetic management to continue our tradition of great service and great beer.

After a long search and multiple offers, we have found new owners, Rex Czuba and Javier Sanchez. We are very excited to tell our supporters and customers that Rex and Javier have the community in mind and have convinced us that the operations, quality, and service will not only remain, but be improved. We are confident they are the right fit for the brewery and the community. We will stay active in the brewery in an advisory capacity and of course, we will be drinking their beer to make sure the quality continues to be outstanding.

"We are also pleased to announce that Rex and Javier have asked Lacey Vik and Kalani Silva, both longtime residents of the community and original River Mile 38 employees, to manage the daily operations of the brewery as we transition ownership. They have spent time at the brewery listening to suggestions from the employees and customers on how the brewery can improve, and are enthusiastic about the brewery’s future.

"While the sale is still finalizing, we will be holding a party to celebrate the transition on September 29 with music, food, and great beer! We would love for you, our supporters, to join us at the brewery to meet Rex and Javier and welcome them to our Wahkiakum family."