USA, WA: Backwoods Brewing to begin construction of new brewpub in Ridgefield

Backwoods Brewing, which the Waters family founded in the Columbia River Gorge town of Carson in 2012, has come out of the pandemic hitting its stride, the Oregon Live reported on January 16.

For starters, it will soon begin construction on a third location, a brewpub in Ridgefield. Co-owner Tom Waters said the new location will be just west of Interstate 5, near where a new Costco is planned, as well. It will be on nearly an acre and include ground and mezzanine dining spaces plus an outdoors drinking and dining area.

The food menu will be a bit of a mash-up of the two current Backwoods locations — the pizza from the Carson pub and the burgers, wraps and salads from the Pearl District in Portland. The tentatively named Backwoods Brew Lab will also include a pilot brewhouse — something the brewery has been in need of to develop recipes and small-batch brews it can’t do now in at its big production brewery in Stevenson, Washington.

Tom Waters and his brother, fellow co-owner Chris Waters, said they hope the brewery’s third location will be open by the end of next year, but mid-2024 is probably more realistic. The brothers’ founded the brewery with their parents after their father, homebrewer Jim Waters, taught them how to make beer.

The Waters have also bought 18 acres cater-corner to the original Carson pub, and they plan an eventual new Backwoods pub and production brewery there. That’s a bit down the road, maybe in a couple of years, but the first part of the development — eight rental cabins on the property — is expected to be up and running this spring.

Additionally, Backwoods in December began distributing in Idaho through Scout Distribution.

So it’s full steam ahead for the brewery. On the beer front, Backwoods just released a late winter ale, Comfy Womfy. It’s Backwoods’ classic winter brown ale but with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla added, and while it’s a winter ale, it’s a crisp and light one. It delivers hints of chocolate, caramel and a nutty, malty sweetness with subtle hopping. On a recent visit to the Pearl location, I also really enjoyed the Off-Grid IPA, which is light and bright and citrusy but still delivers just the right amount of malt, pine and dankness.

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