Wellington's Backwater Brewery - Winona's only brewery and smokehouse

Backwater Brewing Company (BBC) is located in Wellington's Pub and Grill. Established in 1988, BBC is the only brewery in Winona. Our brewery is the first to get back involved in a long-lost tradition of breweries in this area. Winona was a once-proud brewing town, hosting eight breweries in its time, all of which closed by 1960. We are one of the only brewpubs in the state that also feature a bowling alley. While most back bars in an establishment feature their brewery, Wellington's back bar features a 16 lane bowling alley visible through sound proof windows which allow the patrons to view the excitement within.

Family owned and operated, Wellington’s BBC is quite literally named after their founding father, Paul Wellington Gardner. Paul built Westgate Bowl in 1961. Brewmaster, Chris Gardner, one of Paul’s 4 son’s, went to brewery school at the Siebel Institute in Chicago. He assures us that this time was spent purely on learning the art. Chris and his brother, Geoff, CEO of the operation went to Michigan upon locating the brewery there for sale. Ironically, Michigan was their father’s home state. Chris and Geoff hauled the brewery home on a flat bed trailer. An area in Wellington’s was now designated as BBC. The kettles from Michigan, which are old soup kettles, each hold forty gallons which are excellent for boiling. The following year additional equipment consisting of two fermenters and carbonation tanks from Oregon were added.

We invite you to come and taste what we think Chris has perfected with one of the following home brewed beers:

CAT TAIL PALE ALE - American style pale ale, copper color with a slight taste of caramel. Definitely a hopppy flavor, rich and creamy
RIVER TOWN NUT BROWN ALE - Best seller. Sweet and malty, slight nut flavor. A great beer for those unfamiliar with dark beers.
BULLHEAD RED ALE - dry and malty. Red color, smooth but with a lot of flavor..
WING DAM WHEAT - Kolsch style. Cloudy color with a smooth finish. Light hops, nice and easy drink.
STEAMBOAT STOUT - Caramel and coffee flavor. Roasted oats used in brewing. Very dark, very malty.
ROOT BEER - Yes, that’s right, Root beer! Absolutely terrific!