Backwater Brewing Company(Wellington's Pub and Grill)

Backwater Brewing Company (BBC) was established in 1998 and located in Wellington's Pub and Grill. Our brewery was 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.

Family owned and operated, Wellington's BBC is quite literally named after their founding father, Paul Wellington Gardner. Paul built Westgate Bowl in 1961.  Geoff Gardner, CEO of the operation, and one of Paul's four sons along with his brother Chris went to Michigan upon locating a brewery there for sale. Ironically, Michigan was their father's home state. Geoff and Chris hauled the brewery home on a flat bed trailer. An area in Wellington's was now designated as BBC. The following year additional equipment consisting of two fermenters and carbonation tanks from Oregon were added.

Due to the growing popularity of our famous Cat Tail Pale Ale and Rivertown Nut Brown brew we recently outgrew the facility in Wellington's and the brewery was relocated just a few miles away to accomodate the expanding business. The newly named Wenonah Brewing Company is the only active brewery in The Winona area.

Have one of our cold brews and enjoy a great meal while taking in the excitement of our 16 lane bowling alley, Westgate Bowl, visable through our sound proof windows which serve as our back bar. We invite you to stop out and enjoy our festive atmosphere. "Beer, burgers, bowling, and fun since 1961!"