Back Forty Front and Center
Back Forty Beer Company gets its name from the agricultural term that refers to the wildest, most unkempt, rarely visited part of a plot of land. But why Back Forty beer?
Because the “back forty” is unused land it often has the most fertile soil. Prior to 2008, the state of Alabama’s laws restricted would-be brewers from producing and selling high-quality craft beer. When those laws were lifted in 2008, Gadsden’s Jason Wilson and Brewmaster Jamie Ray jumped at the opportunity to make their mark on Alabama’s new and booming beer scene.
Since then, Back Forty has moved to the forefront of Alabama’s craft beer culture with such perennial favorites as Naked Pig Pale Ale and Truck Stop Honey Brown Ale, as well as specialty brews like the Mandarin Chief Imperial Black IPA. Back Forty’s business has grown exponentially in 8 years, and now they are expanding operations to Birmingham.
From the back forty to one of Birmingham’s most visible and vibrant locations, Back Forty’s first satellite location will anchor the redevelopment of the 120,000-square-foot Sloss Docks, which neighbors both the historic Sloss Furnaces and Pepper Place. The redevelopment is a $1.3 million investment to convert a former 6,230-square-foot warehouse into an attraction with up to 30 new jobs. Opening in mid-2018, the new brewery will also feature a restaurant, a beer garden, a stage for live performances, two decks, an outdoor bar, and an indoor bar.
They’ve come a long way from the back forty, and we’re thrilled to have them in Birmingham.
