CARSON — For as long as Steve Waters can remember, his family has been brewing beer. He has fond memories of his dad, Jim, storing the six-gallon fermentation jugs in the family bathtub. Today he and his brother, Tom, brew many different kinds of beer out of their production facility in Stevenson. The brothers also manage three satellite brewpubs in Carson, the Pearl District in Portland, and a nearly open pub in Hillsboro.

Backwoods Brewing

Each themed cabin has one bedroom with a full bathroom and gas fireplace, private bedroom and an intimate kitchenette. Visitors can book their stay at Backwoodscabins.com

Growing up in Carson, the Waters family operated a bed and breakfast out of their home. Soon after Steve moved to Portland to study accounting at the University of Portland, they opened a separate location across from the local grocery store on Carson. When the grocery store shuttered, the Waters were persuaded to take over the corner store. When the Waters opened the store, it was only operating at half capacity, leaving the other half empty. By the time parents Jim and Debbie Waters had sold the Carson Luxury Ridge cabins. They used the payout and a loan from the Economic Development Council (EDC) in Skamania County to finance a sort of makeshift brewery. They bought equipment and supplies and got started selling their homemade beer in July 2012. Steve says they couldn’t have started at a more opportune time.

Backwoods Brewing

Over The Rainbow pizza is prepared with red sauce, house smoked pulled pork, sweet onions, pineapple, bacon and jalapeños. This pizza is head brewer Cody Jackson’s go-to lunch selection. 

Backwoods Brewing

Offering your classic pub grub, Backwoods is well-liked for their homemade pizza, tacos, grilled sandwiches, burgers and appetizers. The Carson location is open seven days a week. They’re open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hours differ on weekends.