Back Road Brewing Company, serving up a good time

Two local guys who have lived in Matamoras all their lives had 13 acres of land and a dream of creating a place where people can get away and relax, enjoy good food, craft beer, good music, and have fun with their friends and families. This is what Pat Cordova and his partner Chris Morgan achieved just two years ago when they created the Back Road Brewing Company on Old Milford Road (also known as “The Back Road,” which runs parallel to Route 209) and Route 84.

Cordova said, “The Back Road [brewery] is more than just a physical location, it symbolizes our collective commitment to taking a slower, more intentional path. It’s an invitation to recalibrate our priorities, placing family, friends, food, and music at the forefront of our afternoons and evenings.”

Morgan added, “We’ve done exactly what we set out to do.”

The barn, which houses the brewery, is new, with wooden panels and high ceilings. It is well-lit and spacious. It holds 150 people. They have a staff of 40. There are also rooms for private parties and weddings. “There are private party bookings almost every week,” said Cordova. He and Morgan are building an outside bar and patio to provide more outside space for activities. They sell American food (hot dogs, smash burgers, chicken tenders, etc.). The place features a huge brick oven for hand-made pizza, and they sell about 4,000 wings every Wednesday night. They also provide a large selection of craft beers on tap, including hard cider, but they actually sell more food than beer.

Cordova and Morgan’s business plan is somewhat unusual. They have lots of activities and live music every weekend night with no cover and no minimum. Other activities, such as line dancing or workshops, are also free. Cordova is happiest when he sees kids running around outside playing soccer or baseball while their parents are having a beer or two.

Live music

John Broderson is the talent buyer who reviews and books all the bands for the brewery. He is also the owner of the Milford School of Music. Broderson said, “In 2024 we had 186 days of live music and 77 different bands.” There is a different band each Friday and Saturday night. There is also music on Sunday afternoons. The music is diverse, including country, 80s rock, blues, classic rock, and 70s music.”

They have music that people love to dance to, and they have created a space to support a lot of local musicians. There is also a karaoke band on the last Thursday of each month. While they don’t usually have tribute bands, “Terminal Frost,” a Pink Floyd tribute band, will be playing on April 5. There will also be a big St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 16, with the “Irish Hit Men” from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Line dancing

One of the most successful events at the brewery is the line dancing held on the first Thursday of every month conducted by the Pike Country Dance Club, a mother and son team of Wyatt and Gail Sebring, who is also one of the Pike County auditors.

They demonstrate the steps before each dance and also dance with the group. There are often as many as 30 to 50 dancers of varying ages. They also have a line dancing gig at Jen Murphy on the second Friday of each month starting at 7 p.m. They have been doing this for about two years.

The community

Cordova and Morgan are well known and beloved in the community. They are both on the Westfall Volunteer Fire Department. Cordova is the chief; he is also on the Westfall Planning Board. Their lives and livelihood are intertwined with the community, which is perhaps why they have been so successful in such a short time, especially since neither of them had any experience running a restaurant before. They have created a place for the community to hang out, especially for families.

Morgan said, “The Westfall Township supervisors and the Pike County commissioners have been very supportive, as has Mike Sullivan [the executive director of the Pike County Economic Development Authority]. We are so grateful to the community for their support and patronage, and we don’t ever want to take that for granted.”

Back Road Brewing Co. (248 Old Milford Rd, Milford) is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 12 to 8 p.m. For more information call 570-409-3188 or visit backroadbrewingco.com.