Gadsden Mourns Loss of District 5 Councilman and Back Forty Founder Jason Wilson

Jason Wilson, CEO and founder of Back Forty Beer Co., stands outside the brewery in Gadsden, Ala. (Source: Social Media)

TWLN Staff Writer | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News | Thursday, August 20, 2026

GADSDEN, Ala. — The City of Gadsden is mourning the death of District 5 City Councilman and Back Forty Beer Company founder Jason Wilson, a businessman, entrepreneur and longtime public servant whose influence reached well beyond his hometown and helped shape Alabama’s modern craft beer industry.

Wilson died Wednesday at the age of 46.

According to information shared by his family on his Facebook page, Wilson suffered a heart attack on Aug. 5. His Anniston business, Coldwater Mountain Brewpub, announced a temporary closure Aug. 14 as Wilson’s health remained a concern.

“Sometimes, even the strongest crew can’t keep sailing when the captain is down,” the business stated in announcing the closure. “A ship without its captain and rudder may still drift, but there are moments when the right thing to do is lower the sails, secure the lines, and wait.”

Wilson had publicly addressed health concerns earlier this year. In May, he shared that he was dealing with several health problems, including congestive heart failure, while also expressing his faith and gratitude for those supporting him.

“Regardless of what happens, I want everyone to know that I am in the right place,” Wilson wrote at the time. “I believe that God has a plan for me. I am truly blessed by the number of people who genuinely love me.”

A Legacy That Helped Shape Alabama Craft Beer

Long before becoming a member of the Gadsden City Council, Wilson established himself as a pioneering figure in Alabama’s craft beer industry.

After spending seven years working in logistics for Georgia-Pacific, Wilson founded Back Forty Beer Company in 2009. The company initially began production through Lazy Magnolia Brewing in Kiln, Mississippi, before Wilson eventually established Back Forty’s own brewery in Gadsden inside a former Sears distribution facility.

Wilson previously said the idea for Back Forty developed after seeing the growth of craft beer in Colorado during visits to his brother in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He believed the Deep South — and Alabama in particular — had room for a similar brewing culture rooted in the region’s appreciation for food, drink and community.

The company’s name was itself a reflection of Wilson’s outlook.

The “back forty,” Wilson once explained, represents the most difficult portion of a farm — the land farthest from the house and often the hardest to reach — but also land with tremendous potential because it may have never been harvested.

That philosophy proved fitting for a company launched during the Great Recession, when Alabama’s craft brewing industry was still in its infancy.

Back Forty eventually became one of the most recognizable names in Alabama craft beer.

Its Truck Stop Honey Brown Ale earned a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver in 2010, helping bring national attention to the growing Gadsden brewery. Other well-known varieties followed, including Naked Pig Pale Ale, Freckle Belly IPA and Fence Post Session Ale.

Wilson’s vision extended beyond beer production. Back Forty expanded into food service and other ventures, while additional Back Forty locations later opened in Birmingham and Huntsville.

The brewery also earned national and statewide recognition. Condé Nast Traveler once included Back Forty among its readers’ selections for the best local breweries in the United States, and in 2014, Back Forty was named Small Manufacturer of the Year by the Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network.

Wilson, a 2005 Auburn University graduate, received another major honor in 2015 when Auburn’s Harbert College of Business named him its Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

By that point, Back Forty had grown into the largest brewery in Alabama, and Wilson had also served as president of the Alabama Brewers Guild.

From Entrepreneur to Public Servant

Wilson’s commitment to Gadsden eventually led him from business into public office.

He was elected to the Gadsden City Council in 2018, representing District 5. During his years on the council, he became involved in commercial development, historic preservation, and other efforts aimed at strengthening the city.

He was reelected four years later.

Gadsden City Council President Kent Back, who served alongside Wilson for eight years, remembered him as someone devoted to improving both the city and the lives of its residents.

“Unfortunately, Councilman Wilson passed away yesterday,” Back said.

Back said Wilson “was dedicated to making Gadsden better and improving the lives of others.”

“Even in his final days, Jason continued to give to others through his decision to be an organ donor,” Back said.

Back said Wilson leaves behind “a tremendous legacy of service, a city that he loved deeply, and a void that will be difficult to fill.”

Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford also described Wilson’s death as a tremendous loss for the community.

“This is a huge loss for the City of Gadsden,” Ford said. “Councilman Wilson was a dedicated servant of the people who always had big ideas and could see the possibilities for the city he loved so much.”

Ford said it was a pleasure to work alongside Wilson as the mayor and council worked together to move Gadsden forward.

“His passion for Gadsden and his commitment to its people will not be forgotten,” Ford said. “Our prayers are with Jessica, his family, his friends, and everyone who loved Jason.”

District 5 Seat and Upcoming Election

According to Council President Back, Wilson’s wife, Jessica Wilson, has expressed a willingness to serve the remainder of her husband’s current District 5 term if appointed by the Gadsden City Council.

Back also said that, according to state law, Wilson remains eligible to be elected in the upcoming election. Should Wilson be elected and the council chooses to do so, Back said Jessica Wilson would be willing to serve the term.

Following news of Wilson’s death, two other candidates seeking the District 5 seat, Curtis Fail and Joey Nichols, announced on Facebook that they were withdrawing their names from the ballot in honor of Wilson and out of respect for his family.

Remembering Jason Wilson

Wilson’s legacy in Gadsden spans both entrepreneurship and public service.

He helped build a hometown company into a prominent name within Alabama’s craft brewing industry while later devoting years to representing residents on the Gadsden City Council.

His influence can be seen in the businesses he created, the industry he helped develop, the projects he championed and the community he served.

City officials said Wilson will be deeply missed by fellow council members, city employees, business leaders and residents throughout Gadsden.

The City of Gadsden has extended its condolences to his wife, Jessica, his family, friends and all who knew him, while asking the community to keep the Wilson family in their prayers.

Wilson is being remembered as a husband, entrepreneur, community advocate, councilman and dedicated public servant whose vision for Gadsden and commitment to his hometown left a lasting mark on the community.

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