Fall makes for the perfect time to venture south of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and explore waterfalls, winding backroads and make a stop for a cold one at Jocassee Valley Brewing near Salem, South Carolina.
Located along the scenic byway of S.C 11, this unassuming roadside spot serves a wide selection of regional craft beers and weekend food trucks. More interestingly, Jocassee Valley Brewing is a hub for some of the region’s best bluegrass and country music jams.
Owners Eddie Martin and his wife, Lynne, both professional musicians themselves, opened Jocassee Valley Brewing after years of traveling to music venues and noting the qualities they liked best.
“We often have people who walk in this door and say, ‘This is just fantastic.’ We’ve accomplished what we set out to do by trying to set up something that we’d like to come to,” Martin said. “We are in a band. We played forever out in places with Appalachian folk. I play the banjo, resonate guitar and regular guitar. She plays the fiddle and mandolin. Our youngest son plays the bass. We still play, we just don’t play as much as we used to, but every cool place we went, we said we need to bring something like this home.”
The small home-style building surrounded by stone walls features a covered stage and patio. It makes for a comfortable spot for travelers to take a break and enjoy some of South Carolina’s many craft beers.
“We looked at some industrial sites, warehouses and things like that, but that’s what everybody does,” Martin said.
“We created a place we like to come to and we like to play. I was tired of playing everywhere else,” his wife added. “We want people to come here and have a good time. We’re a family friendly place. We want children comfortable here.”
The Martins are part of the band Conservation Theory. They were influential in helping preserve about 1,000 acres near Stumphouse Falls in Upstate South Carolina. Since founding the brewery eight years ago, they’ve attracted a bevy of musicians who show up for frequent jam nights.
“Depending on the night, we have a bluegrass jam here. Everybody loves that jam. They say it’s the best jam anywhere,” Martin said. “Our audience is well-versed and they like what we do. We focus on roots music here, bluegrass, blues, jazz, old time, old country. We have singer-songwriter nights here. That’s our focus, too. We wanted and opportunity for people to come and share what they do.”
For motorcyclists, Jocassee Valley Brewing’s proximity to such scenic riding spots as Whitewater Falls, Devil’s Fork State Park and Table Rock make it a convenient stop during rides across the Upstate.
“We have 27 waterfalls right here in this county. Most of them are decent walks to get to,” Martin said.
Joe Rescigno, a recent resident of Greer, moved to South Carolina from New York City. He frequently stops at Jocassee Valley Brewing on excursions aboard his 2016 BMW R1200GS, which he affectionately calls Hildegart, or Hildy for short.
“Right now, I’m drinking a strawberry lemon sour. It’s delicious. The sour is definitely refreshing,” he said while relaxing under the ample covered patio. “We like to come down. There’s always a cool vendor going on.”
Rescigno recounted how he and some friends wished to go to Sliding Rock for an afternoon but didn’t pack any towels. The Martins loaned them some and just trusted they’d return them.
“We went rock sliding all day. Came back, returned the towels and ate and drank some more. They’re great people,” Rescigno said.
Jocassee Valley Brewing offers plenty of entertainment this fall, especially during Oktoberfest, the first weekend of October.
“We have German food and beer. I focus on a full German menu, almost,” Martin said.
— Michael E. Gouge
For more information, visit jocasseevalleybrewing.com
