New Beer Garden at James River Brewing Highlights Scottsville’s Mink Creek

by Amber Ellis, JRA's Watershed Restoration Associate/Volunteer Coordinator

 View of Mink Creek in Winter 2012

Last fall, Chris Kyle with James River Brewing in Scottsville, spoke to Pat Calvert, JRA’s Upper James Riverkeeper, about the brewery’s plan to expand their tasting room outside and wanted JRA’s opinion on how to do it the right way. Mink Creek, a tributary of the James River, flows right behind their building and at the time there was no buffer along their side of the creek. But that was about to change!

  

JRA’s Landscape Architect, Amber Ellis, designed a riparian buffer that incorporated plants that are native to Albemarle County. Not only are they native, but a few of them are even edible! The brewery staff has already made delicious cobbler out of the fruit from the Juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) and Mountain mint (Pycanthemum muticum) is great used as a tea. While natïve Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is not edible, the fruit resembles the fruit of the hops plant that is used to make beer.

   

  The Hophornnbeam tree in its new home with a hedge of Winterberry along the creek and Juneberry in the background. Taken on May 9, 2013 during the installation.

On May 9, 2013, JRA led a group of volunteers, including four of JRA’s RiverRats, brewery staff, and several folks from the community to install the plants. The James was at flood level that day, but Mink Creek was fine.

 Volunteers after a hard day’s work.

This wet and mild summer has been the perfect environment for the plants to get settled in and they are all doing great! JRA developed three educational signs that were installed this summer that teach visitors about native plants, the history of the building, and about the Mink Creek watershed. The beer garden has become a gathering place for the community and brought attention to this wonderful little creek that is tucked behind the buildings in town. There are plans to run a trail along Mink Creek in the future with a small bridge at the beer garden for folks to hop off and take a beer break. People can be found drinking coffee there in the morning and in the evening enjoying a beer with the sounds of live music.

   

Joe-Pye Weed, Black-Eyed Susan, and Mountain mint in full bloom in August 2013.

  

 If you are ever in Scottsville, stop by the James River Brewing Company to enjoy a beer in a beautiful garden along Mink Creek.

Visit the James River Brewing Facebook page for upcoming events and for more photos of the Beer Garden.