Rock Hill’s next brewery is a tag team effort. Here’s what beer lovers can expect
Two Rock Hill buddies, bonded by beer, are throwing their hat into the ring that is York County’s brewery scene.
Taylor Hamrick and Nate Mallard are the founders of Three Count Brewing. The wrestling-themed undertaking will go from home brewing to a brew house and taproom next year.
The tag team owners are working through city approvals now to start construction of a 10-barrel brewery on Cherry Road in the the first quarter. The taproom could open next summer. Three Count would transform a property that started as a construction company’s lumber yard and cabinet shop.
“It’s kind of been nothing for the last decade, but an eyesore on Cherry Road,” Mallard said.
After buying property off Dave Lyle Boulevard, the Three Count team found the site at 148 and 150 Cherry Road. It’s across from the large Winthrop University parking lot, between the school and District Three Stadium. Three Count bought the Cherry Road property, which is about half an acre and includes a 5,800-square-foot warehouse.
Three Count will continue a redevelopment trend in Rock Hill. Spots like the Lowenstein Building, The Thread, The Power House and others are seeing the transformation from old city buildings rather than razing them for new construction. The 3,200-square-foot brewery portion won’t take much updating from what’s there now.
“We want to keep it true and keep the buildings that are here, and not wipe it out,” Mallard said.
The taproom will be about 1,000 square feet. So will the outdoor beer garden planned beside it.
Traditional beer options, food
The taproom will have food, but there’s no menu yet. A small kitchen is likely, or a food truck concept could be used.
The beer is further along. There will be standard style lagers and ales in German or other European styles. Mallard describes Hamrick as a “beer traditionalist.”
Three Count lists its recipes online. Hamrick has a garage setup to keep brewing ahead of the opening. It’s been a long process for the Northwestern High School grads, who both went to College of Charleston. That’s where they came together over a shared love of beverages.
Now they’re hoping they can bring more Rock Hill folks to gather around a drink. They’ll tag into a brewing community that’s grown for nearly a decade. The YoCo Brew Trail has more than a dozen breweries across York County. There’s also a distillery, a self-serve taphouse and bottle shops.
“You’ve definitely got a great following and a great atmosphere,” Mallard said.
