E-Malt.com News article: USA, MA: New brewery and taproom coming to Hudson

The Medusa Brewing Company is coming to Hudson, and with it, they’re bringing something new to Massachusetts – a taproom, Wicked Local reported on November 14.

Three friends, Keith Antul of Chelmsford, Tom Sutter of Holden and Keith Sullivan of Worcester, leased the former Aubuchon Hardware building on Main Street in Hudson and plan to open the brewery and taproom this summer.

The Medusa Brewing Company will be the second brewery to open in MetroWest. Jack’s Abby Brewing in Framingham is the other. There are also two brewpubs in Framingham, John Harvard’s and Framingham Beer Works.

The Medusa Brewing Company plans to take advantage of a recent rule change in the Massachusetts Farmers/Brewers License that allows for on-premise sales of full pours of their beers. Previously, breweries could only pour 2-ounce samples of beer.

Taprooms, where breweries pour and sell full glasses of beer but do not sell food, are popular in other parts of the country. Here in Massachusetts currently, Night Shift Brewing in Everett is running a taproom, and Jack’s Abby has gotten town approval to begin serving pints of its beers.

"We originally thought of doing a brewpub, but there’s a lot that goes into it," said Antul. "We really didn’t want a standalone brewery. I travel a lot and I began to see what taprooms offered. We just want to focus our energy on the beer."

The 5,000-square-foot space former Aubuchon building is currently empty, but the trio has big plans. There will be a bar and seating for approximately 100 people. Guests will be allowed to bring food to enjoy while they drink their beer. The only beer that will be available will be Medusa’s.

They plan on having 10 beers on tap at all times, with a lighter beer like a cream ale and a version of Pro-Am Porter on tap most always available. The rest will be rotating. Along with the main brewing system, there will be a 10-gallon test brewing system onsite, as well as a barrel room to age beers in various types of barrels.

They plan to sell most of Medusa’s beers to patrons in the taproom and take-home growlers and half-growlers (64-ounce and 32-ounce bottles). The rest will be distributed to other bars.

When Medusa Brewing Company opens, downtown Hudson will have a nice little triangle of places to grab a craft beer or two. The Horseshoe Pub, 29 South St., has more than 70 beers on tap and is visible from Medusa’s back door. The Rail Trail Flatbread Company, also on Main Street, has a beer-centric menu and is a short walk from both Medusa’s and the Horseshoe.


15 November, 2013