USA, MA: Clover Road Brewing Company to become Ashland’s first brewery

Ashland will soon have its first brewery, one that is familiar to beer drinkers elsewhere in MetroWest, MetroWest Daily News reported on October 30.

Clover Road Brewing Company, which opened two years ago in Hudson, plans a second location in the former Ashland Fire Headquarters at 151 Main St.

"We are opening up a second location and we're measuring the opening date in weeks, not months," said Clover Road co-owner Jon Muldoon. "We're super excited about it."

Muldoon, along with partners Allan Waite and James Wong, opened the brewery in September 2022 at 312 Main St. in Hudson. It replaced Ground Effect Brewing Company, which had closed that summer.

'More experimental beers': As luck would have it, Clover Road Brewing Company opens doors in Hudson

In 2023, Clover Road began pouring beer at the The Corner Spot in Ashland — a place where businesses can "test-drive" their marketability — when Clover Road learned that the downtown fire station would be available. That got the idea in its owners' heads for a second location.

"At this point, we had only been open for six months," Muldoon said. "I drove up and saw this beautiful old building. It's like something you see in a Norman Rockwell painting — it's an old three-bay station."

Planning and remodeling, as well as permitting, have taken several months to make the 1928 building ready to house a brewery.

The taproom will have a similar portfolio of beers at both locations, such as IPAs, pilsners and various special releases. Beer will be brewed in both spots.

But the Ashland location will also make and sell its own wine, Muldoon said. It will offer food such as pretzels and hummus plates, as well as food trucks. Patrons will also be permitted to bring their own.

The Ashland location will have seating for 99. When weather is pleasant, the three bay doors will be opened.

"We want it to be a little different, so there will definitely be some variations," Muldoon said.

Beth Reynolds, Ashland's director of Economic Development and Community Outreach, said the town solicited RFIs (request for information) for those interested in using the former fire station. It received three responses, but only Clover Road followed through.

She believes it will be success.

"The Corner Spot has been a really great incubator for that type of thing," Reynolds said. "We've seen some beer gardens be very successful in that space. We knew there was definitely a need for that. Whenever we have events downtown, there is often beer and wine, and we have hundreds of people seeking it out and I think that will continue with the taproom."

Town Manager Michael Herbert said Clover Road is a perfect addition to a downtown revitalization that includes several other new businesses, such as Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream at 91 Main St. and Crossroads PT & Wellness at 128 Main St.

He noted the town is also working to put all of its utilities underground and has done projects to improve and beautify several areas, including Mill Pond Park and the Riverwalk Trail.

"We certainly see it (Clover Road) as an opportunity to expand what we've already done in downtown," Herbert said.

Muldoon said he and his partners wanted to grow their business, but preferred opening a second location to distributing their beer to stores.

"Physical locations for people to come and gather is important to us," said Muldoon. "It helps us connect with people."

Muldoon said Clover Road strives to make the Hudson taproom more than a place just to grab a beer, and they plan to do the same in Ashland. They host comedy nights, candle making workshops, trivia nights, book clubs and holiday card designing nights.

"We approach it like it's a community center, so there's always activities going on," Muldoon said. "We're very family friendly. If you go to Europe, the bars have play areas for kids. You just need those type of community spaces. You can make good beer, but you have to offer a sense of community to be successful."

30 October, 2024