Medusa Brewing Company

My first impression on walking into this tasting room was wondering how they could afford this much space in what seems to be a bustling small-town, downtown area! Hudson MA is already home to the Horseshoe Pub (a favorite, if infrequent, destination) just a block or two away, and now there’s both Medusa and another craft brewery to enjoy as well.

The space is large, multi-roomed, with both a large bar and a number of tables. You can bring-your-own food or order from a limited snacking menu (pretzels, cheeses, sausages) but the main focus is certainly the beer. I was surprised and delighted to see a large and well-balanced list that wasn’t overrun by IPAs — there is absolutely something (and more than one something) for everyone.

Here’s a photo of the drafts from yesterday; I’m going to let you read the descriptions of the four beers in my flight and I’ll just provide impressions:

And here is the flight I had, which I’ll be describing in left-to-right order:

First up was the Verdammt. As much as I enjoyed it, it turned to be my least favorite of the four. For me, it had strong flavors of banana and cloves but with a certain unusual something that I assume was because of the barley vs. wheat choice. Not bad, but the others were so much tastier.

Second was the Squiffy Vicar, a wonderful name! It was spot on as a Best Bitter and I wouldn’t have said no to a pint or two.

Third was my hands-down favorite of the lot, the Moffat 80/-, a Scottish ale that was just fabulous. By the time I finished the flight, I really wished we’d had time to stay longer as I would have loved to sip my way through a pint of this one! If I ever see this on draft anywhere in the state, it will be my first choice for sure.

Finally, the Blighty, an English Porter. I’d put this on a par with the Squiffy Vicar for my enjoyment, and had it not been for the magnificence of the Moffat 80/-, this would have been my choice for a pint, I think.

My only complaint is the same one I have at virtually every pub I’ve been to in the US (with the exception of The Twisted Barrel in Loveland CO and Cornwall’s in Boston) — the music is pumped out to a level where one practically has to shout to be heard across a small table. I’ve often wondered why we think that’s necessary; surely, a more quiet room would encourage talk for those that wish to while allowing those who don’t the opportunity to sip or read in peace. But this little quibble certainly won’t keep me from a return visit to the Medusa the next time I’m near Hudson!