HOLLISTON — The owners of Rushford & Sons Brewhouse don’t have any delusions of grandeur — that is, of being a large regional brewery. They're content to be a “hole-in-the-wall” neighborhood bar.
But it will soon be two holes.
The Upton brewery is opening a second location, a taproom in the heart of downtown Holliston at 747 Washington St., co-owner Brian Goodman said.
“The Upton taproom is as big as we want to make it,” said Goodman, who founded the brewery in 2020 with childhood friends Mike Rushford and Eric Martin. “It’s pretty perfect how it is, we don’t want to muck it up. Our vision was to make the perfect, townie hole-in-the-wall bar. When I moved to Holliston in 2021, I felt this was a town that is crying for a hole-in-the-wall place for people to go to.”
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The original Rushford & Sons brewery opened at 8 Grove St. in Upton in December 2020, but due to the ongoing pandemic, the taproom wasn't open to the public until the following year.
Holliston taproom to offer 18 tap lines, soft drinks and snacks
The new Holliston location will have a soft opening on Saturday, Aug. 2, and a full grand opening on Aug. 30.
“We're going to have the same culture as we do in Upton, but it’s a different spot,” said Goodman. “Upton is a garage, it’s like visiting your buddy’s garage, except with cleaner bathrooms. This is more early American — wooden tables, old stools, wood.”
The new taproom will have 18 tap lines, featuring a mix of classic styles such as Leann Rua, an Irish Red ale, or newer styles like Slush, a New England-style hazy IPA. Rushford & Sons' top-selling beer, Bees Kneesn — a blond ale made with honey — and the newest beer, Holliston IPA — a west coast-style IPA — will also be available.
All beer will continue to be brewed in Upton.
Rushford & Sons will also brew its own hard seltzer and offer Storm Along hard cider and wine, as well as soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages, Goodman said.
Holliston Select Board Chairman Benjamin Sparrell said he's looking forward to Rushford & Sons opening in town. He believes it will help other businesses by exposing people to businesses they may not have known about.
“I’m excited to see this new business in Holliston,” Sparrell said. “It’s a little bit different and a little bit out of the norm for the community. I think Holliston has a lot to offer, for both the residents and the people who drive through town.”
Food trucks, live entertainment are on the horizon
The taproom has seating for about 60 customers inside and another 75 outside. Once the brewery gets going, food trucks and live music will be offered.
Rushford & Sons' Holliston taproom will be open from 4-10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Snacks will be offered for sale, but patrons can also bring their own food.
“Obviously, we’re about the beer, but we want to have something for everyone because inside these walls, it’s just about a having a space where everyone can come in and have a drink and laugh,” Goodman said.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.