USA, MA: River Styx Brewing opened by longtime home-brewing couple in downtown Fitchburg

Longtime home-brewers Scott and Jackie Cullen first had an idea to build their own beer production facility out of their basement. Months into a licensing process, they were denied permitting because the facility would have been located in a living space, Worcester Business Journal reported on August 4.

That step backward has turned out well for Fitchburg-area beer lovers. The couple opened River Styx Brewing last weekend at 166 Boulder Drive in downtown Fitchburg.

"We deliberated and decided to pursue our dream for a taproom and brewery," Jackie Cullen said.

River Styx opened with a four-day long-weekend grand opening, and will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 11 p.m., Fridays from 3 to 11, Saturdays from noon to 11, and Sundays from noon to 8.

The idea for the name came from River Styx Road in Ashburnham, the road the couples takes home each day. They also figured a theme might help patrons to remember the name. River Styx, from Greek mythology, the River Styx is a boundary between the earth and the underworld.

The Fitchburg facility has 12 taps, with a mix of IPAs, stouts, farmhouse ales and a porter, which are available in full servings or as part of six-sample flights. One tap is devoted to nitro cold brew coffee. The taproom doesn't serve food but allows patrons to bring their own.

River Styx isn't yet available in liquor stores, but the brewery serves 32-ounce cans for patrons to bring home. It is also available on tap at Partners Pub at 970 South St. in Fitchburg.

River Styx is part of a growing craft-beer movement in Central Massachusetts in far beyond.

In the past week alone, Walden Woods Brewing announced it'll open in downtown Marlborough, Hudson's Medusa Brewing Company is considering a major expansion into a new nearby building, and Lookout Farm in Natick said it will open a brewery. In Worcester, Wormtown Brewery is also planning a major expansion.

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