Spotty Dog Books & Ale

One of the Hudson traditions is this bookstore. First stop to get my vacation read and a pint. Tons of great books plus emphasis on local and art and just causes. Great art supply in the back.

Not my idea of a good mix. Enterprising concept and definitely busy, so my opinion is not cosmopolitan enough. Being 73 might have something to do with that. Few places to sit, unless you are already at the bar. Nice art supply section in the back. Bathroom is very well kept.

I could sit here all afternoon drinking beer and reading. There’s a bar inside with an assortment of beer and wine. And I thought it was nice to see others sipping pints and reading too. I’ve never been to a bar/bookstore, and I think this is a lovely pairing. There’s a variety of books of all categories, so you’re sure to find something to take with you.

Like some of the others, I found the bartender would rather have been somewhere else. Stopped in for a beer and a book and couldn’t have felt more unwelcome. I can overlook the lighting as it is a bookstore and a bar. Business needs a better barkeep

Visited a couple times in the afternoon, during the week. A great spot. Probably the best place in town for a variety of beer. This place is literally a bar within a book shop. It works. They had a solid range on keg, around a dozen beers and ciders, plus another 10+ in cans. Good prices. Friendly enough service. Convenient location, right there on the Main Street in the centre of town. A must-visit if you’re in Hudson and want to drink beer on tap. Highly recommended.

Nice little store. Came here for art supplies as advertised. Was able to get most everything. Was planning on staying for a drink but didn't feel very welcoming to sit. No one acknowledged I existed until I went up to the register to pay for the supplies. Maybe it's a place for locals only?

Great place for enjoying a good book and one (or more) of the 12 local brews they've got on tap. I'd highly recommend doing a 4- or 6-beer flight. Service is great, attentive and friendly!

Excellent, loved it!! Perfect book selection in addition to art supplies and other bookstore staples. Great draft selection and service. Are rare but sensible business model!

What a lovely place to spend some time perusing the well chosen Indie bookstore with a deep selection of craft beers and ales plus some ciders. Should you want to sit at the bar, that's very welcoming as are the smattering of tables and mid century modern style seating. It's a very cool place with super kind people who seek intellectualism and wash it all down with real ale.

Needed to kill some time in Hudson and stumbled into Spotty Dog. I couldn't have found a better way to pass a couple hours - great options on tap, every book seemed like it deserved its spot on the shelf, and I WILL be back to purchase all the puzzles. The art supplies section contained about 50% craft kits for kids that were neat enough to consider getting for adult friends and 50% drawing/painting supplies. Not sure what I expected from that part of the shop but still left with a couple post-consumer notebooks. My favorite thing about this place is that there's space for everyone - plenty of seating for people who just want to drink at the bar, and plenty of browsing for those who are just looking for a really good read. If you like to do both, you'll have no need to make other afternoon plans.

A vibrant and welcoming place in Hudson! We just came to browse their books and other items and didn't have any beverages. Purchased some really fun stickers as gifts and for the car bumper!

Favorite spot in Hudson!! Book store - bar - art supply shop! What more could you ask for!! Grab a spot in the front with a beer and a book and enjoy the afternoon sun streaming in the windows. Small but super selection of books for all ages!

We where there Friday 04/19/24. Love the idea of relaxing reading and having a beer. However, the bartender was so rude. He acted like we bothered him. There where woman at the end of the bar yelling so loud. And he was too busy hanging with these woman instead of telling them to try to be respectful to other people. The entitlement was real! I get it, it's a bar but it is also a bookstore to encourage reading a book and buying a book. Not hooters for entitled people who don't care about anyone else. Go to a regular bar if you want to make a fool out of yourself! The screeching, everyone immediately left!

Awesome place where you can buy a book and have a beer. Or in my case I sat at the bar and drank, while my wife grabbed books/puzzles. Had all types of items and I bought my daughters each a pair of socks. Lots of local beers and wines, which I can't complain about the few I had. The bartender was cool and skillful. Gave solid recommendations. Another woman working the register was very nice and helpful! Wonderful experience, nice place and puts points on the board with field goal!

I love a good drinking spot and I love a book store So, the love for this place is tenfold when you combine the two. Really, every bookstore should double as a watering hole. The books at Spotty Dog were well-curated, just as the beers on tap. Gotta love Hudson's dog-friendly vibes as well. I could amble the bookshelves of this place for hours and not tire. It's relaxed, unpretentious, and a celebration of books and drinks and the humbleness of life. The staff were friendly and never pestered asking if you need help or if you were just browsing. which I was thankful for. It's a must-visit if you're passing by Hudson and a great local business to find gifts and books for yourself. Stop in, relax have a drink and get into it! You won't regret it at all.

Picture this: Books as far as the eye can see. Now, add locally made artisanal beers, ciders, and bar snacks. Put it all together in a beautifully rustic building in just about the cutest town you've ever been to and that's Spotty Dog Books & Ale in Hudson, NY. Since our day trip to Hudson this past fall, my boyfriend and I have made it a point to stop here whenever we're back. Like other reviewers have queried - "Why can't every town have something like this?" It's an ideal locale, centrally located smack dab in the middle of Hudson's appealing business district, and has a wonderful, chummy atmosphere where even if you're an out-of-towner, after a few pints, you'll be rubbing elbows with the locals like you've been there forever. When we came in tonight around 6 PM, I wasn't surprised to find that the place was hopping. Even though it was Valentine's Day, there wasn't that nauseating "couples only" vibe you can sometimes get from places on this commercialized evening. It was chill and cool, and coupled or single, everyone seemed to be having a good time. My boyfriend and I took some time to browse around the eclectic selection of books, including an ample children's section, which has some of the most creative and non mainstream picture books I've ever seen. If you have kids in your life, this is a great place to shop for them! I also loved the selection of cookbooks and food books, and curled up for a bit with a copy of Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential" in a hidden nook behind the bookshelves. Nice and relaxing! We had a pre-dinner cocktail here with a bit of a twist - they are running a fun incentive here for Valentine's Day where you pre-buy a drink for your friend or loved one and they put it on a card behind the bar, and when the recipient comes in, they can be pleasantly surprised and redeem it. I snuck away from my boyfriend, who was easily distracted by the HP Lovecraft books, and bought him a hard cider coupon, which the bartender posted behind the bar. I later lured him over and he found it, and was delighted to have a small treat - a glass of locally brewed hard cider. I had a sip, and it was very dry but fresh tasting. I'd order it again. They have tons of quirky locally made beers on draft, a highly recommended local kombucha (I'm trying that next time, but I was saving room for dinner), and glass bottled sodas for the teetotalers. This is one of the must-visit spots if you come to Hudson, or find yourself in the surrounding area with some time to kill. After all, what better way to spend an afternoon than surrounded by books and alcohol?

Love the concept. However, the bartender working Christmas Eve was so rude. We had a question about the area. Our two year old was hungry and asked for food recommendations. His response to me asking the closest restaurant was "There are a lot of restaurants.". I then asked does he have any recommendations. He said, "No.". I get working Christmas Eve is not ideal, but you have to have some sort of personality to work in that job. A customer hers the exchange and offered a recommendation. Mind you, the temperature in Hudson was 16 degrees we only asked to keep our son from being too cold walking around. it was just a disappointing experience.

Books and beer and dogs. Literally my three favorite things in life. I'm sad it's taken me this long to find this a gem.

I was staying in the Hudson area for the week and decided to stop by Spotty Dog. The beer, Saki, and other libations were great. The staff was incredibly friendly and engaging. Though this was my first time at this establishment I was immediately made to feel right at home. When back in the area up from NYC, Spotty Dog will be my go to spot!

Good beer and a good book. This is a very unique place where a book store sells beer! So grab a pint and chug it down with a book in hand! Beware tho a few beers might make them words blurry! Kids books are towards the back. There are even old puzzle and board games.

Was really rooting for this place. This is my first yelp review ever. Walked in and picked out a few books I was going to buy then decided to sit at the bar and get a beer. The "bartender" was chillin behind the completely empty bar creating beer selection signs with jelly pens and did not acknowledge my existence. After about 5 minutes, a different employee approached me and said "he will be with you in a minute." 10 minutes went by with this dude sitting right in front of my face. Not a word. Not a glance. So I left my books and walked out.

They have figured out the formula! Lots of great books mostly new and some used; lots of beer and a few munches; and in the back, art supplies and stuff for kids. The place is always packed and they do manage to sell quite a few books as well. Frequent readings, songfests and game nights. A Hudson institution, not to be missed.

Spotty Dog is such a cozy, unique place to stop for a book browse and a beer (or wine, but beer was more alliterative!) They have a great selection of books and a better selection of beverages. My husband and I hung out here for a couple of rounds and played Trivial Pursuit and it made for a great afternoon. Afterwards, he bought a book and I bought a few art supplies. We would definitely return!

I was looking for a place with wifi to get some work done. The idea of a bar and book store was intriguing. Good selection of beers, though they seemed to be running out, might have been since it was early on a Friday. Plenty of space to set up a laptop on the bar and they have fast wifi. People watching was an added bonus.

This unique stop has some of the most interesting books and a wonderful beer selection. Definitely worth the trip if you're in the area!

I don't understand how this bookshop + bar isn't in every town. It was a great place to hang out for awhile. Fabulous selection of books - perfectly curated. I wanted to purchase almost everything I picked up. They also had a small selection of gifts and children's books. Great selection of beers and they also serve wine.

The local brew was *not bad at all* (The CH Evans), the bar itself is both old school but brewpubish enough to not feel clubby, and there are just enough books in the tiny bookstore portion to provide some browing amusements. Above average small children's section. The art supplies in the back are fairly standard and probably won't make professionals or serious amateurs write home about the place, but for casual users of art stuff and the odd emergency birthday party run for the kids, there were some interesting bits and pieces. Major props for the 1880's fire house rehab (enjoy the ceiling, which cannot be original but perhaps it is), and if you can find a lounge spot in the front, you can do what I like to do at those dress-in-black all-day coffee houses, which is drink beer and read a book. I really do not like Dalmatians, even though I'm a dog person, so you know the place is decent if I was willing to get past that.

A beautiful bookstore with everything you could want from new best sellers to social/political nonfiction to a great children's section. In the back there's also a whole section of art supplies and notebooks. The staff are super knowledgeable about the books and can make recommendations. Plus of course there's a bar where you can get local beer on tap while you shop or read!

Books...and beer. A good idea if ever there was. Now I will say trivia nights are very crowded. If you're just taking your kids for the books part, expect a bit of a claustrophobic browsing experience. Checking out your book purchases on those nights can also be a bit challenging, as usually the book cashier is also tending the bar. But, books and beer! This is a cool little spot and we like it very much.

Weird snotty vibe, feels cliquey--staff makes you feel like you're doing them a favor, like you're interrupting them, etc...great bookstore, it's too bad. There's a brunette woman who's very friendly; hang onto her with both hands because she's the only friendly one in the bunch!

It's places like this that make me question if I should start believing in God, because clearly there had to be some divine intervention to make something as incredible as an ale house and book store. I mean, it's like someone asked me what I dream about and then made it come true - alcohol and books in the same place. From the front doors, it looks like any old ale house, with wooden tables, mismatched chairs and a couch stuffed in the corner spotted with splash over from craft beers. There's a bar along the right wall with crooked wooden stools and an assortment of fine beers on tap. Then you move onto the bookshelves, curated with staff picks and local favorites. I ordered a cool lager and set my son loose in the small children's selection while I sipped my beer and perused the adult titles. I didn't order any snacks, but I did see that they had some. I could have easily parked my ass on the couch in the corner, drank beer, ate cheese sticks and read books all day...no, probably for a month. Or until they decided to kick me out. We don't live in town, but when I come back, this is going to be my first stop, and I might have to be dragged out of there kicking and screaming.

Good beer not so friendly bartender. Like another reviewer posted, this place feels a little snotty without justification.

What a seriously cool place. Tiny little independent bookstore with a bar full of eclectic gifts. Want a book full advice from a unicorn on how to live a happy life? They've got that. Or how about t-shirts with famous book covers? Ditto. Seriously a great place.

We stopped by to buy books and loved the aesthetic and book selection (we bought a few kids books) but the customer service wasn't great. The person working was very dismissive and sort of rude when we asked where books were located. I love supporting local bookstores though and really enjoyed perusing the books. We didn't get a drink but loved the idea of stopping to grab a beer.

Love the concept. Great selection of beer for beer flights, and it was fun browsing titles and listening to their selection of music. I could read at the bar for hours, but I was shocked when I saw the server speaking to a customer with a toothbrush and a foam coming out from her mouth and talking about her waxing experience. I would not want a server practicing her personal hygiene behind the counter while pouring customers wine and ale. It is a neighborhood bookstore cafe, but one should not treat the bar counter like her own home.

A bookstore that serves beer. Why has this not been thought of?!?! And why is this not anywhere else besides Upstate? The beer selections is surprisingly large when you think bar/bookstore you probably think a couple of bottled beers as just an after thought. However, their selection is impressive and honestly, don't know how it can be so cheap. They also do growler fills, seriously. I saw a few locals come in with growlers and then leave happily. The only downside during our visit was that since it was over the holidays they didn't expect so many people and so a couple items were off the menu because they ran out of stuff. A good place to sit back with a drink (alcoholic or non) relax and maybe pick up a book for your trip.

Neat little book and bar shop. I stop here every time I'm in Hudson. They always have a great selection of books.

LOVED this spot! This is as authentic as it gets. There were locals, music and plenty of books. When we came into the "bar", I instantly felt the local vibe and cozied up at a table. I ordered a glass of hard cider and my friend got a beer. If we had more time before dinner, I could have stayed for hours. It is just that type of place.

What a TREAT! I have made trips from Albany just to stop in here. I had a great time drinking cider and browsing their book selection the last time I was there. Such an awesome concept and execution. When I first stopped in, I was whisked away into bibliophile heaven with a nice peppering of booze-loving on top. The only thing I would have liked better was a little more from the book selection, but I usually just stop in for alcohol.

Cool space and fun business idea, but very poor customer experience. I visited Hudson for the first time last week, and this was one of the few "must go" places for me as I've never been anywhere like it. We did go, but it ended up being an awkward experience. When we entered, no one greeted us; we browsed the New Release and Fiction area for a long time and still no one came by. It was hot and I was too tired to drink so unfortunately we didn't grab a beer while there. We did however each choose a book; mine was a biography of a strange but influential Philadelphian (Dr. Mütter) and my husband got a brand new collection of essays from Chuck Klosterman - signed by the author! When we went to check out, the nearest employee didn't speak to us so I said we'd like to pay and she just told me, "The register is down here." No greeting, no chatting. Luckily my husband realized that she hadn't applied the 50% off discount on my book when she gave us the total. She never apologized for it, just gave an excuse about also having some copies without a discount or something. This was the weirdest part: she just walked away when she was done with the transaction without giving us a receipt. Literally no "Thanks for coming in" or anything at all...it was so awkward. I felt kind of insulted and mostly disappointed because I wanted to go back and hang at the bar, but we had such a bad experiences that we weren't motivated to return. I would still recommend checking this place out to visitors, but I guess set your expectations really low - and to the business itself, I really hope they realize what an asset it would be to have better customer service in such a special kind of business.

Very unwelcoming environment. Cool vibe but was let down by a grumpy bar tender. We sat at the bar with empty glasses all over the counter. We sat at the bar waiting for 5+ minutes as the bartender sat at that end of the bar texting. Eventually my wife walked over to him asking if they were serving. When he asked what we wanted, no smile, no personality. Eventually another women showed up behind the bar with a similar attitude. Bummer - could have been a cool place if it wasn't for the service.

I enjoy this place. It's low key and relaxed. My husband is obsessed with their music selection ( post-rock, ambient, chill songs ). Good beers on tap & a nice book selection. Kind of a local bar meets coffee shop meets book store. The ONLY reason I didn't give 5 stars is that they kind of have a 'too cool' attitude. They're very relaxed, but so relaxed that they don't seem to really care about anything. Kind of that hipsters-that-tolerate-tourists feeling. It's not extreme, it just takes away from the friendly, small town feel of Hudson. Overall, I will continue to come here again and again when we visit.

I really wanted to love this place (it's a great concept), but apparently my friends and I were just not cool enough to get a drink here while musicians were setting up and the place was still pretty empty. The staff apathetically looked at me several times from behind the bar, while drinking their tea, as I waited and waited before finally giving up. I eventually did get to try a hard cider that night, which completely changed my tepid opinion of the beverage- it was great! Also, you gotta hand it to them for carrying an unbeatable selection of micro brews, I just felt like I was imposing on the staff by being there. Maybe things would've been different had I worn a knit cap and some more natural fibers.

I like drinking and reading, even together. However, where the place falls short is not the book selection, or even the beer selection (although some choices are odious, such as the execrable Mother's Milk). It's the atmosphere... there's only one really good place to sit and read. everything else is bar stools or hard wooden chairs. Not exactly, precisely conducive to relaxing and reading. And the music choices? Amateurish and pretentious. Really, the best Beastie Boys song you could administer is "Intergalactic" What could I expect, though, of staff twenty years my junior? They wouldn't know the B-Boy Bouillabaisse if it was their phone's ringtone. So, despite the bad, oft-time really bad music, and lack of great sitting spots, it's a nice idea.

A bar and a bookstore. What more could you ask for? Great place to hang. Check it out.

I really wanted to like this place. It has a lot going for it: it is in a cool location, has a good selection of books, and involves two of my favorite things (books and beer!) However, I sadly left feeling disappointed by the experience. For one thing, the atmosphere felt very exclusive. After browsing for a bit, my boyfriend and I decided to get some beers. Both of us clearly asked for 16 oz. beers one at a time and each time were only given 12 oz. beers, as if we didn't deserve the larger size. We were then encouraged to close our tab. We felt we weren't welcome in the shop and that the bartender wanted us to leave as quickly as possible. When I wanted to buy a book, I stood at the counter waiting to pay for a decently long time while the bartender pointedly ignored me. At one point, he walked up, put money in the cash register right in front of me, then walked away without even acknowledging my presence. Eventually, I felt so embarrassed and uncomfortable that I just put the book back and left without buying anything. I'd like to think that if I went at a time when someone else was working I might have had a better experience, but as it was I left feeling discouraged and bad about myself. Maybe I just wasn't cool enough to shop there?

What happened to your reasonable wine prices for wine drinking locals? Was one of last few places in town. "Sad" as Trump would say.

I wish there were more bookstore/bars in this world! $4 pints, snackies, nice selection of books, wonderfully relaxed atmosphere to lounge around. The only thing I wish for: magazines...

Love this place. Great service, cool idea and beautiful building. Browse books while drinking coffee...OK Browse books while drinking a beer...EXCELLENT! Had a couple of local beers and bought a couple of books...Great Day! I believe this was an old firehouse? It is a cool building.

When I get to heaven, this is where I'm going to spend my days. How can you go wrong? I've never eaten here so I'm reserving a star until I do, but between the books and the awesome beers on tap, the cozy seating by the window, the eclectic clientele and the amazing vibe this gives off I could stay all day. They've got a great selection of books with local interest, unique kid's books and a good selection of new releases.

Books, Beer.. and good music (too) is usually being played at the bar. Plus they have cheese plates and kinishes... The reason why I don't give it 5 stars si because the beer seelction is strong, but not great.. It doesn't have to be great for the 5 stars just closer to great.

Where else can you stop off for an Ale and grab a book off the bookshelf. Last week we were enjoying a fine Ale sitting next to a Hollywood 'A' actress, and no one even noticed. That is incognito.. Love it.

This place is a Hudson Icon ... with beer. I am biased as they keep my three books in stock but it is the nicest place to relax... just a teeny cramped what with the books next to the bar. Reminds me of Kramer Books in Washington DC ... but smaller. Buy a growler and get your beer by the jug!

Spotty Dog is such a unique space. On the one hand, it's just a bookstore. On the other hand, it's more than JUST a bookstore. They have books yes, but they have really cool books. I like the way everything is organized, into categories that actually help me find books. They also have books I haven't found in places like Barnes & Noble. It also feels larger than it actually is because it is long-maybe something people don't normally notice, but I like it! Spotty Dog is also cool because they have a bar. How cool is that?! Coffee AND beer-a fantastic idea! I was there during Hudson's holiday celebration, and this was definitely the place to hang out before the real party began. So many cheerful people! I want to come back again when it isn't so crowded, have a beer and find a good book. I will definitely be back on my next visit to Hudson.

The Spotty Dog is so friendly, warm, welcoming and cozy on a fall or winter night. The beers and bartenders are lovely. I think one time I walked in on them doing some kind of experimental electronic music night, which while it's not really my thing, is welcome in Hudson where there needs to be more of a nightlife. And their books? I always buy one.

This place is great. They have Embark hard cider on tap which is one of my favorites and not easy to find. 12 oz. glass for $5. I was expecting to feel out of place due to the "hipster" vibe but that wasn't the case at all. The bartender was super friendly and attentive as soon as we walked in. It was so cool to browse and drink alcohol at the same time :) Great selection of books too! Once it hit 5 PM the music got louder and lights got dimmer. Definitely not a quiet place to sit and enjoy a book. We went on a Saturday around 4 PM and it was buzzing.

Spotty Dog has been around since before the Brooklyn hipster scene and dozens of new trendy places came to the City of Hudson. It's a cool combination of good beer, books and art supplies! The beer choices are excellent. The book section is not big but its good. What makes Spotty Dog special as most locals will tell you is that it's the epicenter of left wing politics in Hudson. This is where you want to be to catch up on Black Lives Matter the next demonstration, local government issues or to trash talk republicans. There are also open mic nights which are popular. Spotty Dog is worth a visit especially if you are a serious beer drinker who likes books.