Medusa Hops: Picking the Perfect Pint to Pair with This Mythical Ingredient

Reading Time: around 13 min

Imagine stumbling onto a hop variety as enchanting as Medusa herself. Minus the whole turning-you-to-stone business. Medusa hops, with their tantalizing multi-headed cones, are the rock stars of the aroma hop world.

Originating from the Neomexicanus subspecies, they deliver a burst of exotic fruity aromas. The ones that’ll seduce your senses quicker than you can say “another pint, please!” Don’t let the low alpha acids fool you.

These hops pack a punch with their flavor, not their bitterness.

As you reckon with this hoppy Gorgon in your next brewing quest, think about the beer styles that deserve a touch of Medusa’s magic. From IPAs to fruit beers, lagers to Belgian ales, these hops are versatile enough…

…to give each brew its own mystical twist.

Sure, you could go old school and match hops by the book, but where’s the fun in that? Chuck in some Medusa hops and watch your average brew transform into an aromatic elixir that would have Homer rethinking his Odyssey.

Key Takeaways

Medusa hops are an aromatic game-changer with a flair for exotic fruity notes.
They shine in a range of styles from IPAs to Belgians, making any brew mythical.
Embrace the hop’s low bitterness but high flavor to cast a spell on your beer.

The Mythical Origin of Medusa Hops

From the enchanted lands of New Mexico, Medusa hops made quite the entrance into the hop world, and guess what? They’re here to stay. Let’s hop right in!

Ye Olde Hop Breeding: Neomexicanus Subspecies and Its Kin

Picture coming across a hop that looks like it spent time in a mythical garden. That’s Medusa for you, your hop world’s equivalent to finding a unicorn. Medusa, or should I say Multihead hops, belong to the Neomexicanus subspecies of Humulus lupulus.

A group that’s American by birth and rebellious by nature.

Medusa Cheatsheet:

Origin: Rugged mountains of New Mexico, USA
Bred by: Mother Nature herself (with a little help from enterprising growers)
Commercial Farming: Led by the bold folks at CLS Farms
Aroma: A cocktail of guava, melon, apricot, and a twist of citrus
Appearance: Known for its quirky, multiheaded cones – the more the merrier!
Alpha Acid: A mild-mannered hero, low in bitterness

If you’re used to the typical European hops, Medusa will make those seem like plain old beer-flavored beer. Imagine adding a tropical twist to your pint. Medusa hops, like a good meme…

…spread for their unique, fruity personality.

But hey, before you go tossing in handfuls of this bad boy into your kettle, remember. Medusa is not your typical hop. It’s an aroma hop, meaning you let it shine at the end of the boil for a touch of divine aroma.

Perfect for those beer styles where you want to entice the senses with whispers of fruit rather than pummel them with bitterness. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

Medusa Hops by the Numbers and Brewing Values

Brace yourself, because we’re diving headfirst into the geeky, fantastical realm of Medusa hops’ brewing creds.

Main Characteristics

Purpose: Aroma
Aromas: Guava, Melon, Apricot, Citrus
Notes: Tropical, Stone Fruits, Lemon, Lime
Alpha-acids: 3.0% – 5.0% [bitterness added through boiling]
Beta-acids: 5.0% – 6.5% [bitterness added through maturation]
Cohumulone: 35% – 49% of alpha-acids [bitterness profile: low = smooth, high = sharp]
Hops oil breakdown: 0.4 – 0.7 mL / 100g [responsible for flavors and aromas]
- Myrcene: 50% – 55% [resinous, citrus, fruity]
- Humulene: 9% – 18% [noble, woody, spicy]
- Caryophyllene: 13% – 18% [spicy, piney, herbal]
- Farnesene: 1% – 2% [fresh, green, floral]

A Bitter Note: Alpha Acids and Bitterness

Medusa might have been a mean character in mythology, but Medusa hops are actually pretty gentle on the bitterness. You’re looking at alpha acid levels bobbing around 3-5%, which is relatively low. This makes them more of a cool sidekick.

Rather than a terrifying villain in your brewing story.

Alpha Acids: 3-5%
Beta Acids: Typically higher than alpha acids
Co-humulone: Higher levels, meaning you get a sharper bitterness

Tip: Use them late in the brew or for dry hopping to avoid bitterness overpowering the delightful flavors. This is where you can get the most out of this unique, Multihead, hop variety.

Aromatic Alchemy: Profiling Medusa Hops

Ah, the aroma of Medusa hops. It’s like a tropical vacation in a hop cone. We’re talking a cocktail of guava, melon, apricot, and a dash of citrus fruit. Consider them your personal little magicians for creating an olfactory feast.

Total Oils: On the lower end, but you get quite a lot of bang for your hop
Myrcene: A bit on the higher side, providing fruity delight
Humulene & Caryophyllene: Present but not show-stealers
Farnesene: Barely there, so don’t count on it for spice

Key Aromas:

Guava
Melon
Apricot
Citrus Fruit

Remember, Medusa hops are the kind to chat about aromas over bitterness. Add these multi-headed beasts to your brew, and let the aroma do the heavy lifting. It’s all about that flavor profile, my friend. Cheers to brewing something mythical! 🍻

Beer Styles Fit for a Gorgon

Medusa hops are like the captivating gaze of their namesake. Unforgettable and capable of transforming any beer. Here’s where these hops really turn beer into stone-cold masterpieces.

All Kinds of IPAs Perfect for Petrification

American IPA & Double IPA. Gear up for an epic adventure because your American IPAs and Double IPAs are about to get a legen—wait for it—dary update. With low alpha acids, Medusa hops infuse your brew with…

…a mythic medley of guava, melon, and citrus tones.

Aim for that perfect petrifying punch with a late addition to the kettle.

Or conjure up a spellbinding aroma with a dry-hop incantation.

New England IPA: Hazy, juicy, and as mysterious as Medusa’s lair. These hops add that extra oomph to your NEIPAs, taking them from standard fare to a specialty IPA that’ll have everyone talking.
Specialty IPA: Go wild with a hop profile that breaks molds and defies expectations. Medusa will cast its spell on any IPA variant you choose, making each sip a mystical experience.

The Golden Glow of Ales and Pale Ales

Golden Ale: You want a beer that shines like the golden fleece? Say no more! Medusa hops add an extraordinary fruity twist to this already delightful style. Call it liquid sunshine or a goblet of Midas. Either way, it’s bound to enchant.

American Pale Ale: Think of your pale ale as the Perseus to these Gorgon hops. Together, they’re an unstoppable duo. Bringing balance with a twist of unorthodox fruitiness. That’s perfectly suited for sipping whilst plotting heroics.

The Wild Side: Saisons and Wheat Ales

Saison & American Wheat: Unleash the beast with these lighter beer styles that welcome the Medusa hops’ peculiar charm. Picture a wheat field dance party with melons and citrus fruit as the guests of honor, and you’re halfway there.

American Wheat: Let’s get wheat wild. Stir in some Medusa and what do you get? A beer so full of character it might just get its own epic poem.
Saison: Farmhouse funky gets fast friends with fruity flamboyance thanks to Medusa. Brew up a batch and watch the legends engulf your taste buds.

Medusa’s Love Potion: Homebrewing Techniques

When you invite Medusa hops to your homebrew party, get ready for an aroma fiesta that brings guava, melon, apricot, and a hint of citrus to the mix. This low-alpha hop is your ticket to creating a beer.

With a tantalizing flavor profile that’ll have your taste buds doing the samba.

Tips for Brewing with Medusa

Get the Ratio Right: You’ve got Medusa hops on your bench, now it’s game time. Remember, this is an aroma hop, so you’re not looking to bitter up the place. Aim for late additions to the boil to capture that bouquet of fruit flavors.

Without turning your brew into a bitter beast.

Flavor Pairing: Think of Medusa as the ultimate beer whisperer. Its flavors play nice with light and fruity ales. Medusa will make a wheat beer waltz or a pale ale pop with just a hint of tropical sunshine.
Boil Dynamics: If you’re boiling Medusa for aroma, you’re closing the deal in the last 5 to 10 minutes. That’s all it takes to seal in those swanky flavors without losing them to the vapor gods.

Dry Hopping with Medusa

When Timing is Everything: Dry hopping with Medusa is like adding the secret ingredient to your love potion. Do it too early, and that aromatic magic dissipates into thin air. Aim for the last few days of fermentation to give your beer that aromatic embrace.

Quantity and Quality: You don’t need a truckload. About 1-2 or 3 ounces of Medusa for a 5-gallon batch will conjure up the perfect spell. You’re after a whisper of fruit, not a fruit basket landing on your head.
Keep It Clean: Make sure you’re introducing Medusa hops to a sanitized environment. I’m talking about your fermenter here. Any unwanted bacteria, and your love potion might just turn into a frog potion.

Hopping Stages and Amounts

Let’s dive into the world of Medusa hops, or as I like to call them, the “Gorgon of Guava”! This hop variety is a true siren’s call for any brewmaster looking to enchant their brews with an irresistible fruity charm.

First up, let’s talk about a hoppy Pale Ale. This is where Medusa can really let its hair down. Or should I say, snakes? Toss in these bad boys at flameout to capture that intense guava and melon sorcery.

You could go for about 1 to 2 ounces, but who’s counting?

Just make sure you’ve got enough to summon that tropical fruit fiesta in your glass. We already know Medusa delivers a strong flavor and aroma of guava, melon, apricot, and citrus fruit. Which is exactly what you want in a Pale Ale.

Now, let’s not forget about a Saison. Imagine this: a light, peppery Saison with a Medusa dry hop. It’s like putting on a fruit hat and dancing the samba in a field of grain. For this style, dry hopping is your ticket to the full Medusa experience.

About 3 days before you say “au revoir” to your fermenter and “hello” to your keg, throw in about 1 ounce of Medusa. Let it swim around and infuse your brew with peachy, tropical goodness.

Style Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Oz per gallon	Max of Oz per gallon	Min of Oz per batch [5gal]	Max of Oz per batch [5gal]	Average of Oz per gallon
American IPA	Aroma	0.05	0.36	0.27	1.82	0.19
	Bittering	0.06	0.4	0.3	2	0.23
	Dry Hop	0.17	1.6	0.83	8	0.39
	Flavor	0.05	0.4	0.23	2	0.19
	Whirlpool	0.05	0.91	0.23	4.55	0.32
American IPA Total		0.05	1.6	0.23	8	0.3
New England IPA	Aroma	0.06	0.32	0.3	1.59	0.18
	Dry Hop	0.08	1.6	0.38	8	0.33
	Flavor	0.08	0.32	0.38	1.59	0.19
	Hop Stand	0.32	0.91	1.61	4.55	0.62
	Whirlpool	0.08	0.54	0.38	2.69	0.28
New England IPA Total		0.06	1.6	0.3	8	0.29
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.04	0.45	0.22	2.23	0.21
	Bittering	0.08	0.27	0.42	1.36	0.16
	Dry Hop	0.09	0.98	0.45	4.92	0.31
	Flavor	0.08	0.69	0.42	3.47	0.28
	Whirlpool	0.04	1	0.22	5	0.32
American Pale Ale Total		0.04	1	0.22	5	0.27
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.04	0.2	0.18	1	0.14
	Bittering	0.09	0.2	0.45	1	0.16
	Dry Hop	0.18	0.73	0.91	3.64	0.37
	Flavor	0.04	0.2	0.18	1	0.13
	Whirlpool	0.18	0.36	0.91	1.82	0.27
Blonde Ale Total		0.04	0.73	0.18	3.64	0.19
Saison	Aroma	0.13	0.4	0.63	1.98	0.26
	Bittering	0.06	0.3	0.31	1.5	0.18
	Dry Hop	0.13	0.2	0.63	0.99	0.17
	Whirlpool	0.18	0.4	0.9	2	0.31
Saison Total		0.06	0.4	0.31	2	0.22

Style Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Grams per liter	Max of Grams per liter	Min of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Max of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Average of Grams per liter
American IPA	Aroma	0.41	2.72	8.17	54.47	1.46
	Bittering	0.45	3	8.99	59.91	1.71
	Dry Hop	1.25	11.98	24.96	239.65	2.95
	Flavor	0.35	3	6.97	59.91	1.41
	Whirlpool	0.35	6.81	6.97	136.17	2.43
American IPA Total		0.35	11.98	6.97	239.65	2.28
New England IPA	Aroma	0.45	2.39	8.99	47.78	1.32
	Dry Hop	0.58	11.98	11.53	239.65	2.46
	Flavor	0.58	2.39	11.52	47.78	1.4
	Hop Stand	2.42	6.81	48.32	136.17	4.62
	Whirlpool	0.58	4.03	11.52	80.69	2.09
New England IPA Total		0.45	11.98	8.99	239.65	2.19
American Pale Ale	Aroma	0.34	3.33	6.72	66.67	1.55
	Bittering	0.62	2.04	12.48	40.85	1.21
	Dry Hop	0.68	7.37	13.62	147.33	2.32
	Flavor	0.62	5.2	12.48	104.02	2.12
	Whirlpool	0.34	7.49	6.72	149.78	2.38
American Pale Ale Total		0.34	7.49	6.72	149.78	2
Blonde Ale	Aroma	0.27	1.5	5.35	29.96	1.06
	Bittering	0.68	1.5	13.62	29.96	1.23
	Dry Hop	1.36	5.45	27.23	108.93	2.79
	Flavor	0.27	1.5	5.35	29.96	0.95
	Whirlpool	1.36	2.72	27.23	54.47	2.04
Blonde Ale Total		0.27	5.45	5.35	108.93	1.44
Saison	Aroma	0.94	2.96	18.72	59.17	1.91
	Bittering	0.47	2.25	9.36	44.93	1.33
	Dry Hop	0.94	1.48	18.72	29.59	1.28
	Whirlpool	1.35	3	26.92	59.91	2.36
Saison Total		0.47	3	9.36	59.91	1.63

*This data consists of hundreds of thousands of manually input recipes and, despite best efforts, they may contain errors leading to very high max amounts, or be someone’s attempt for experimental brew. You should consider this data more as an overview of how different ingredients were used for different styles to get inspiration. Please do not attempt to add up different lines as it’s all about proportions.

Special Guests: Medusa Among Other Aroma Hops

Buckle up, my friend, because you’re about to meet Medusa, not the stone-cold gorgon, but the party-starter of the hop world. When considering the crowd of aroma hops, Medusa hops are like that one guest who walks in and suddenly…

…the room smells like a tropical vacation.

Aroma Profile: You’d think you’ve been teleported to an exotic fruit stand with Medusa’s aroma. We’re talking a litany of tropical notes here, featuring a main act of guava and melon, with apricot and a citrus fanfare.
- Ready to knock your senses into a fruit frenzy!
Flavor Notes: More than just a pretty aroma, when these hops hit your palate, they pack a punch with strong flavor that’s akin to a fruit cocktail. Minus the little umbrella. Sure, lemon and lime are familiar.
- But Medusa brings them with style and pizzazz.

Now, when you’re mingling in a crowd, you want to stand out, right? Medusa does just that among hop varieties. These hops are not your average backdrop in the beer bouquet; they’re the life of the party.

While other aroma hops might play it cool with subtle whispers of fruitiness…

…Medusa struts in with confidence, boasting a hop profile too tantalizing to ignore.

Looking to tame the Medusa in your brew? No need to turn to stone – I’ve got some serpentine substitutes that’ll have your beer hissing with delight!

First up, the groovy Zappa hops are the top choice for experienced brewers looking to replace Medusa. They’ll add a funky twist to your brew that’ll make Frank proud!

If you’re feeling a bit not-so-wild, why not try Huell Melon or Pacific Gem hops? These beauties can step in for Medusa and add their own unique flair to your beer. It’s like a hop costume party in your fermenter.

Now, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

Medusa is quite the unique character, and finding a perfect match can be tricky. But hey, that’s what makes brewing an adventure, right? You might need to experiment a bit to find your perfect substitute, but isn’t that half the fun?

So, if you’re brewing up a storm and need a tropical twist with attitude, you call on Medusa. Whether it’s a NEIPA or a hoppy Blonde, splash in some Medusa hops and your taste buds will thank you for the unforgettable shindig.

And remember, the more the merrier! Let Medusa mingle with the likes of El Dorado to turn that brew into a tropical hop fiesta. Cheers to that!

Hoplite Warriors: Mixing Medusa with Other Hops

Ah, so you’ve stumbled upon the legendary Medusa hops. Also cheekily known in the brewing colosseum as MultiHead, due to their complex flavor profile. Don’t worry, unlike its Gorgon namesake, it won’t turn you to stone.

But it might petrify your taste buds with delight!

When it comes to hop varieties, let’s stack Medusa against the industry heavyweights. Picture this. If Medusa hops were a hoplite warrior, they would be the ones relatively new to the battlefield but armed to the teeth with fruity aromas.

You know, those intense guava, melon, apricot, and citrus notes…

…that ambush your senses like a hoppy sneak attack.

Hop Variety	Aroma Profile	Best For
Medusa	Guava, melon, apricot, citrus	Ales needing a fruity kick
Warrior	Neutral, resinous, spicy	Bittering in IPAs and stouts

Boldly, Medusa hops walk into the tavern of other hop varieties with low alpha acids. Swinging their aroma like a sword but not great for the bittering battle. They leave the high alpha acid content and bittering to the tough guys like Warrior hops.

Those guys punch bitterness into the beer like a spartan spear.

Want to add a zesty twist? Try pairing Medusa with Idaho 7. It’s like adding a splash of pine-scented adventure to your hoppy masterpiece!

For those who like to keep it classic, Cascade makes a great wingman for Medusa. It’s the reliable sidekick that’ll support those intense guava and melon notes without stealing the show.

Remember not to toss Medusa in too early into the brew pot.

Hit it at the late boil or dry hopping to pull out its aromatic secrets. With Medusa, you’re drafting an aroma artisan, not a bitter brute. It’ll make your beer sing a fruit-filled symphony that would make the gods put down their nectar.

Although, you supposedly can brew a kick ass Single Hop with it.

Anyway, if you’re brewing an IPA, pale ale, or any style that craves a bouquet of fruit with a side of mythology, call on the power of Medusa. Just don’t lose your head in the process!

Damian

A lifelong learner, hop enthusiast and a lover of the state of extreme exhaustion.

Finance Analyst in the Investment Bank and co-founder of hopsmatcher.com