I can’t lie…I was really hoping this would be a super interesting brewery to write about, including a really intriguing story about how they got their name.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. Don’t get me wrong, Medusa is a really cool brewery! Their taproom has a surprisingly warm industrial vibe and their range of beers available is incredible! We actually went here because my beer-hating cousin suggested it after telling me that even she liked a bunch of their beers!
I would have loved to ask some questions to get a better idea of why the owner went with “Medusa”, why they chose Hudson, MA, etc. but the beertenders clearly had no interest in starting a conversation with us. They were more interested in shooting the shit with their regulars and it took about 15 minutes just for us to be given an opportunity to place an order.
Aside from the less than stellar service, the beer was honestly incredible. I had a flight and tried their Littlebier, Somewhither, Island of Misfit Hops, and Dire Omen and I would have gladly taken them all home.
Littlebier was described as a “table beer”. To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what that means but it was delicious, my fiancé also liked it, and we took a growler home to drink for the Patriots game later in the week. At 4% alcohol it is a great weeknight beverage.
Somewhither is a sour ale brewed with strawberries and apricots. There were two sour ales on the menu and this one was recommended as “less sour, definitely more sweet”…it was good but I would not describe it as sweet in anyway. (6%)
Island of Misfit Hops was kind of panic move for me considering how much I hate hoppy beers and the title alone implies that I wouldn’t like it but meh…what the hell, right? Described as a “hoppy amber rye”, it wasn’t terrible! If you like amber ales but don’t love hoppy beers, try this anyway. You won’t be disappointed (and at 6.9%, does it matter all that much anyway?)
Dire Omen: Oh, my wonderful and dangerous friend…where have you been all my life? Dire Omen is described as a “belgian tripel with cherries, raspberries, and blackberries”. While that sounds like a beer made in heaven, the 10.5% alcohol content made me extremely nervous. I’ve found that once beers hit about 9% you can really start to get that distinct “alcohol” taste…but not with this evil piece of heaven. Dire Omen is kind of like what you would get if you made Blue Moon with berries instead of citrus fruit. Sweet, smooth, delicious, and goes down way too easily. Thank God they limit you to two pours because this will knock you on your ass without you even noticing…
Overall, if you’re just looking for a casual way to spend an afternoon I truly would recommend Medusa Brewing. I just wish the service was a bit better…
Looking for more breweries in Massachusetts to try? Head to:
Redemption Rock Brewing Company