Beer Helios Brewing Medusa Black IPA 2020

In an age in which bitterness in IPAs is, for the most part, dying out, Helios’ seasonal Medusa keeps the old ways alive.

With tan, voluminous foam and lacing that lasts, this black IPA certainly hits those dark beer checkpoints that suit the middle of winter so well. The malts bring a roasty bitterness with their cocoa and coffee bean notes. But there’s also significant hop bitterness holding tight to the tingles of pine and tail of citrus.

Imagine grapefruit peel covered in dark chocolate and you won’t be too far off the mark.

Mick Wust