*Bison Brew is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Medusa Hops

Published on

Medusa hops are a low-alpha aroma hop variety in the Neomexicanus subspecies native to New Mexico and Colorado. They are named after their multiheaded cones and are exclusively grown by CLS Farms in Yakima, Washington. Medusa hops have a unique flavor profile characterized by intense guava, melon, apricot, and citrus fruit flavors, along with rustic notes.

They have low alpha levels and are ideal as an aroma hop in IPAs, Pale Ales, and anything that requires intense aromatics. Medusa hops are one of the newest hops on the scene and are a pure, wild, and American variety that was discovered and selectively bred by Todd Bates.

Usage:Aroma
Country of Origin:United States
Hop Growers Code:MED

Where To Buy Medusa Hops

Medusa Hops
Amazon MoreBeer!
Bison Brew is reader supported and may earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase.

Medusa Flavor And Aroma

Medusa is an aroma hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:

citrus

citrus, lemon, lime

peaches

peach, apricot

tropical fruit

melon, guava

Medusa Hop Oil Breakdown

Hop oils can vary from year to year and farm to farm but based on our research, here are the typical values we have seen reported. This information comes from various hop farms, The Hop Aroma Compendium, and For The Love Of Hops.

Alpha Acid % (AA)
Alpha acids are what is isomerized when boiling to create bitterness in beer.
3% – 5%
Beta Acid %
Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds.
5% – 6.5%
Alpha-Beta Ratio
This ratio of alpha acids to beta acids determines how quickly bitterness fades during aging. Lower ratios are common for aromatic varieties.
0:1 – 1:1
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha
Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness.
35% – 49%
Total Oils (mL/100g)
With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds.
0.4mL – 0.7mL
Myrcene
green, resinous
54% – 55%
Humulene
woody, piney
9% – 10%
Caryophyllene
woody
13% – 14%
Farnesene
floral
1% – 2%
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene19% – 23%
Hop Storage Index (HSI)
The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C).
Data Not Available
Hop Storage Index (HSI) RatingData Not Available

Medusa Hop Substitutions

Replacing one hop for another is seldom straightforward but sometimes you don’t have the right hop or the right quantity of hops for the beer you want to make. For those situations, we have made a comprehensive list of hops to substitute on brew day.

These substitutions aren’t perfect as hop chemistry is pretty complex.

We wanted to make this list of substitutions with varietals that are easy to find when possible. For Medusa, we recommend substituting with the following hops:

Beer Styles

For the most part, any hop could have a place in just about any beer style. Based on popular beers, historical usage, and our own preferences, we would recommend using Medusa for IPA, New England IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Golden Ale. That being said, experiment and see what works best for you.

References

https://www.hopslist.com/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/
https://www.brewersassociation.org/
https://www.barthhaasx.com/
https://www.yakimachief.com/
Hieronymus, Stan. For The Love of Hops. Brewers Publications, 2012
The Hop Aroma Compendium. 2012