I always enjoyed watching mythology films like Clash of the Titans, and Jason and the Argonauts when I was younger. I've watched them both recently and still get a kick out them. I do like the various plastiscine looking monsters such as the Hydra and Medusa. Whereas Medusa was a high priestess of Athena and had been turned into a gorgon and cursed with asps for hair and golden wings and skin after a particularly unfortunate encounter with Poseidon, the sea-god, and was made famous in Clash of the Titans. Poseidon came across rather helpful instead in a scene in Jason and the Argonauts.
This Medusa ruby red ale from Harper's Brewery is sported on the label as having a mix of chocolate, roasted coffee and fruitless in its aroma, with a smoky coffee and toffee apple taste. On opening I'd certainly agree with the list of aromas, but with a dominance of dark chocolate. This leant to a weightier presence of chocolate malt in the brewing, which can bring out dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavours. On pouring this deep mahogany red almost brown ale, I must admit from its smell I was expecting a much darker colour, even though the label had described it as 'ruby red'.
In taste there was the chocolate malt that gave a quick blast of dark chocolate only to be replaced by a smoky roasted coffee as the malted barley began to overtake my tastebuds. There was then a mild fruity bitterness from the hops followed by a sweetness akin to toffee from the crystal malt. This is certainly a very tasty beer and I'd agree with the lamb or beef roast dinner recommendation on the bottle, but don't forget there is always place for roast pork (… in my belly), especially with the sweet apple fruitiness within the ale. With its references to chocolate and coffee it could also be considered a pudding beer, and could either complement a chocolate fudge cake or a strong cheese board, but don't forget the chaser of port on the side!
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