I had an interesting back-and-forth with a national beer writer on Twitter recently. He wrote an article about being burned out on trying NEIPAs, saying that he has tried so many poorly made versions of the style that it has killed all enthusiasm to keep sampling more. As a New England-centric beer writer I actually feel the exact opposite, I think more and more local breweries are really nailing the style and I keep finding new top-notch NEIPAs. I actually think a lot of credit goes to the big name breweries in the area that launched the NEIPA revolution, these breweries set a very high bar for the style, and other local breweries that want to compete in the space need to absolutely nail their NEIPAs. A local brewery that has done just that is Medusa brewing in Hudson. One of my favorite things about Medusa is the wide range of beers they make, from Belgians to stouts to lagers, but they were slower in joining the NEIPA movement. Medusa’s flagship hoppy beer is Laser Cat, a delicious DIPA with tons of hop flavor, but is a little more balanced and bitter than most NEIPAs. More recently Medusa has rolled out a rotating group of true-to-style NEIPAs, and it is no surprise to fans of the brewery that they are excellent across the board.One of my personal favorites is definitely Soft Machine, a NEIPA brewed with Galaxy, Citra and Mosaic hops and available on a rotating basis on draft and in 16 oz cans.
Medusa Soft Machine pours very hazy light orange with a solid white head. the aroma features a big burst of fruity hops. These hops lead the flavor too, notes of grapefruit, pineapple and mango along with a very mild and soft bitterness. A solid malt backbone adds balance along with hints of bread dough and cereal. Soft Machine is medium-bodied and very smooth, at 6.9% ABV it is in the range of most NEIPAs. The finish is crisp with a coating of hops lingering on the tongue. This is a top-notch NEIPA, big flavors and aromas with just enough balance to keep it easy drinking and complex. A must try for any hop head. Hoppy Boston score: 4.75/5.
Previous Medusa Reviews:
Medusa Polar Vortex, Medusa Slow Dog, Medusa Bad Omen, Medusa Prosperous and Citra Legacy, Medusa Black Ale Project, Medusa Mesmerist
Hoppy Boston 
