Laser Cat
Medusa Brewing Company

Laser CatLaser Cat
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From:
Medusa Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #892
ABV:
8%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,523
Avg:
4.16 | pDev: 8.41%
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
135
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 16, 2023
Added:
May 05, 2015
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  34
Prepare yourself for a cosmic experience with one of the most preposterous IPAs Earth has to offer! Built from New England-grown 2-row malt, German wheat, and Patagonian crystal malts, this concoction is dry-hopped with absurd amounts of Citra and Nugget, and is loaded with plenty of dense citrus, tropical fruit, and herbal notes to assault your hop-loving senses. Enjoy responsibly, Earthlings!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ichorNet:
Photo of ichorNet
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I've only been to Medusa's taproom once, but I found it to be a pretty fun experience. Not all of the beer on offer was great, but some were outstanding and most were at least well-made with a few interesting ideas. Pretty sure they had a dark saison on tap, for example, which is one of my favorite "red-headed stepchild" beer styles. Anyway, the beer in my glass was on the taplist that day, but it had apparently kicked before we arrived. Luckily, its popularity has translated into a full-blown can release, which also happens to be Medusa's very first! I'll drink to that!

Pours a nice, lightly-hazed lightish/medium amber color with a firm and dense head of eggshell white foam which seems to last and last. Due to the solid clarity on display, I can see intense streams of carbonation rising from the bottom of my glass, which seem to be doing a great job of keeping the head afloat. Lace show seems quite great and consistent, and the legs are very solid, to boot. Overall, this sits very nicely in a glass and feels highly-presentable. Great first impression!

The nose is pretty interesting... it's dank and fairly resinous smelling, with a background element of juicy papaya, apricot and light melon. Some herbal notes, grapefruit and candied citrus round out what seems to be an impressive nose with quite a bit more character than I expected from the Nugget/Citra dry-hop combo. The Citra seems to provide a lot of grassy qualities when combined with the floral and mostly-neutral Nugget. There's a smidgen of caramel in here, which seems to do its job keeping this on the more old-school side of things, though it does lend a nice balance to the proceedings.

Flavor is sharp and surprisingly-woodsy with bright floral and herbal notes melding on the mid-palate with resin, tart and rindlike grapefruit, pomelo and fleshy apricot. There's an almost acidic presence to the flavor profile here, which continues into the finish and presents as a lasting bitter punch closing out each sip with relative dryness. Feel is rather full-bodied with a solid, tongue-tingling carbonation and a decent hit of ethanol in the finish. On the whole, this doesn't quite stand out in the crowded New England pale ale market these days, esp. because it represents a rather "traditional" view of the DIPA among many haze-bombs, but it definitely does the job. I am less in the mood for this kind of thing these days, but it's made quite well and is enjoyable for sure!
Jan 26, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by StrangerTides from New York

Dec 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by strengthdoc from Connecticut

Jul 26, 2023
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Medusa Brewing Co. "Laser Cat"
16 fl. oz. can coded "JA 29 CANNED 03/13/23" and sampled on 07/16/23
$4.99 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: Although it's a bit hazy this doesn't look like an NEIPA to me. Nothing listed on the label either. How is this possible, someone's brewing a non-NEIPA? Just kidding!!! It's a hazy amber-orange in color beneath a full head of densely rocky off-white foam. The aroma is malty with some caramel character, and hoppy with herbal, spicy, citrusy, floral, and lightly piney and resinous notes. I immediately though of Nugget hops and the label bears that out, although it also lists Citra, and while I get some citrus it's not as strong as I'd expect it to be. It's got a pretty good hoppiness to it though for a double or Imperial IPA as most tend more towards the malt. On to the taste then, it very much follows the aroma. There's some additional "dank" character and a twist of lemon on the hops side, and the caramelish malt remains. Those components are nicely rounded, and a solid bitterness backs it. Combined with a little bit of alcohol (it is 8%, right?) it finishes dry despite the maltiness that it has. It lingers with hoppy notes of spiciness, "dankness", herbs, and resinous pine. In the mouth it's medium-full in body and smooth with a gentle caress on the tongue from a fine-bubbled, moderate to median carbonation level. As I'd expected the head held up fairly well and it's left some decent lacing about the glass. This is certainly not the greatest Imperial IPA that I've ever had but I am fond of the use of Nugget hops (no one uses them anymore), and I think the blend with the Citra makes it quite unique. It's fairly well-brewed but more importantly, well put together in terms of formula.
Review #8,688
Jul 16, 2023
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium coppery, golden amber with a somewhat fizzy, one finger white head that dissipates to thick patches with light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus and dank hops, orange, mixed tropical fruit and some catty dankness. Flavor is caramel malt, citrus and tropical fruit hops, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, mango and touches of pine and dankness. Pine develops in the nicely bitter finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess and sharp, overactive carbonation. Very pleased to get a solid West Coast IPA from the New England area. Their blend of Citra and Nugget is quite winning with great finishing bitterness. The caramel malt is somewhat subdued, but adds some interest over pale malt, drier bases. The only drawback is the carbonation, which seemed a bit fizzy on the pour, but drew away from the enjoyment of the flavor. I'd be happy to see a somewhat carbonation tamed version of this again.
Jun 03, 2023
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Served on tap in a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a clear golden orange color with a one finger head of white foam. The head has a good level of retention, fading over time and leaving a decent sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is strongest of a grapefruit and orange smell mixed with a rather strong bready and tropical fruits of tangerine, mango, and pineapple. Other aromas of an herbal and grassy smell as well as a bit of wheat and pine.
Taste – The taste begins with a sweeter citrus flavor of orange and tropical fruits as well as a decent showing of a bready and wheaty taste. At the same time there is a rather strong flavor of grapefruit and pine, with both getting stronger as the taste advances. Other flavors of apricot, peach, and a bit of light alcohol are there as well and with a bit of herb and lemon, leaving one with a rather nice and flavorful taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is slightly thicker and more-chewy with a carbonation level that is rather low. Overall, quite nice for the tastes and the style and makes for a nice sipper.
Overall – A rather nice double making for a good and flavorful sipper. One to try if you have a chance.
May 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by jtbone from Pennsylvania

Feb 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by JohnofUpton from Massachusetts

Dec 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by zotzot from Vermont

Aug 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by DBosco from Massachusetts

Jul 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.17 by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

Jul 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Noelito76 from New York

May 22, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by Roguer from Connecticut

Apr 23, 2022
Photo of Specialmick
Reviewed by Specialmick from Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look...Tan and clear with a frothy white head
Smell...Light citrus hop with some grassy dankness. Only 3 weeks old so I assume it might have been a bit better earlier but not significantly for this style
Taste...a solid frothy sweetness to start. West Coast style for sure with the malty citrus execution with an equitable bitterness. Definitely an imperial IPA start and finish. The dry finish invites more drinks. A small indication of alcohol that I simply ignore .HAHA
Feel...Thin and dangerously slick with some detection of alcohol
Overall...This is a good well executed beer. Not a game changer but a style many will like. I am definitely willing to try more styles from Medusa Brewing. Well made for sure
Mar 31, 2022
 
Rated: 4.16 by Happyyb from New Hampshire

Feb 28, 2022
Photo of 1009
Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
We got this as part of our “if the super bowl was beers” package. Laser Cat, Bengals. You get it. The word and style “Imperial” generally intimidates me and I don’t normal buy this style. That being said, I’m glad I had a reason to grab this. It certainly had that imperial kick, but was highly drinkable. Good balance of that NEIPA juice and West Coast IPA bitterness. It surprised us with how easy it was to drink for being such a gasser in the ABV column. Meow!
Feb 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by smutty33 from Connecticut

Feb 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by rorjets from Connecticut

Jan 22, 2022
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
great hoppy taste from the start to the finish
Nov 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by florisj135 from Virginia

Nov 12, 2021
Laser Cat from Medusa Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 135 ratings