Medusa
Black Plague Brewing

MedusaMedusa
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From:
Black Plague Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Sweet / Milk Stout
ABV:
8%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 21.47%
Ratings:
15 | reviews: 7
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 27, 2025
Added:
Aug 21, 2020
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Medusa is a deliciously decadent and dangerously seductive Imperial Milk Stout that will stop you in your tracks as you stare deeply into its dark chocolate hue. A mildly sweet maple syrup aroma invites you to come closer… Using continuous recirculation of toasted organic coconut and cacao nibs, we’ve been able to craft a legendary balance of rich chocolate layers accented by hints of toasty coconut. The sumptuous full body gives an indulgent mouthfeel as the bold flavors mesmerize your tastebuds and draw you in for more.

Hops – CTZ
Malts –2 Row, Munich, Chocolate, Roasted Barley
Adjuncts – Cacao nibs, Maple syrup, Toasted coconut
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.85 by Birdlegs from Washington

Oct 27, 2025
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Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Received in a trade with @beersnake ! This pours a beautiful viscous ebony with a dense foamy head. Very subtle milk chocolate aroma. A gorgeous cappuccino flavor. Just the right amount of chocolate, coffee and hops. The perfect mouthfeel, not too thin, no too thick. Nice carbonation. Overall, this is what I dream of Imperial Stouts being!
Feb 08, 2025
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Reviewed by Beersnake from California

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured at fridge temp from a can. Pours a relatively thin (for a stout) black with a bit of light brown head. The nose is maple, chocolate, vanilla, graham cracker, some roasted malts, a nice nutty note. Malty.

The taste follows the nose. Nice and smooth. Chocolate, light maple, some coconut, salted toffee, and malt balls.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied. This isn't the thickest stout, but it's really good and ticks the boxes for me. Nothing is overly dominant or "punch you in the face" strong. The maple is definitely there, as is the cacao and coconut. But they are more background to the stout. Would definitely buy again.
Feb 04, 2025
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Reviewed by L34f30n from California

1.18/5  rDev -69.1%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I made an account just to review this beer. This looked promising. I kept seeing it in the store. Finally decided to purchase this stout and it is hands down the worst beer I’ve ever had in my life. I drink everything from IPA to stouts to sours and this is the only one I would ever describe as DISGUSTING. Imagine steeping socks in hot water for a month.
Nov 22, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by archero from Texas

Oct 07, 2024
 
Rated: 4.56 by Beecham from California

Jun 27, 2024
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Reviewed by SoFistDecayDead from California

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A "Decadent Coconut and Cacao Imperial Milk Stout" would be my summary.

16 oz can (canned 09/14/23) poured into tulip glass

Pours black with a thin tan head, fair amount of lacing on glass. Smell is dominant Coconut and Cacao (not chocolate). Taste very much follows the nose. Strong yet smooth Shredded Coconut underlined by Cacao nibs, with very very subtle maple syrup to round out the finish. Oily, sweet, and full bodied with minimal carbonation. Tasting notes increasing in presence as the beer warms.

Would recommend to people who have spent questionable amounts of money in health food stores yet enjoy stouts. Would not recommend to those looking for coffee presence, hop presence, or purity of style.
Nov 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by minterro from California

May 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.11 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Mar 09, 2023
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Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin

3.37/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours black with a great deal of carbonation and a frothy head that overflowed. Aroma is roasted malt, some chocolate and perhaps some vanilla after the fifth or sixth time sniffing. Taste is non-descript, with chocolate hitting at the very end. Maple is not present in any way that I can tell and coconut, if present, is nearly lost. While drinkable, not quite what the label promised. Not bad, just not quite what I was expecting.
Jan 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by HopBelT from Belgium

Dec 17, 2022
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Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

4.34/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Type: 12-oz. can
Reviewed as: Double Milk / Sweet Stout
Glass: Rip Current 8-oz. beer glass
Price: $2.49
From: Bine & Vine Bottle Shop in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Nov. 4, 2020
Consumed: Dec. 16, 2020
Misc.: No canned on date

Grabbed this on a whim back on Dec. 4. I’m a sucker for milk stouts. Black Plague’s website calls it, “Medusa is a deliciously decadent and dangerously seductive Imperial Milk Stout that will stop you in your tracks as you stare deeply into its dark chocolate hue. A mildly sweet maple syrup aroma invites you to come closer… Using continuous recirculation of toasted organic coconut and cacao nibs, we’ve been able to craft a legendary balance of rich chocolate layers accented by hints of toasty coconut. The sumptuous full body gives an indulgent mouthfeel as the bold flavors mesmerize your tastebuds and draw you in for more. Hops - CTZ | Malts - 2 Row, Munich, Chocolate, Roasted Barley. Adjuncts – Cacao nibs, Maple syrup, Toasted coconut.” Had a good feeling about this one going in.

Poured a pitch black color with four fingers of frothy tan head. Calm setting underneath the head. Outstanding spotty lacing. Very good retention. (Sight - 4.00)

Smelled milk chocolate, toasted coconut, cocoa, maple syrup, roasty malts, chocolate milk and hints of semi-char wood. Not nearly as good from the can. (Smell - 4.25)

First thought on the taste was wow. Damn, even better than the nose. Got toasted coconut, milk chocolate, cacao, chocolate milk, rich maple syrup, roasted barley, some black coffee and hints of semi-char wood. Does not taste like 8 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.50)

Full body. Sticky texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Just an excellent milk stout. Probably underrated it a little bit. (Overall - 4.25)

4.34 | 96 | A
Mar 17, 2021
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Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

4.63/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with a 1 inch tan head, which lasts. Heavy lacing to the end.

Aroma is coffee, chocolate, vanilla, molasses.

Taste is coffee, dark cocoa, molasses, raisins, currants, vanilla.

Full bodied, light carbonation. Slightly sweet, oily finish.

Thick, oily, creamy. An outstanding Imperial Stout!
Feb 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by TallGuyCM from California

Jan 04, 2021
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Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.79/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
smooth malty stout , very enjoyable beer
Aug 21, 2020