Belma Hops

[JustLooking]

Has anyone used Belma as a whirlpool hop below 170 degrees? I'm pretty sure it has high myrcene levels, so might contribute a decent amount aroma, but what I don't know is if it's a good or bad contribution.

 

[Starderup]

Agreed. There must be cheaper ways to ship a single pound of hops. Or maybe that's the point: people see that shipping doesn't increase very much with the addition of a second (or third) pound, so they see greater value in ordering more. Brilliant!

I always do at least two pounds, or else it is almost not worth it to me. As for Belma, I am really liking this hop, and if I could get it for $5.00 a pound again, I might use it almost exclusively for bittering hops. 11%! Nice.
Plus, I have done three pale ales with this and the first two were highly praised. I'm thinking this one I put together yesterday is on track to be the same.
BTW, if nobody else has claimed it yet, I got dibs on Belma and Louise Pale Ale®.

 

[masonsjax]

I did an all belma pale with 2 oz hopstand at 150ish. There was almost no aroma in the finished beer. Belma is entirely useless as an aroma hop IMO, unless you want to use a pound per batch. I like it for bittering though. I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately it hasn't lived up to the promises for me.

 

[Terek]

I did an all belma pale with 2 oz hopstand at 150ish. There was almost no aroma in the finished beer. Belma is entirely useless as an aroma hop IMO, unless you want to use a pound per batch. I like it for bittering though. I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately it hasn't lived up to the promises for me.

I use it solely for bittering IPAs. Cheep and adds that ibus. I did a 2 oz belma 60min last night with 3oz chinook at the end. Sample was awsome so I'm excited

 

[AgentHubcap]

I use it solely for bittering IPAs. Cheep and adds that ibus. I did a 2 oz belma 60min last night with 3oz chinook at the end. Sample was awsome so I'm excited

I used 5oz for bittering my RIS. Sample tasted awesome when racking to secondary.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[Starderup]

I did an all belma pale with 2 oz hopstand at 150ish. There was almost no aroma in the finished beer. Belma is entirely useless as an aroma hop IMO, unless you want to use a pound per batch. I like it for bittering though. I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately it hasn't lived up to the promises for me.

I get plenty of flavor and aroma from this hop, and got good feedback from my friends that tried it, and I always tell them not to sugar coat it. I don't understand how our results could be so different.

 

[JustLooking]

I get plenty of flavor and aroma from this hop, and got good feedback from my friends that tried it, and I always tell them not to sugar coat it. I don't understand how our results could be so different.

Would you explain your results a little more? What flavors and aroma did you and your friends get? What was your hop schedule?

What you're saying is promising. It seems like this hop should be excellent at aroma and flavor, but so many brewers here are saying no that I hate to waste a batch if it's not going to produce good beer.

 

[Starderup]

I used an ounce at 30 and another ounce at 10. The flavor and aroma are citrusy and have some tropical fruit/melon elements. It is much different than typical piney Cascade like impressions I get from other hops.
I am not a judge, and definitely not an expert on hop aroma and flavor, but all I know is, both batches of APA I have made with only Belma are ones where my heart sinks when the keg blew. That's how I tell if it is a favorite.
Jeff

 

[DrunkleJon]

I used an ounce at 30 and another ounce at 10. The flavor and aroma are citrusy and have some tropical fruit/melon elements. It is much different than typical piney Cascade like impressions I get from other hops.
I am not a judge, and definitely not an expert on hop aroma and flavor, but all I know is, both batches of APA I have made with only Belma are ones where my heart sinks when the keg blew. That's how I tell if it is a favorite.
Jeff

Weird, when I got them last year they gave me an old bruised strawberry flavor. I did not get piney or tropical or citrus notes at all. If it has changed, are you noticing the same strange head retention boost from it that it gave before?

 

[JonGrafto]

I too got the ripe strawberry aroma and taste... It ended up dying out and fading very quickly. Glad I only bought 1 lb...

 

[jessup]

I don't understand how our results could be so different.

bingo. this thread is riddled with contradiction from person to person. so strange. to each their own

 

[Gus_13]

Anyone try Belma with El Dorado hops?

 

[sailtheargo]

My take on Belma:
I've used the hop now 3 times, twice in IPAs and once in a RIS. Nowhere did I get any strawberry or other fruity flavors from it, but that may be the grain bill talking. I do however find it to be incredibly smooth for bittering, and think it is a perfect compliment to a stout or fruity hoppy beer if used as a bittering component.

 

[eulipion2]

My take on Belma:
I've used the hop now 3 times, twice in IPAs and once in a RIS. Nowhere did I get any strawberry or other fruity flavors from it, but that may be the grain bill talking. I do however find it to be incredibly smooth for bittering, and think it is a perfect compliment to a stout or fruity hoppy beer if used as a bittering component.

That's weird. I have session saison (Belma/Strisselspalt) and session IPA (Belma/Calypso/Citra) recipes, and a couple other folks have posted a Belma cream ale and stout. I get the berry/melon in both the saision and cream ale, and plan to brew the stout next month. The IPA is mostly about Citra and Calypso, but still has a distinct Belma undertone. Either way, it is a great all-around bittering hop.

 

[Gus_13]

I'm going to do Belma and El Dorado in an American Wheat ale. I've got a pound of each so I can definitely do some playing.

 

[phatspade]

I ended up making a blond ale with belma and it turned out better than the blonde ale with cascade. Can definitely say it is a good bittering hop. I did a 2 min addition with belma and it added a pleasant melon aroma.

 

[doublehaul]

I'm going to do Belma and El Dorado in an American Wheat ale. I've got a pound of each so I can definitely do some playing.

Sounds tasty

 

[Gus_13]

Sounds tasty

Hope so. Should play well together.


Santé!

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[Travestian]

I'm going to do Belma and El Dorado in an American Wheat ale. I've got a pound of each so I can definitely do some playing.

I had planned on doing something like this but never had the time or grains to do so. Perhaps this will be my next brew? I've only got 2 oz of El Dorado though. Pale Ale perhaps...

 

[Veritas]

Bumping an old thread here, but I just poured my first draft of "Cornell's Strawberry Blonde," (75% pale malt, 20% wheat malt, 5% carapils, with several late Belma additions and dry hop) and it is amazing! You really get that strawberry/pineapple nose with a surprisingly dry finish. Crisp, clean, refreshing, and confusingly aromatic, I highly recommend brewing with this hop! I stayed neutral with the yeast (US-05). And yes, next time I plan on adding a little El Dorado (another amazing hop) to this recipe. It's delicious!

 

[FreshSafari]

Hops direct is out of Belma.
Makes me sad I wanted to try it out without paying $19/lb.

 

[eulipion2]

Hops direct is out of Belma.
Makes me sad I wanted to try it out without paying $19/lb.

Farmhouse has them for $19/lb, but their shipping is a lot cheaper than HopsDirect. They also have them in 4 oz bags if you don't want a whole pound.

Also, Yakima has them at $17/lb, but also offers 2- and 8-ounce bags as well. Shipping is reasonable with them as well.

 

[FreshSafari]

Farmhouse has them for $19/lb, but their shipping is a lot cheaper than HopsDirect. They also have them in 4 oz bags if you don't want a whole pound.



Also, Yakima has them at $17/lb, but also offers 2- and 8-ounce bags as well. Shipping is reasonable with them as well.

Yeah I saw that! I want a pound or two. Idk maybe I will post a WTB in the market.

 

[day_trippr]

Yeah I saw that! I want a pound or two. Idk maybe I will post a WTB in the market.

You want a pound or two of a hop that has received decidedly mixed reviews without ever having tried it yourownself?

Interesting.

Cheers!

 

[FreshSafari]

You want a pound or two of a hop that has received decidedly mixed reviews without ever having tried it your-own-self?



Interesting.



Cheers!

Cheers! Lol
Yeah want to give this hop a shot in multiple styles and amounts.

 

[AgentHubcap]

I've got a leftover pound that you can have for whatever shipping costs. I'm not a fan of this hop

 

[FreshSafari]

I've got a leftover pound that you can have for whatever shipping costs. I'm not a fan of this hop

Pm'd

 

[ErieShores]

Made an American Wheat with several late hop additions and a three ounce dry hop. While it does provide a snappy bitterness, I found it to be an unremarkable hop overall. Some fruit but no strawberry and very little citrus.

 

[MEPNew2Brew]

I've got a leftover pound that you can have for whatever shipping costs. I'm not a fan of this hop

Funny - $19 per pound for Belma. Glad some folks are liking them and some of my favorite suppliers seem to be making a some nice margin on them.

I bought them 'cause they were cheap 2 (or was it one) year ago. I didn't like them either. Used some for bittering. Tossed the rest.

 

[day_trippr]

I still think "Belma" is a sweaty fat chick...

Cheers!