Want to build a recipe with Belma -

[Redlantern]

I have had a few beers lately with Belma - ranging from the sublime to the "meh". I think that I can get a great beer with it, just not sure of what to pair it with and definitely unsure about how to pair with my current inventory. Huell Mellon and Citra come up a lot, but I do not have those.

it seems to me that a soft, crushable IPA closer to the NEIPA is the way to go with this hop and I do not want to go single hop with it.

So far, I am looking at this for a grain bill for a 5.75 gallon batch

Water profile will leann toward a 3:1 sulfate/chloride ratio.

10 lb 2-row
1.5 lb malted red wheat
1 lb golden naked oats
.5 lb flaked oats

Yeast - WY1318

Hops I have on hand
4 oz Amarillo
4 oz Apollo
4 oz Belma
4 oz Chinook
4 oz Columbus
4 oz Motueka
4 oz x331
1 oz Azacca

I want to bring out the Belma without overwhelming it while still having enough hop flavor - might be a challenge

Have not beersmithed it yet, but leaning toward:

.5 oz apollo @ 60
.5 oz azacca @ 20

1 oz Amariillo @ 5
1 oz belma @ F/O
.5 oz Azacca @ F/O

Hop Stand for 20 min at 160°F
1.5 oz Belma
1 oz Moteuka
.5 oz Chinook

Dryhop 5 days
1.5 oz Belma
1 oz Moteuka
.5 oz CHinook

I find that chinook below isomerization temps gives a decidedly pineapple taste. I hope that goes with the Belma. Cannot see why not.

Any thoughts??

Your help is apprecaited

 

[plazola86]

Just did a single hop NE style IPA with Belma that was a huge let down. I went 250:100 sulfate to chloride and similar grain bill. I used 11 oz total (1 oz 15, 2 oz flameout, 2 oz 180, and 6 oz two stage dry hop) for a 1.063 OG beer and I still got really muted flavor and no aroma from it. Maybe it was just the package that I got but from my experience this hop doesn't throw much flavor or aroma out. Weird when you think that the highlight of this hop is strawberry aroma when strawberry is such a delicate and specific aroma. Maybe ill try the rest I have in a SMASH pale to see if it comes through. I want to hear your experience with it.

 

[Queequeg]

El-dorado or citra would my choice

 

[jessup]

El-dorado or citra would my choice

I will be pairing el Dorado & Belma in my next big IPA. Hope it goes well!!

 

[Upthewazzu]

I just did a Belma belgian with wyeast belgian wit yeast and 4 oz of Belma in a 3gal batch and it's very "meh". Not a bad beer at all but I'd expect a lot more punch from 4oz in a 3gal batch. They were added 1oz at a time: 10min, 1min, whirlpoop, dryhop. Whatever you mix with Belma will more than likely overpower it.

 

[hopmonster2189]

I found Belma to be a nice addition to a beer, but not a feature. It's as you said, "meh". I thought it was very soft and smooth, with a slight strawberry flavor and aroma. It would be very easy to overpower in an IPA.

Motueka is about the only hop on your list I could see not overpowering it. I've never tried x331 but from the descriptions it could also be an option. I feel Belma is more of a blonde ale hop, but good luck!

 

[jessup]

This will be my 5th go around with Belma with mixed results. A friend brewed a strawberry bomb that Im after; so good! Prob go super light on grist with Pils & flaked oats. No crystal malt. Big belma only additions throughout hot side & big dry hop with belma & elDorado to drive home the berryish flavors.

In another recipe I have belma backseat to a heavy Citra Mosaic combo to support with soft fruity flavors.

I liked it better @$5/lb though

 

[standpoint]

I use belma in a honey porter recipe, and it works really well for that.

 

[Upthewazzu]

This will be my 5th go around with Belma with mixed results. A friend brewed a strawberry bomb that Im after; so good!

I've read this about Belma, that it puts off a strawberry or blueberry note. However, In my case I got a lot of grapefruit and about nothing else. I wonder if it varies by year or batch.

 

[elburrogrande]

I am currently planning a blueberry milkshake IPA using Belma and El Dorado or Galaxy!