Hüll Melon, a unique hop variety hailing from Germany, was developed by the Hop Research Institute in Hüll to respond to the craft beer industry’s demand for bold and distinctive flavors. This hop, released in 2012, is a daughter of the well-known Cascade and has quickly gained popularity in Germany and beyond, even replacing some noble-hop acreage.
When it comes to flavor and aroma, Hüll Melon doesn’t disappoint. It features genuinely distinct notes of honeydew melon and strawberry, creating an aroma that stands out. This fruit-forward hop also includes hints of peach tea, creamy yogurt, and herbal-spicy notes such as lemon balm, aniseed, lavender, and geranium.
Hüll Melon’s unique flavor makes it versatile and adaptable to various beer styles. It’s an excellent choice for single-hop pale ales and IPAs but also complements the yeast character of Hefeweizens and Belgian ales. Hüll Melon’s mellow fruit character also works well in summer seasonals or beers featuring Brett fermentation.
| Usage: | Aroma |
| Country of Origin: | Germany |
| Hop Growers Code: | HMN 2009/2/706 |
Where To Buy Huell Melon Hops
Huell Melon Flavor And Aroma
Huell Melon is an aroma hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus
melon, tropical
berry, currant
Huell Melon Hop Oil Breakdown
Hop oils can vary from year to year and farm to farm but based on our research, here are the typical values we have seen reported. This information comes from various hop farms, The Hop Aroma Compendium, and For The Love Of Hops.
| Alpha Acid % (AA) Alpha acids are what is isomerized when boiling to create bitterness in beer. | 6.9% – 7.5% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 7.3% – 7.9% |
| Alpha-Beta Ratio This ratio of alpha acids to beta acids determines how quickly bitterness fades during aging. Lower ratios are common for aromatic varieties. | 1:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 25% – 30% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 0.8mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 36% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 10% – 20% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 5% – 10% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 32% – 50% |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C). | Data Not Available |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Data Not Available |
Huell Melon Hop Substitutions
Replacing one hop for another is seldom straightforward but sometimes you don’t have the right hop or the right quantity of hops for the beer you want to make. For those situations, we have made a comprehensive list of hops to substitute on brew day.
These substitutions aren’t perfect as hop chemistry is pretty complex.
We wanted to make this list of substitutions with varietals that are easy to find when possible. For Huell Melon, we recommend substituting with the following hops:
Beer Styles
For the most part, any hop could have a place in just about any beer style. Based on popular beers, historical usage, and our own preferences, we would recommend using Huell Melon for IPA, New England IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Golden Ale. That being said, experiment and see what works best for you.
References
https://www.hopslist.com/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/
https://www.brewersassociation.org/
https://www.barthhaasx.com/
https://www.yakimachief.com/
Hieronymus, Stan. For The Love of Hops. Brewers Publications, 2012
The Hop Aroma Compendium. 2012
