Huell Melon Hops: The German Hop With Aromas of Honeydew

History of Huell Melon Hops

Huell (Hüll) Melon, also sometimes called Hallertau Melon, is part of the same breeding program in Hüll Germany that brought the brewing world Mandarina Bavaria, Polaris, and Hallertau Blanc. The breeding program was headed by Anton Lutz whom has earned the nickname “der Hofenflüsterer” (aka: The Hop Whisperer).

Huell Melon is a daughter of Cascade. The only other known piece of its pedigree is that the male was part of a Huell breeding line. Huell Melon was released in 2012.

This breeding program was the first of its kind (PDF) for the Hop Breeding Institute in Hüll Germany. Before this, the Institute’s main objective was to create varieties in the same vein as the classical noble European varieties or higher alpha-acid bittering varieties.

But, pushed by the craft beer movement and the burgeoning popularity of new and bolder aroma varieties, a new breeding program was launched in 2006.

Huell Melon and the other hops to emerge from this program have bolder, exotic profiles of fruit and citrus, leaning more toward the characteristics of New World hops than the traditional German varieties.

Expectations were well-fulfilled with Huell Melon. It has a profile unlike just about any other hop out there, bringing vivid sensory impressions of honeydew melon, over-ripe strawberry, and hints of apricot.

The land dedicated to Huell Melon is still a very small percentage of the overall hop-farmed land in Germany. In fact, in the year 2016, only 0.7% of all farmland was devoted to this variety. (PDF) But that dedicated piece of the land-pie has steadily grown.

When Huell Melon was first introduced in 2012, it was grown on a mere 14 hectares. By 2016, it had grown to 134 hectares. And, there’s little sign of it slowing down anytime soon.

How To Brew With Huell Melon Hops

The Huell Melon variety is protected under European Plant Variety Rights. This means that rhizomes are not available to those looking to add the variety to their personal hop garden. However, there are plenty of other varieties readily available for the gardener / homebrewer.

If you’re interested in growing your own hops at home, make sure to check out our other hop profiles. You will find quite a few varieties with rhizomes available. However, we would always suggest talking to other local hop gardeners to learn more about which varieties will grow well in your area.

General Characteristics:

Sadly, not much is known about Huell Melon. If you can help fill in some of the blanks here, please leave a comment down below.

• Origin — Germany
• Main Growing Area — Germany
• Growth Rate — No Data Available
• Yield — No Data Available
• Cones — No Data Available
• Maturity — Late
• Susceptible to — No Data Available
• Resistant to — Downy and Powdery Mildew; Tolerant to Wilt Diseases and Aphids
• Ease of Harvest — No Data Available
• Storage — No Data Available

Aroma & Sensory Description:

Huell Melon is known for its distinct notes of summer melon (notably honeydew), ripe strawberries, and mild apricot. It also may bring low whispers of orange, vanilla, Geranium, and fruit tea.

Its bitterness is usually characterized as mild, but still noticeable.

Availability:

Huell Melon hops aren’t too hard to find. Depending on the time of year, you may only find that they are available in pellet form. The land dedicated to this variety is still pretty limited so they may not make it to your local homebrew shop, but can be found online. Supply may also run out faster due to smaller harvests.

Use:

Huell Melon is considered an aroma hop variety. However, it has successfully been used in single-hopped pale ales and even IPAs. Its mellow bittering and noticeable fruit profile make it an ideal choice in beer styles that require a lighter bittering profile. Its profile can also pair nicely in styles with characterful yeast profiles, such as Belgian ales and wheat styles.

The best way to make full use of its unique aroma profile is by including it in later additions, especially as a dry hop.

Can Substitute With / For These Hops:

This is a unique hop and there are no really good substitutes. The varieties listed below may work, but are still a mediocre substitute, at best.

• Calypso (dry-hopping)
• Cascade

Common Beer Styles:

• Belgian Ales
• Hefeweizens
• Saisons
• Blonde Ales
• Wild Ales
• Pale Ales & American IPA (may work especially well in a New England IPA)

Commercial Examples:

To help you gain a better idea of this hop’s aroma and flavor I would recommend you sample as many of these as you can find. This, “research” will deepen your understanding of how Huell Melon works in different beer styles, as well as give you a pretty good idea of how you can use it in your own recipes.

Uses Only Huell Melon:

• Bursted Single Hop Series from El Segundo Brewing Company (USA)
• Melon Smash from Jagged Mountain Brewing Company (USA)
• Hull Melon Single Hop from Whitstable Brewery (UK)
• SHIPA Hull Melon from Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei (Germany)

Uses Huell Melon With Other Hop Varieties:

• Hoppy Märzen from Von Trapp Brewing Company (USA) — Also uses Mandarina Bavaria.
• Old Man Grumpy from Goose Island Brewing company (USA) — Also uses Cascade, Chinook, Mosaic.
• Keller Pils from Summit Brewing Company (USA) — Also uses Tettnang.
• Easy Jack from Firestone Walker Brewing Company (USA) — Also uses Mandarina Bavaria, Mosaic, and a blend of New Zealand hops.
• Hopzeit Autumn IPA from Deschutes Brewing Company (USA) — Also uses Sterling and Herkules (Read our Review).
• Apex from Bear Republic Brewing Company (USA) — Also uses Hallertau Blanc, Ella, and Cascade.

If you have any experience brewing with Huell Melon hops, or have tasted beer that make use of the variety, please share your thoughts with everyone down in the comments below.

Happy Brewing!