Belma^® Hops

Discovered as a chance seedling growing right along the side of the picking facility at the Puterbaugh Farms homestead, Belma^® is an elite, family-proprietary variety officially released to the public in 2012 by Hops Direct. Named after the rural road that leads directly to the family's multi-generational Yakima Valley farm, its unique genetic heritage traces back to a lineage of Magnum and the Japanese cultivar Kitamidori. Agronomically, the plant is a vigorous, highly resilient grower that produces clean, uniform yields. Rather than presenting the aggressive, dank, or heavy resinous properties common to many modern Pacific Northwest introductions, Belma^® was specifically selected for its exceptionally smooth brewing utility, giving craft brewers a structurally reliable, dual-purpose workhorse with a remarkably clean agricultural footprint.

The sensory architecture of Belma^® is a remarkably bright, crisp masterclass in pure, unadulterated fruit sweetness, offering a distinctively punchy character that stands out effortlessly in lighter beer styles. The aromatic bouquet opens instantly with a heavy, front-forward saturation of juicy, ripe strawberry and fresh field melon. This signature sweet-berry canopy opens up into a vibrant, multi-dimensional mid-palate defined by diced pineapple, crushed orange slices, and a splash of refreshing grapefruit pulp. Free of any muddy, rustic, or overly sharp pine overtones, Belma^® contributes an incredibly smooth, low-impact bitterness when used early in the boil, but truly shines in late-kettle, whirlpool, or dry-hop additions where its vibrant, clean orchard and berry flavors can completely take center stage.