Brew Dudes Homebrewing Blog

Hallertau Blanc SMaSH Beer Review & Tasting

On May 20, 2026

We brewed another SMASH beer to figure out what Hallertau Blanc hops bring to a beer. This German hop variety was released in 2012 from the Hop Research Center and is known for white wine characteristics.

For this batch, we kept things simple with a single malt and a single hop. The goal was to isolate the hop character and really understand what Hallertau Blanc contributes in aroma and flavor. We also wanted to see how it compared to other modern hop varieties that lean heavily tropical or citrus-forward.

Hallertau Blanc SMaSH Beer Brewing Process

This was a one gallon SMASH beer using two row malt from Rahr and Hallertau Blanc hops throughout the boil and dry hop schedule.

Recipe

Batch Size:
1 gallon

Water:
2 US gallons of Spring water

Grain Bill:
2 pounds of Rahr 2-Row Malt

Hop Schedule:
Hallertau Blanc hops, 1 ounce total (28 grams)

7 grams at 60 minutes
7 grams at 15 minutes
7 grams at flameout
7 grams dry hop after chilling

Yeast:
3 grams of Safale US-05 dry yeast

What Did We Think?

The aroma immediately gave us white grape and bubble gum notes with some lime-like citrus characteristics. Mike also picked up lychee qualities while I noticed more white wine character as the beer warmed in the glass.

Flavor-wise, the beer leaned bright and crisp with lemon, white grape, citrus rind, and lime zest flavors. The hop had a lighter body and clean finish that worked really well with the pale malt backbone. We also agreed there was a lemongrass quality that sat somewhere between lemon and lime.

Yakima Valley Hops describes Hallertau Blanc as having aromas of white grape, cassis, lemongrass, and grapefruit with a distinctive white wine character. After tasting this beer, we thought the white grape and lemongrass descriptions were especially accurate.

We talked about possible applications for this hop and thought it would work very well in lighter beers. Pilsner-like beers, American wheat beers, and New England Pale Ales all seemed like strong options. We also thought blending it with Citra or tropical New England IPA hops could add an interesting white grape dimension.

In Conclusion, We Conclude

Hallertau Blanc turned out to be a really interesting modern German hop variety. It delivers bright citrus character while adding unique white wine and white grape qualities that stand apart from typical tropical hops.

This hop feels especially suited for lighter-bodied beers where its delicate flavors can shine through cleanly. It also seems like a great blending hop for New England styles where brewers want to add more complexity beyond standard tropical fruit flavors.

Brew ON!

Pale Ale Dry Hopping In Keg Experiment

By John Krochune

On May 13, 2026

In Experiments, Recipes, Videos

In this episode, Mike poured an American Pale Ale and walked through a dry hopping experiment using corny kegs. The beer was brewed as a seasonal pale ale with a focus on hop expression and fermentation performance. Mike wanted to test whether loose dry hops inside a keg fermenter could improve hop character without clogging the dip tube.

This Pale Ale Recipe

This beer used a layered grain bill to build malt complexity while keeping the color restrained.

Batch Size:
3.5 gallons

Water:
50/50 blend of spring water and tap water
Added gypsum and a small amount of magnesium sulfate
Sulfate favored over chloride at roughly a 1.5:1 ratio
Lactic acid added to target mash pH of 5.3

Grain Bill:
74% Raw Two Row Malt
17% Light Munich Malt
7% Low Lovibond Caramel Malt
9% CaraMunich II

Hops:
6 grams of Nugget hops added with 60 minutes left in boil
20 grams of Ekuanot hops added with 10 minutes left in boil
20 grams of Azacca hops added with 10 minutes left in boil
28 grams of Ekuanot added as a dry hop
28 grams of Azacca dry hop added as a dry hop

Yeast:
1 packet of LalBrew BRY-97 dry yeast

Outcomes:
Original Gravity: 1.046
Final Gravity: 1.014
ABV: 4.2%

Notes and Final Thoughts

Mike fermented the beer directly in a keg fermenter with trimmed dip tubes. Instead of using stainless mesh dry hop cylinders, he added two ounces of loose hops directly into the cold crashed beer. The keg was purged with CO2 and allowed to dry hop cold for three days at 37°F. The experiment worked surprisingly well and did not clog the keg transfer.

The conversation also focused heavily on fermentation issues. Mike noticed the beer under-attenuated compared to expectations from BRY-97 yeast. He suspected cooler basement temperatures and dissolved CO2 during fermentation slowed the yeast prematurely. The next round of brewing experiments will focus on improving yeast health and fermentation management.

The finished beer poured a dark gold to light amber color with nearly bright clarity. The aroma leaned toward Pacific Northwest hop character with dank citrus notes and subtle grassy or straw-like aromas. Mike also detected some bread-like malt character from the CaraMunich and Munich malt combination.

Flavor wise, the Nugget hops provided a firm bitterness while the Equinaut and Azacca additions contributed citrus flavors. Both Mike and I picked up pithy orange and clementine-like notes rather than grapefruit or lime. The beer remained highly drinkable despite the slightly higher finishing gravity.

One of the more interesting discussions centered around recipe design. Mike reflected on whether using a more flavorful pale ale malt could simplify the grain bill and eliminate the need for extra Munich additions. Pale ales continue to be one of the best styles for experimenting with hop combinations, malt balances, and fermentation techniques.

BREW ON!

Tips for Sourcing Homebrew Supplies

By John Krochune

On May 6, 2026

In Homebrew Club, Videos

We are often asked about where we buy our homebrewing supplies. People see the beers and equipment on the channel and wonder how we source everything. In this discussion, Mike walked through his approach to buying hops, grain, yeast, and brewing gear. A lot of it comes down to consistency, freshness, and buying smarter over time. We also wanted to point out that you do not need expensive equipment to make great beer. We certainly did not start that way ourselves.

How Mike Sources Brewing Ingredients and Equipment

When it comes to hops, Mike prefers buying larger quantities directly from suppliers like Yakima Valley. He usually buys half pound or one pound quantities for varieties he uses often. For lagers, pale ales, and British beers, he likes keeping dependable hops on hand. Cascade, Amarillo, Nugget, and Citra were all mentioned as examples. He has found that larger packages often perform better than small repackaged one ounce bags from local shops. Freshness and storage conditions make a noticeable difference in hop flavor and aroma.

For grain, Mike likes purchasing base malts in 40 to 50 pound quantities. He discussed previously buying from local maltsters when shipping costs were reasonable. These days, he still buys larger amounts because it helps maintain consistency between batches. He mentioned stocking up on Maris Otter, Pilsner malt, Vienna malt, Munich malt, and American two row. Having larger quantities available also makes spontaneous brew days much easier.

Yeast sourcing has changed quite a bit for Mike over the years. He explained that liquid yeast shipping can be inconsistent, especially during warmer months on the East Coast. Because of that, he now uses dry yeast for most beers. The expanding variety of dry yeast strains has made this much easier. When he visits the local homebrew shop to refill CO2 tanks, he usually grabs several dry yeast packets for future brews.

For equipment, Mike tends to shop online through retailers like MoreBeer. He discussed buying Torpedo kegs, SS Brewtech fermenters, and stainless brewing equipment online because local shops nearby focus more on ingredients than equipment. He also shared the story of buying old corny kegs from a soda company liquidation years ago and still using many of them today.

Final Thoughts

The biggest takeaway from this discussion was not to get discouraged by cost. Mike pointed out that many homebrewers online showcase expensive setups, but simple equipment can still produce excellent beer. Fresh ingredients, smart buying habits, and understanding your process matter much more than flashy gear. Whether you buy hops by the pound or just pick up ingredients batch by batch, consistency and freshness are the keys. Hopefully, this discussion helps newer brewers think through their own sourcing homebrew supplies strategy a little more confidently.

Belhaven Best Scottish Ale Clone Recipe

By John Krochune

On April 29, 2026

In Recipes, Videos

Mike brewed a Scottish-style ale inspired by Belhaven’s Best and his time in Scotland. This batch focused on low ABV, malt-forward character, and easy drinkability. It also marked a one-year reflection on that trip and previous attempts.

Belhaven Best Clone Recipe

Batch Size
3.5 gallons

Grain Bill
86% Golden Promise Malt
7% Viking Cookie Malt
3% Crystal 60 Malt
2.5% Honey Malt
Small amount of Carafa Special II for color adjustment

Hops
30 g of UK Goldings hops for 60 minute boil

Yeast
Wyeast 1728 Scottish Ale Yeast

Mash Schedule
Mash at 152°F for 75 minutes

Fermentation
Room temperature for 2 weeks
Cleared well after a couple weeks in the keg

Original Gravity (OG): 1.038
Final Gravity (FG): 1.013
%ABV: 3.3%

Tasting Notes and Conclusion

In the glass, the beer showed a rocky, mostly white head with great retention. Color leaned toward dark tan, just under copper, matching the intended style. Aroma had light herbal notes from the Goldings and subtle esters. The malt character delivered pale bread notes with a toasted biscuit edge.

Flavor highlighted that biscuit quality with mild caramel and balanced sweetness. The yeast stayed neutral enough to let the malt remain the focus. The only drawback was a slightly stronger earthy hop character than expected.

This batch hit the goal of a low ABV, malt-forward, highly drinkable Scottish ale. The cookie malt added a distinct toasted quality that stood out nicely. The yeast performed quickly and cleanly while still supporting the malt profile.

We would consider experimenting with this yeast in darker UK styles next. This is a great session beer that could work well on cask or even nitro.

Huell Melon Hops SMaSH Beer Tasting & Review

By John Krochune

On April 22, 2026

In Hops, Videos

In this video, we set out to evaluate Huell Melon hops using our standard SMASH beer approach. We wanted to isolate the hop character and understand what it really brings to a beer. Huell Melon is a German variety that often gets labeled as fruity and melon-forward. We have talked about it before, but never fully tested it this way. This batch gave us a clean way to break it down and see what stands out.

We brewed a one-gallon SMASH beer using a simple and repeatable process. The batch used two pounds of grain, two gallons of water, and one ounce of hops. We followed our typical hopping schedule with early boil, flameout, and dry hop additions. Fermentation ran about one week before cold crashing and packaging.

Our Huell Melon Takes

On the aroma, the first impression leaned strongly herbal with some surprising notes. We picked up white grape along with a cannabis or thyme-like character. The herbal intensity was noticeable and dominated the aroma profile. There was also a subtle fruit component, but it was not overly sweet or juicy.

The flavor followed a similar path with strong herbal and spicy elements. We noticed green melon rind, similar to honeydew, rather than sweet melon flesh. There were also hints of tea, floral spice, and a slight fruitiness underneath. The overall impression was more herbal and spicy than expected for this hop.

We also discussed how hop characteristics can shift over time due to growing conditions and terroir. Huell Melon may have originally leaned more fruity when released, but now shows more complex herbal traits. This variability makes small-batch testing like this useful for understanding real-world results.

Conclusion

Huell Melon turned out to be more complex and less fruit-forward than expected. The herbal and spicy notes dominated, with fruit playing a supporting role. It is an intriguing hop, but not one that delivers pure melon sweetness. This experiment reinforces the value of brewing small test batches before committing to a full recipe. It also shows that hop expectations do not always match real results.