El Dorado Hop Pellets 1 lb

El Dorado is a modern American dual purpose hop prized for its intensely sweet fruit character and smooth bitterness. Developed by CLS Farms in Washington State and released commercially in 2010, El Dorado has become a favorite among craft brewers for its ability to produce juicy, candy like fruit flavors while maintaining excellent versatility throughout the brewing process. Its high oil content makes it especially effective in whirlpool and dry hop additions.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Yakima Chief Hops
• Hop Type: Dual Purpose
• Origin: United States
• Alpha Acid: 13.0 - 17.0%
• Beta Acid: 7.0 - 8.0%
• Cohumulone: 28 - 33%

Flavor & Aroma Profile

El Dorado is renowned for its vibrant notes of pear, watermelon, pineapple, tropical fruit, stone fruit, and candy, complemented by hints of citrus and melon. Whirlpool and dry hop additions maximize its juicy fruit forward character, producing a smooth, sweet aroma that stands out in hazy and modern IPA styles. Despite its high alpha acid content, El Dorado contributes a clean, balanced bitterness that allows its expressive fruit flavors to shine.

Brewing Applications

El Dorado excels in Hazy IPA, New England IPA, American IPA, Pale Ale, Session IPA, Blonde Ale, and Fruit Beer. It pairs exceptionally well with Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, Sabro, Azacca, and Cashmere, creating layered aromas of tropical fruit, citrus, melon, and stone fruit.

Recommended Hop Substitutes

If El Dorado® is unavailable, consider:

• Azacca – Similar tropical fruit and citrus character.
• Cashmere – Soft melon, lemon, and tropical fruit notes.
• Galaxy – Bold passion fruit and peach with tropical intensity.
• Citra – Bright citrus and tropical fruit with less sweetness.
• Mosaic – Complex berry and tropical fruit with added depth.

Lineage & History

El Dorado was developed by CLS Farms in Washington State through a selective breeding program focused on producing a high alpha hop with exceptional aroma. While its complete genetic lineage has not been publicly disclosed, El Dorado was selected for its unique combination of high brewing performance and intensely fruity aroma. Since its commercial release in 2010, it has become one of Yakima Chief Hops' most popular proprietary varieties, valued for bringing juicy pear, watermelon, and tropical fruit character to today's hop forward craft beers.