Watermelon, pear and tropical boiled sweets, with ripe apricot. El Dorado turns an IPA into a sweet shop, and with 14–16 % alpha it bitters too.
Alpha 14–16 % · Beta 7–8 % · Late hop & dry hop · T90 pellets · Crop 2025 · 100 g
What it does in your beer
The breeder describes citrus, watermelon and pear from earlier-harvested hops, moving to pineapple, mango, stone fruit, candied lemon and cherry at peak maturity. Our product data lists apricot, watermelon and tropical fruit.
By stage, per the breeder: clean bittering in the kettle, sweeter citrus in the whirlpool, and tropical boiled sweets, stone fruit, cherry and lemon in the dry hop. IPAs, NEIPAs and American pale ales are home ground; variety data also lists blonde ales, lagers and cream ales.
At a glance
| Variety | El Dorado |
| Released | 2010 |
| Origin | USA |
| Crop year | 2025 |
| Form | T90 pellets |
| Pack size | 100 g |
| Alpha acids | 14.0–16.0 % |
| Beta acids | 7.0–8.0 % |
| Co-humulone | 30–36 % (variety data) |
| Total oil | 1.5–3.0 ml/100 g (variety data) |
| Purpose | Dual purpose, aroma-led |
| Aroma | Watermelon, pear, apricot, tropical fruit, stone fruit, cherry, lemon |
What 10 g does in 20 L
| Added at | IBU from 10 g in 20 L (approx.) |
| 60 min | ≈ 17 |
| 30 min | ≈ 13 |
| 15 min | ≈ 9 |
| 5 min | ≈ 3 |
Approx., Tinseth formula, OG 1.050, mid alpha 15.0 %. Recalculate with the alpha on your pack.
How to use
- Late boil (third addition): recommended.
- Dry hop: recommended — the breeder describes tropical boiled sweets, stone fruit, cherry and lemon here.
- Bittering: the breeder rates it clean in the kettle; 10 g for 60 minutes gives about 17 IBU in 20 L.
Swap it for
Out of El Dorado? Variety data lists Azacca, Cascade, Chinook and Warrior as similar. Cascade and Chinook are in our range.
Pairs well with
The breeder suggests pairing it with Citra®, Centennial, Mosaic®, Comet, Cashmere and Sabro. Brewing a juicy IPA? Try it with our Citra® and Mosaic® on BESTMALZ BEST Pale Ale, fermented with Lallemand New England yeast.
Storage & shelf life
- Store it sealed, somewhere cold, dry and dark.
- The T90 pellet data sheet we follow gives −3 to 5 °C, dry and odour-free.
- Once opened, reseal it tight and use it soon.
Food information
- Name: Hop pellets, El Dorado
- Ingredients: hop pellets (Humulus lupulus)
- Allergens: none — hops are not among the 14 allergens listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 1169/2011
- Net quantity: 100 g
- Country of origin: USA
- Storage: sealed, cold, dry and dark
Good to know
- Crop 2025: the figures above are for this crop, whose beta (7–8 %) sits above typical variety data (about 5.5–7.5 %).
- 100 g of T90 pellets.
- Brewing ingredients leave from our partner warehouse in the Czech Republic and ship on their own, apart from any hardware you order.
FAQ
Is El Dorado a bittering or an aroma hop?
Both. The breeder calls it dual purpose with clean bittering, and our product data recommends it mainly for the late addition and the dry hop.
What does El Dorado taste like?
Watermelon, pear and tropical fruit, with stone fruit, candied lemon and cherry. Our product data adds apricot.
Which hops pair with El Dorado?
The breeder suggests Citra®, Centennial, Mosaic®, Comet, Cashmere and Sabro.
What can I use instead?
Variety data lists Azacca, Cascade, Chinook and Warrior as similar varieties.