*Bison Brew is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Wakatu Hops

Published on

Wakatu Hops, grown in Nelson, New Zealand, were released in 1988 and bred from the Hallertau hop. These dual-purpose hops have a floral and citrus aroma profile thanks to their lineage of two-thirds Mittlefruh and open pollination by a New Zealand-derived male.

The aroma showcases fresh citrus, like zested lime peel, and has an excellent flavor and aroma shelf stability. Suitable beer styles for Wakatu Hops include lagers, wheat beers, pale hybrid beers, hoppy American ales, and big ales, offering versatility across various brewing applications.

Usage:Dual-Purpose
Country of Origin:New Zealand
Hop Growers Code:WKT 77-05

Where To Buy Wakatu Hops

Wakatu Hops
Amazon MoreBeer!
Bison Brew is reader supported and may earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase.

Wakatu Flavor And Aroma

Wakatu is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:

floral

floral

citrus

citrus

grass

grassy

Wakatu Hop Oil Breakdown

Hop oils can vary from year to year and farm to farm but based on our research, here are the typical values we have seen reported. This information comes from various hop farms, The Hop Aroma Compendium, and For The Love Of Hops.

Alpha Acid % (AA)
Alpha acids are what is isomerized when boiling to create bitterness in beer.
6.5% – 8.5%
Beta Acid %
Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds.
8.5%
Alpha-Beta Ratio
This ratio of alpha acids to beta acids determines how quickly bitterness fades during aging. Lower ratios are common for aromatic varieties.
1:1
Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha
Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness.
28% – 30%
Total Oils (mL/100g)
With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds.
1.0mL
Myrcene
green, resinous
36%
Humulene
woody, piney
17%
Caryophyllene
woody
8%
Farnesene
floral
6.7%
Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene31% – 35%
Hop Storage Index (HSI)
The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C).
Data Not Available
Hop Storage Index (HSI) RatingData Not Available

Wakatu Hop Substitutions

Replacing one hop for another is seldom straightforward but sometimes you don’t have the right hop or the right quantity of hops for the beer you want to make. For those situations, we have made a comprehensive list of hops to substitute on brew day.

These substitutions aren’t perfect as hop chemistry is pretty complex.

We wanted to make this list of substitutions with varietals that are easy to find when possible. For Wakatu, we recommend substituting with the following hops:

Beer Styles

For the most part, any hop could have a place in just about any beer style. Based on popular beers, historical usage, and our own preferences, we would recommend using Wakatu for IPA, New England IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Golden Ale. That being said, experiment and see what works best for you.

References

https://www.hopslist.com/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/
https://www.brewersassociation.org/
https://www.barthhaasx.com/
https://www.yakimachief.com/
Hieronymus, Stan. For The Love of Hops. Brewers Publications, 2012
The Hop Aroma Compendium. 2012