Rakau Hops – Freestyle Hops, New Zealand

Harvest Window: Mid

Harvest Sensory: Complex Stone Fruit, Light Citrus

Bursting with a big fruit-forward character that is described by the breeder as “the whole orchard“.

Rakau Hops was rediscovered and re-released in 2011 by the New Zealand hop breeding program. It is bursting with a big fruit-forward character that is described by the breeder as “the whole orchard“. Rakau™ is a clean and efficient bittering hop at 10 – 11% AA, but it is usually used in later additions to maximize the fresh fruit aroma. Myrcene oil is the highlight and makes up 56% of the total oils, lending flavors and aromas of apricot, plum, mango, pear, and other stone fruits. Some lighter notes of lime and pine are also present.

Rakau Hops are suitable for use both as bittering and aroma.

Can be used for multiple additions with late hop character delivering tropical fruit aromas of passionfruit and peach. Quite high levels of oil with an H/C ratio typical of classical aroma varieties.

This variety has a lot of typical New Zealand fruity character so would be best suited to new world styles of ale and lager such as Pales and “big” IPA’s..

Country of Origin: New Zealand

Hop Type: Bittering and Aroma

Alpha Acid: 10-11%

Possibility of Substitution: Amarillo, Summit

Typically used for: APAs, IPAs