Riwaka

Intense grapefruit, citrus, and passionfruit forward.

Where It Lives

• Tropical & Citrus (primary)
  

Storytime

Riwaka is a New Zealand hop named after the region its grown in. It’s known for its very bold, punchy citrus character, especially lime and grapefruit, along with some bright tropical fruit and floral notes. While it can be quite intense on its own, many brewers like using it to add a sharp, zesty citrus edge to IPAs. It doesn’t have the same rounded sweetness as some other New Zealand hops, which gives it a more aggressive and lively personality.

Key Specs

• Alpha Acids: 5 – 7%
• Total Oil: 0.8 – 1.2 mL/100g
• Origin: New Zealand
• Form: Pellet
• Common Substitutions: Motueka or Nelson Sauvin (in some recipes)
• More tech specs here

Practical Use

Riwaka is mainly used for aroma. It performs well in late boil, whirlpool, and dry hopping, where it delivers strong lime and citrus character. Because it’s quite bold, it can easily dominate a beer if you use too much. A lot of brewers treat it more like a supporting hop rather than the main attraction.

On the dry hop side, 1.5–3.5 oz total in 5 gallons is usually enough for good impact. Going heavier can make the beer feel sharp or one-dimensional. It tends to work best when it has other hops to balance it out.

Best for: Late boil, whirlpool, and dry hopping. Brew day tip: It pairs especially well with Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, or Citra when you want bright, aggressive citrus character.