Wakatu

Floral and spicy with herbal notes, backed by light citrus and stone fruit. Like a noble hop, but New Zealand style.

Where It Lives

• Floral & Herbal (primary)
• Spicy & Earthy (secondary)

Storytime

Wakatu is a New Zealand hop that was bred to capture the floral and spicy character of traditional European noble hops while adding a touch of New Zealand lift. It leans heavily into floral, spicy, and herbal notes, with some light citrus and stone fruit underneath. Compared to Pacifica, it tends to feel a bit more floral and spicy with a subtle herbal depth, rather than leaning into brighter citrus. It’s a solid choice when you want noble hop character with a bit more presence.

Key Specs

• Alpha Acids: 5 – 6.5%
• Total Oil: 1.0 – 1.5 mL/100g
• Origin: New Zealand
• Form: Pellet
• Common Substitutions: Hallertau or Saaz (in some recipes)
• More tech specs here

Practical Use

Wakatu works well for both aroma and some bittering. It performs nicely in late boil and whirlpool, where it adds floral, spicy, and herbal notes. Because it’s relatively restrained, it plays well in a wide range of styles, including lagers, pilsners, wheat beers, and more balanced IPAs.

On the dry hop side, 1.5–3 oz total in 5 gallons is usually plenty. It doesn’t need heavy rates, and going too hard can make the herbal and spicy notes feel a bit rough. It tends to work best with a lighter touch.

Brew day tip: It pairs especially well with Nelson Sauvin or Motueka if you want to build layered floral and herbal character, or it can stand on its own in more traditional styles.