Current AA: 9.7%
Rakau is a very pleasant hop. Has an inherent intensity of aromas lifted through a heavy weight of oils and medium alpha. Resinous pine needle characters are sometimes noted but selectors generally are agreed that the dominant fruitiness is that of fresh stone fruit such as apricot. Really unique.
Use in: New World styles of ales and lagers where brash fruity character and big but well constructed bitterness is desired
3 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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Great hop to add a nice fruit flavor to your pale ale or IPA
The hop: Used this in a blend of Rakau, Kohatu and Wai-lti at 20, 10, and 0 minute additions and finished with a good dry hop blend of the same. With the blend I used it was very nice and smooth tropical flavors mixed with a bit of citrus and maybe a hint of resin. Like the smell of this hop a great deal, could have filled a pillow with it as it reminded me of a smoother version of Chinook to some degree. The reason I bought it here: I love trying new hops and really like a lot of the hops coming out of New Zealand which is how I found Farmhouse brewing supply in the first place. I only do 1 to 6 gallon batches so their 4 oz packs are perfect and they have great pricing, fast shipping, and everything is packaged airtight.
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Excellent stone fruit/apricot
Made a session IPA (38 IBUs & 4.8% ABV) using equal portions of this, Motueka and Kohatu with 0-15 min hop bursting to achieve IBUs as well as flavor and aroma. The lemon lime from Moteuka dominated the stone fruit early on, but by 1.5 months an wonderful apricot flavor and aroma started to take the foreground with a citrus background. Love this hop. May use heavier hand on Rakau in the hop mix making an IPA in the future.
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Excellent Aroma Hop
Aggressively late hopped with rakau, wakatu combined with excellent results.
