05/12/2026
SPOTLIGHT: WEE-WAKA
We first connected with our now good friends in 2021. I (Tamir) was on a Zoom call where I met Brent , a hop grower down under in Motueka, NZ. Through Brent and the rest of the NZ Hops gang, we got access to some cool experimental hops, giving us a little glimpse into the future. You may remember the original STRAIGHT FROM THE LAB releases: NZH-104, NZH-105, NZH-102 (now Superdelic), and even HORT-4337- better known as Nectaron.
A few years ago, NZ hops started their Bract Brewing program, in which they provide promising experimental varieties to participating breweries for feedback and review. It takes many years to breed and stabilize a new hop variety, and this program helps the growers and breeders decide if the experimental varieties are worth the effort. In 2023 we got to work with 2 exciting new varieties, NZH-106, and NZH-109. We fell in love with both. Let’s talk about the one used in this beer: NZH-106.
It’s no secret I love Riwaka hops. The musty white grape-passionfruit-grapefruit- sour diesel cannabis flavor combination it provides stands almost entirely alone in the hop world. Problem is, Riwaka- as a plant- hates everything. She doesn’t want to grow. She doesn’t want to yield cones. If she’s not grown in absolutely perfect conditions, she really doesn’t want to do the thing. So How do you still get that incredible flavor, but in a better plant? Enter NZH-106. A daughter of Riwaka, NZH-106 captures a lot of her mother’s positive aroma and flavor traits while being much friendlier to growers.
For WEE-WAKA, we exclusively use NZH-106. It’s absolutely got that familiar flavor profile from Mom- think diesely white grape and passionfruit- while showing off a ripe orange character and another wave of tropical island fruit. All in a soft, cloud-like fluffy beer that rings in at 4,9% abv. Just like Riwaka, NZH-106 is delicate enough to be able to really show off in a little beer, and that’s music to our taste buds!
NZH-106 is incredibly rare, and this is likely one of the few times it will be available all on its own for the foreseeable future. So come down to Bakertown and have a taste of tomorrow!
