Recipe Kit Fat Yak

Recipe Kit Fat Yak is a clone of the original 2009 Matilda Bay Brewery recipe, built before the brand changed hands and the hop bill was simplified. That version used Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand and Cascade from the USA — a combination that produces a fruity, spicy, herbal hop profile that is genuinely different from the tropical citrus character most Australian pale ales lean on. If you remember what Fat Yak tasted like before it changed, this is the kit to brew.

Nelson Sauvin is an unusual hop. Its gooseberry, grape, and herbal character sets it apart from the more common citrus-forward American varieties. Paired with Cascade for citrus support, the two produce a layered profile that rewards paying attention to what is in the glass. The copper amber colour and 25 to 30 IBU bitterness keep it balanced and drinkable. Many batches went into nailing the original hop levels.

Key advantages

• Nelson Sauvin and Cascade hop combination — distinctive and hard to find commercially today
• Clone of the pre-change Fat Yak recipe
• Moderate IBU (25 to 30) — full hop character without being hop-sharp
• EBC 30 — copper amber colour from the malt bill

When it makes sense

• Works well if you are chasing the pre-2009 Fat Yak flavour
• Good way to explore Nelson Sauvin hops without committing to a full all-grain brew
• Suits intermediate brewers who have done a few pale ales and want something more complex

Brewing specs

• Style: Australian Craft Pale Ale
• Volume: 21 litres (approx 53 stubbies)
• ABV: 4.6 to 4.8%
• IBU: 25 to 30
• Colour (EBC): 30
• Hops: Nelson Sauvin (New Zealand), Cascade (USA)
• Original gravity: 1.044 to 1.046
• Final gravity: 1.012 to 1.014
• Fermentation temp: 18 to 23 degrees C
• Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
• Ready to drink: 4 to 5 weeks from brew day

What's in the kit

• Pale ale malt extract — fermentable base and copper amber colour
• Nelson Sauvin hop pellets (New Zealand) — gooseberry, herbal and grape character, bitterness
• Cascade hop pellets (USA) — citrus and floral aroma
• Ale yeast — clean fermentation
• Dextrose — boosts ABV and primes carbonation in the bottle

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Gooseberry, grape, and a herbal quality from Nelson Sauvin, with citrus and floral character from Cascade
• Appearance: Copper amber with good clarity
• Flavour: Fruity and spicy hop character up front, supported by a malt backbone that keeps it from being hop-sharp. Moderate bitterness with a lingering finish
• Mouthfeel: Smooth and full-flavoured. Refreshing without being thin
• Finish: Dry, with Nelson Sauvin's herbal note sitting cleanly at the end

Hamish's tip

Nelson Sauvin divides opinion. Some people love the gooseberry and herbal character immediately. Others find it unusual on the first pour and come around by the second pint. Brew this kit before ordering Nelson Sauvin in bulk. The Cascade pairing helps — it grounds the more unusual notes and makes the profile more accessible than a single-hop Nelson Sauvin beer would be.

Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team — June 2026.