Pine Flavored Hops

[kencarman]

This has been a topic of discussion between two BJCP judges, my wife and I. I used to live in a pine forest, and have always loved the smell of them. I've lived in the south since 78 and our little valley has pines,which smell a little dif from N. pines, IMO.

Not one hop has ever smelled piney to me. certainly not Simcoe. I get the cat pee sense when over used. (I suspect it may be a boil time scenario too.) Chinook? Grapefruit and other smells, not pine.


So either there's some pine variant I have never lived near, or NOT pine, IMHO.

 

[catdaddy66]

Northern brewer hops produce some great pine notes

Love this hop! It's why I make a California common part of my pipeline.

 

[passedpawn]

This has been a topic of discussion between two BJCP judges, my wife and I. I used to live in a pine forest, and have always loved the smell of them. I've lived in the south since 78 and our little valley has pines,which smell a little dif from N. pines, IMO.

Not one hop has ever smelled piney to me. certainly not Simcoe. I get the cat pee sense when over used. (I suspect it may be a boil time scenario too.) Chinook? Grapefruit and other smells, not pine.


So either there's some pine variant I have never lived near, or NOT pine, IMHO.

I'm positive that some people have gotten tons of Pine out of Chinook. Here's two experiences:

About 7 or eight years ago I was out with friends and had a Stone Arrogant Bastard (might have been the Double). It was solid pine forest. I really didn't like it because it was SO piney. It's 100% chinook.

Then, shortly after that some guy at my homebrew club started coming in with extremely piney ipa's he was making, with chinook.

I started getting hooked on this pine flavor, and I tried to make my own. Years later, and many many beers with Chinook, I don't think I've ever gotten that pine in any of mine. So, either my palate changed, the hops changed, or there's something in the process that I'm not doing right to get it.

 

[kencarman]

I'm positive that some people have gotten tons of Pine out of Chinook. Here's two experiences:

About 7 or eight years ago I was out with friends and had a Stone Arrogant Bastard (might have been the Double). It was solid pine forest. I really didn't like it because it was SO piney. It's 100% chinook.

Then, shortly after that some guy at my homebrew club started coming in with extremely piney ipa's he was making, with chinook.

I started getting hooked on this pine flavor, and I tried to make my own. Years later, and many many beers with Chinook, I don't think I've ever gotten that pine in any of mine. So, either my palate changed, the hops changed, or there's something in the process that I'm not doing right to get it.

I've been judging since 99 and, to be honest, like flavor each person is unique when it comes to aroma and palate. So I'm not claiming those who sense that are wrong, just that there are those with valid reasons for why that's not the aroma or taste they perceive it as.

 

[SilverZero]

Deschutes Pinedrops IPA uses Nugget, Northern Brewer, Chinook, Centennial, and Equinox. The pine probably doesn't come from the Centennial or the Equinox, and I doubt the Nugget does more than bittering and/or playing a supporting role to the Chinook and the NB.

 

[passedpawn]

Deschutes Pinedrops IPA uses Nugget, Northern Brewer, Chinook, Centennial, and Equinox. The pine probably doesn't come from the Centennial or the Equinox, and I doubt the Nugget does more than bittering and/or playing a supporting role to the Chinook and the NB.

I recently did a Nugget / Jester IPA. No pine there (and not very good, either )

 

[Upthewazzu]

I just made a beer a week ago with Southern Cross, Chinook, and Northern Brewer. It should be almost pure pine, with a hint of citrus and lemon (going by the hops descriptions).

Once it's kegged, I'll report back.

 

[bigplunkett]

If heard of ppl using clipings from juniper along with hops to get big pine note. Ive wanted to try this. I believe i also read a thread about pine needle wine.

 

[DemonsRun]

I get a little pine from chinook and northern brewer but not like a pine forest or the descriptor people use for those hops.
I think for some hops multiple addition throughout the boil can build up the sought after flavor, whereas other hops you will only get the descriptor in late additions.

I also make a spruce tip IPA that has more citrus from the spruce than a traditional Pine aroma, but I really like it.

I've been told to get the Pine Forest scent I need to add Douglas Fir, but all Fir would make it too Christmas-y, I plan to blend the two tips next time.

 

[TomRep]

I was searching for this myself recently for a batch I made this past weekend. Ended up buttering with Columbus (not for pine) and added 10 ounces total at 15 minutes, 10, minutes, and 5 minutes of Chinook and Simcoe. Hoping to take a gravity reading tomorrow or Thursday so I can post back with some results.

 

[Upthewazzu]

I just made a beer a week ago with Southern Cross, Chinook, and Northern Brewer. It should be almost pure pine, with a hint of citrus and lemon (going by the hops descriptions).

Once it's kegged, I'll report back.

So....not really all that piney. It's a very good beer, but not really the pine notes I was looking for. I'm thinking that "pine" as a descriptor is not really pine at all, just a way of describing something that's earthy and possibly woody (heh).

If you want true pine, add spruce tips.

 

[mattdee1]

Last year I wanted to make a simple APA with a nice pine aroma so I took to the internets for recommended hops and saw all the Chinook talk.

I dry-hopped with 1oz of Chinook into 5gal and the result was not even remotely close to what I was after. No pine at all.. the most notable contribution of those hops was a kind of sharp hop flavor that, frankly, I didn't enjoy very much. I know the base batch of beer was good because I did a split 10gal batch and the bucket with no dry hops was fine; a bit citrusy, even. Kettle hops were Cascade.

I don't know if I just got a bunk sample of Chinook or if you're supposed to use some other technique to coax out the pine (whirlpool additions, etc.) but it absolutely did not work for me.

 

[TomRep]

My brew hit the keg Saturday night and is force carbing now. I sampled it last night. There is a lot of hop flavor, but not exactly the pine I was looking for. Weird thing is, the after flavor, or flavor when you burp is pure pine. The flavor when drinking it is more dank/earthy. I'm thinking of brewing this again and lowering the Chinook and upping the simcoe a bit. Probably going to adjust the grain bill a bit as well. However, keep in mind, this beer was a week old when I tasted it yesterday.

 

[kencarman]

So....not really all that piney. It's a very good beer, but not really the pine notes I was looking for. I'm thinking that "pine" as a descriptor is not really pine at all, just a way of describing something that's earthy and possibly woody (heh).

If you want true pine, add spruce tips.

Yes, absolutely.

I judged a lot this weekend and had at least 2 IPAs I am guessing have at least Chinook in them. OK, I can SEE why people call it that. To me it's more grapefruit, maybe a hint of earthy/woody (WE HAVE WOOD!!!)
And to get serious for a moment, maybe a tad grapefruit zest-like? (No, I'm not just... z(j)esting.)

 

[Queequeg]

Eureka: super piney, super aromatic

 

[Honugirl]

I am drinking Ninkasi brewing pacific rain northwest pale ale. I get a lot of pine from it, but I am not a judge. The hops are Simcoe, mosaic, nugget and citra.

 

[day_trippr]

Makes sense, the pine would be from the Simcoe and Mosaic...

Cheers!