So what does pine taste like?

This just goes to show how different palates can be and that's probably a good point for the OP to keep in mind as well. I find pine to be one of most straightforwardly accurate descriptors there is while finding "grassy" less so ("hay/straw" on the other hand is another clear one for me).

And EMJ's latter point is a good one. Sometimes a review/description will give you a word you couldn't quite find to pin down a flavor you were tasting and other times it will just leave you scratching your head as to what the hell people are on about. Either way it's a useful experience.

 

I taste pine every time I take down the xmas tree at the end of the season. Have tasted grass plenty of times mowing the lawn and I taste resin recreationally.

 

Found this great chart of hops and associated flavors, wanted to share:

https://www.brewps.com/hop-chart-hop-substitutes.html

 

Drink Retsina

 

Pine might have been the first descriptor in IPA that I got. A Southern boy whose favorite past times growing up involved being in the woods, I chewed pine needles throughout my childhood and recognized that immediately. Although there is an unmistakable aroma, there is a bitterness and astringency associated with a pineneedle that is truly reflected in some beers.

Hoptimum immediately came to mind.

 

Maybe I am weird, but I pick up citrus and grapefruity notes in most IPAs as opposed to pine. Two Hearted is my favorite overall beer, I don't notice much pine. Other beers like Hop Dang Diggity, another favorite of mine, the pine notes are very up front to me.

 

When I first encountered Retsina at a wine festival in Daphne, I was startled, then loved it. White wine aged on pine. It will definitely "cleanse" ones palate. I've thought about food pairings for years. Anyway, it goes well with SNPA!

 

I definitely feel like a lot of IPAs are citrusy (including Two Hearted), but there are definitely some that read as pine to me. Ska's Modus Hoperandi springs to mind. Maybe there is a certain level of something else (like bitterness or resiny, sappy flavors) that taste like pine when combined with citrus flavors.

Anyway, I think the line between citrus and pine is pretty fine.

 

I get bitter orange rind with Centennial hops, just do, it's what sticks.

 

So you "kinda" already know the answer. Flavor is mostly aroma so if you smell pine in beer: voila!

Cheers!

 

Since the aroma tied to taste thing had been hit several times here, I just want to add one thing.

Remember that its just beer, and its meant to be enjoyed. Describe what you smell and taste, but dont ruin the expirience by stressing over spruce tips vs pine needles, or blood orange vs tangerines.

 

This has an actual name: "petrichor." It's a favorite word of mine, actually.

And yeah, OP, wait until you try gueuze and read reviews on that. That's where the interesting descriptors come in; "pine" (even "horse blanket") is only the tip of the iceberg.

Also, if you want to taste pine, go drink Tanqueray or another London Dry gin (though Tanqueray is probably the most pine-forward). Juniper has very strong pine/spruce character.

 

Two Hearted destroys your point. No pine, all Centennial.

 

To further the notion that palates differ, when I first had Two Hearted, I felt like I was drinking potpourri. @hopfenunmaltz made the below post in a different thread about a week ago. It gave me an "aha" moment. Bell's house yeast is also known for providing an orange flavor. Some think that this quality separates it from other all-Cenntenial beers.

 

to the op.
start putting stuff in your mouth.

 

Great points, I'm thinking it's the hops but I'm completely ignorant on the yeast components, obviously they have a tremendous input on the final flavors.

 

Chinook Hop'd and Simcoe Hop'd Ipa's and Pale Ales usualy have a "Pineyness" (yes, i'm making up words) to them.

Example Sap from Treehouse, Pliney, Lawson’s Chinooker’d,
Other beers with pine SN Pale ale, Sn Torpedo, Arrogant Bastard