So SWMBO is into aromatherapy and essential oils, and her latest addition to her collection is pure pine needle oil extract (link below). Understanding that oil impacts head retention, would adding a few drops to an IPA in late primary add that pine hit (love my piney IPAs), and I can siphon out from under any oil sheen? It smells phenomenal, and I’m pretty sure it’s food grade.
I can’t see it being a good flavor, but that’s up to you. Try it in a glass first.
I’d be more inclined to try citrus oil than pine oil for this type of application. Sure, a lot of the pine aroma compounds are similar to what are found in hops. What I’d be worried about are some of the other tar/pitch type compounds.
I like your idea of adding it to late primary. This gives the yeast a chance to potentially metabolize some of the compounds to add some complexity.
Let us know how it turns out if you try it. I have some pure compounds that I’ve been meaning to try this with myself (linalool, geraniol, alpha- and beta-pinene, citronellol, etc).
I would consider a drop or two in a one gallon experiment first. Though I may try the citrus oil idea myself
I would be more inclined to use something like this instead of an essential oil…
http://www.seelecttea.com/pine-flavor-extract/p62437/
http://www.naturesflavors.com/pine-flavor-extract-without-diacetyl/p62491/
I would think of them in the same way as dry hopping, in which you are also adding the essential oils from the hops to the beer.
I’m with you, once again. No spruce beer for me, please.
Also, if you use the “essence of” stuff be aware that a little goes a loooong way.