dry hopping with vanilla beans

mre24j · 05-12-2009, 01:13 AM

I am brewing an imperial stout that should be coming out around 15% abv if my yeast makes it through, so its a big beer with a lot of flavor. In the secondary I am going to add some bourbon soaked oak chips and vanilla beans but I dont know how many whole beans to add, anyone got any suggestions? I also might split the batch up and do a gallon with chocolate and another with expresso just to play around a little.

SnickASaurusRex · 05-12-2009, 03:53 AM

When I did one like this I added two to my bourbon and oak soak, and then I added two to the bright tank after a quick rise to 180F in a little water (1/4 cup it was).

Split the beans then scrape them. Then quarter the split sides.

I added the bourbon that the first two (and the oak) sat on. Then I just dumped the bit of water and beans in on the second two.

**ChshreCat** · 05-12-2009, 03:55 AM

I just wanted a hint of vanilla in mine, so I split one bean, gave it a scrape and put it in my secondary for a week.

SnickASaurusRex · 05-12-2009, 04:01 AM

I guess I should add... Mine tasted just like an oaked wedding cake.

mre24j · 05-14-2009, 02:57 PM

Did you sanitize the vanilla beans when you added them to the oak and bourbon, and how long did you leave it in secondary?

SnickASaurusRex · 05-14-2009, 10:24 PM

In the oak and bourbon, the bourbon would have sanitized them.

The ones that I had added to the bright tank I put into a 1/4 cup of water and pasteurized (160F-170F) vary briefly (30 seconds). That beer has not had a problem.

I left it in the bright tank for 3 weeks.

**ChshreCat** · 05-14-2009, 10:30 PM

I gave mine a rinse with starsan and called it good.

mre24j · 05-15-2009, 01:21 PM

thanks for the help everyone

**fastricky** · 05-15-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChshreCat

I gave mine a rinse with starsan and called it good.

That's actually a great idea! Did you also add the scrapings?

**ChshreCat** · 05-15-2009, 03:05 PM

Yep. Split, scraped and dropped it all in the carboy before I racked. It'll be two more weeks before I open the first bottle to see how it is, though the sample tasted alright so far. Bitter, but I think the tiny bit of vanilla underneath it helps balance it out. Can't really taste vanilla, but there's definitely something in the background from it.