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andreiz · 11-11-2008, 04:55 PM

I want to brew this Vanilla Cream Ale recipe, but my LHBS (MoreBeer) is out of Saaz and Tettnang hops due to the shortage. They suggest using Santiam or Sterling instead of Saaz and Santiam, Sterling, or Vanguard instead of Tettnang. Would this be an ok replacement or would you recommend something else to keep as close as possible to that recipe?

TeleTwanger · 11-11-2008, 04:59 PM

go to SF Brewcraft, they have all those hops.

**DeathBrewer** · 11-11-2008, 05:00 PM

srsly...SF Brewcraft should have everything you need. why would you go all the way to concord??

carl spakler · 11-11-2008, 05:39 PM

I've been able to buy both of those online in the past few weeks, should have no issue getting them if you truly want to use those hops.

**Chriso** · 11-11-2008, 05:44 PM

Rather than retype a whole bunch of stuff, read here: Cheesefood's V.C.C. Ale - A few Q's - Home Brew Forums

If you want to brew the recipe as-is, that's cool. But in my experience with that recipe, the hops are overkill to begin with - so rather than bust your hump trying to find hops that are slightly hard to find right now... maybe you can just roll with something you *DO* have. In my opinion, that recipe needs far less hops, because they really just cover up the vanilla and caramel tastes that we're striving for.

If it were me - I'd do 15 IBUs of neutral hop at 60 minutes, and be done with it. Don't need a bunch of hops when you're adding $5 of vanilla, some lactose, some maltodextrin, a bunch of caramel malts..... You get my jive?

andreiz · 11-12-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeathBrewer

srsly...SF Brewcraft should have everything you need. why would you go all the way to concord??

They don't have some of the equipment and other stuff I'm needing to buy.. But I'll definitely stop by SF Brewcraft for hops and grains in the future.

andreiz · 11-12-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriso

If it were me - I'd do 15 IBUs of neutral hop at 60 minutes, and be done with it. Don't need a bunch of hops when you're adding $5 of vanilla, some lactose, some maltodextrin, a bunch of caramel malts..... You get my jive?

I hear you.

Where is maltodextrin in that recipe? I only see extracts + some caramel malt and lactose.

andreiz · 11-12-2008, 04:28 AM

Also, when should I add vanilla extract? To the primary or before bottling?

**Chriso** · 11-12-2008, 01:04 PM

Eh - Maybe I used the malto in something else. It would benefit this beer though!!!

Add the vanilla @ bottling. I added mine one day before bottling, just to make sure that any sugars in the extract fermented out, so that it didn't f* up my priming sugar calculations.

If you add it in primary, you won't wind up tasting much of it at all.

***Yooper*** · 11-12-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreiz

Also, when should I add vanilla extract? To the primary or before bottling?

I'd add about 1/2 of the amount the recipe called for, and about 1/2 the lactose and taste it. If it's not enough for you, you could add the rest. Once it's in there, though, you can't take it out.

I know many people like this recipe, but it had WAY too much sugar and vanilla for me. It was like drinking cream soda with beer flavoring added. It was my only dumper batch. I did have a good friend who liked it, though, and drank about 1/2 of it herself.