zaprozdower

Recipes 

My next beer venture is a vanilla cream ale. The kit I'm buying is just a plain cream ale so I'm sprucing it up myself. Anyone have a good idea about the amount and time of addition for vanilla extract to get the best flavor?

And as a side note I have some left over whole magnum hops...what styles would magnum fit best in?

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Planned - Black & White IS, Braggot
Primary- Backyard Berry Wheat
Drinking - Vanilla Blonde, Wee Heavy, But Brown
Conditioning/Drinking -

Jewrican

Recipes 

Try doing this one... and not the kit

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/caramel-cream-ale-2435/

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JewRican Brew Works

Primary:
Secondary: Graff Cider
Kegged 1: - Terrapin Rye Pale Ale Clone (AG) 2: - Apple Bee (Woodchuck Cider Clone) 3: -
Consumed: Jamil's Sweet Stout (extract), Caramel Vanilla Creme Ale (extract, keg), Biermuncher's Black Pearl Porter (extract), Brown Ale (extract), Longhammer IPA clone (Extract), Chocolate Espresso Russian Imperial Stout (Extract),Caramel Vanilla Creme Ale (Extract,bottles), Centennial Blonde (AG), Reindeer Fuel (AG), Banana Cream Ale (extract)

zaprozdower

Recipes 

How do you know the kit is no good? Here's what's in it...

3.3 lbs Northwestern Extra Light
3 lbs Northwestern Gold Dry Malt
.5lb 2-row
.5lb Pilsner malt

1 oz Cascade (60)
1 oz Saaz (20)

WL Cali Ale

__________________
Planned - Black & White IS, Braggot
Primary- Backyard Berry Wheat
Drinking - Vanilla Blonde, Wee Heavy, But Brown
Conditioning/Drinking -

Jewrican

Recipes 

i dont know that it is good or bad, but this was a HUUUUGE hit on the forums a while back - look how many pages are in the thread.

It is a known Vanilla Creme Ale success.
Also i could be wrong, but even the recipe i gave is not a true creme but they use lactose to get that mouthfeel... i dont see how the above is very creamy but i am a rookie

__________________
JewRican Brew Works

Primary:
Secondary: Graff Cider
Kegged 1: - Terrapin Rye Pale Ale Clone (AG) 2: - Apple Bee (Woodchuck Cider Clone) 3: -
Consumed: Jamil's Sweet Stout (extract), Caramel Vanilla Creme Ale (extract, keg), Biermuncher's Black Pearl Porter (extract), Brown Ale (extract), Longhammer IPA clone (Extract), Chocolate Espresso Russian Imperial Stout (Extract),Caramel Vanilla Creme Ale (Extract,bottles), Centennial Blonde (AG), Reindeer Fuel (AG), Banana Cream Ale (extract)

carnevoodoo

Recipes 

I would suggest using vanilla beans over vanilla extract. The flavor comes out way better that way. You just split and scrape a couple of beans and add them to secondary.

reim0027

Recipes 

Stupid question, but how much of a difference (in taste) is there between artificial vanilla extract and pure vanilla extract?

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"Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof." ~V

Superdave

Recipes 

I added two 1 oz bottles of vanilla extract to the bottling bucket for about 2.5 gallons of porter. Everybody who has tasted it really likes it.

So, you can add a bottle to your beer, carefully stir it in a bit (no splashing or sloshing!), and taste a little. If not enough flavor, add another bottle. Rinse, repeat.

rtfick0

Recipes 

I make a vanilla coffee stout in which I use 4 oz. in the secondary. It is very subtle in the finished product, but the coffee flavor and dark malts keep it in the background. I'd start with 2 oz. with a lighter beer or it may over-power. You can always add a small amount to your glass when you drink it if you want it to be more noticeable.

zaprozdower

Recipes 

If I cant find vanilla beans and have to use vanilla extract...does it matter as to if I add it to the end of the boil, the primary, or the secondary?

__________________
Planned - Black & White IS, Braggot
Primary- Backyard Berry Wheat
Drinking - Vanilla Blonde, Wee Heavy, But Brown
Conditioning/Drinking -

Jewrican

Recipes 

the recipe that i posted adds it to the primary (after boil and everything) and at bottling if i recall correctly. I know there is one at bottling

__________________
JewRican Brew Works

Primary:
Secondary: Graff Cider
Kegged 1: - Terrapin Rye Pale Ale Clone (AG) 2: - Apple Bee (Woodchuck Cider Clone) 3: -
Consumed: Jamil's Sweet Stout (extract), Caramel Vanilla Creme Ale (extract, keg), Biermuncher's Black Pearl Porter (extract), Brown Ale (extract), Longhammer IPA clone (Extract), Chocolate Espresso Russian Imperial Stout (Extract),Caramel Vanilla Creme Ale (Extract,bottles), Centennial Blonde (AG), Reindeer Fuel (AG), Banana Cream Ale (extract)