dirtybasementbrew
Well-Known Member
I want to put vanilla bean in my secondary, how do I do it safely without infecting my brew
How do i sterilize vanilla bean?
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dirtybasementbrew
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Reno_eNVy said:
I don't have vodka, how about some Remy martin
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dirtybasementbrew
Well-Known Member
Reno_eNVy said:
Should I do the same with my frozen oranges?
I don't bother trying to sanitize vanilla beans going into secondary. The alcohol content and low pH of the beer take care of things.
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dirtybasementbrew
Well-Known Member
dirtybasementbrew said:
And should I boil than split the bean open or boil them already cut open
If your putting it in secondary the low ph and alcohol in your beer should make infection very unlikely. I was listening to a podcast with Denny Conn this weekend where he said he doesnt worry about it. A little vodka would make me feel better.
I suppose each person will have their own experiences and opinions. One of my batches got infected from Brewers Best vanilla beans in the secondary.
Beernik
Well-Known Member
I cut it open, scrape the inside of the bean, put it in water, and bring it to a boil. Then I put it in the secondary and racked on top of it.
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dirtybasementbrew
Well-Known Member
Well I took 4lbs of frozen orange meat ninja'd it
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dirtybasementbrew
Well-Known Member
Well I took albs of frozen orange meat, ninja'd it put just enough water to covere them and brought to boil. Transferred to secondary with 3ozs of NZ Green Bullet and 2ozs of Citra. Split 1 vanilla bean and added to secondary than racked on top of it. Sound alright?
Sounds... Interesting... What style of beer are you trying to make?
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dirtybasementbrew
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SoupNazi said:
It's my attempt at a cremecicle IPA. The wort tasted amazing, little orange notes, creamy from the lactose and rolled oats, a smell of vanilla from the teaspoon of extract, and heavy chinook/Citra hop flavor. Let's see what the secondary and 5 more ozs of hops gives me!
if you have extra beans you should get a small bottle of vodka ( i have a pint of absolut) an soak them in there for a couple weeks/months.. it'll be the cheapest and best vanilla extract you'll ever use for cooking
Nightshade
Well-Known Member
I just cut open the beans, spray with purisan/starsan toss in hop bag and put in fermenter. Haven't had any issues doing it this way and I do it with 3bbl at a time.
ChshreCat
Well-Known Member
I spray with starsan, but before cutting the bean. You only have to worry about the outside. Spray it down, shake off the excess then split, scrape and toss it in. No need to mess around with vodka or boiling or anything like that. I do it regularly and haven't had a single issue.
shivalotus
Well-Known Member
Boiling the vanilla bean will drive off all the aromatics you are looking to get into the beer.
RIC0
Well-Known Member
I sprayed mine with sanatizer, cut it down the middle and tossed into secondary.
No need for vodka, magic voodoo dolls, battery acid baths, etc...
I sprayed mine with sanatizer, cut it down the middle and tossed into secondary.
No need for vodka, magic voodoo dolls, battery acid baths, etc...
Yeah, that sounds like a reasonable method.
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dirtybasementbrew
Well-Known Member
I brought oranges to a boil, I just cut the bean and tossed it right in. Didn't do anything to it!
Based on doing the same with vanilla many times, I think you'll be fine.
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dirtybasementbrew
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Denny said:
Thanx Denny 
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dirtybasementbrew
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And thang to all the rest of the replies
