Brewers best vanilla beans

[srbelow]

Has anyone used Brewers Best packaged vanilla beans? I was just wondering about the quality/freshness compared to an online spice store. Thanks

 

[LuckyBeagleBrewing]

Just my opinion but I purchased vanilla beans from the LHBS and they were dry as a bone. They were brewers best and I cant speak for all of them just my experience only. I buy most spices and now even orange peels from local grocers. I like my vanilla beans fresh otherwise they just don't produce a good solid flavor. I also like the fresh zest or pith of citrus depending on what I am making. Find the freshest.

 

[ghpeel]

Go here:
Madagascar Vanilla Beans - Also Known As Whole Vanilla Beans or Bourbon Vanilla Beans - My Spice Sage

8 Madagascar Beans, $8.50. I ordered them, and they are practically gooey they are so moist. There's brownish sap in the bag they came in.

I used 2 in a pumpkin lager, along with some pumpkin pie spices (2 tsp I think), and that beer won a little "Pumpkin Beer" contest along my brewing friends. Delicious stuff.

 

[BigfootCounty]

my brewers best beans were gooey

I did buy them pretty close to the source though

 

[krebs119]

I haven't ever bought brewers best vanilla beans, but I have bought from beanilla.com and was quite happy. I bought a package of their bourbon vanilla beans and used them in a vanilla bourbon oaked amber ale, and they were fantastic. If 10 is gooey, and 1 is bone dry I would call them a 7 or 8 when I got them.