Vanilla Caramel Milk Ale

Cheesefood · Aug 23, 2006

I used the 16oz bottle of Bourbon Vanilla from Costco ($6.95). Worked fine for v2.

I wish I had more to share. I sent Jaybird my second to last bottle. I have one left that I'm saving for myself. I'll probably need to brew some more up.

olllllo · Aug 24, 2006

Regarding Mexican Vanilla.

Please read this.

http://www.vanilla.com/html/facts-mexican.html

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

I guess the key to this beer is to know your vanilla and know how much to add to get the taste right. With the wide variety available, it's almost impossible to prescribe the perfect amount. I'm into strong flavors and the amount I used was perfect in v1.0 and 2.0.

I'm still flabbergasted at the interest in this recipe. I know this thread strokes my own ego, but damn it's cool to know that I thought up something that people like. A lot of you know the feeling. It's a great feeling to create a hit.

I'm wasted and babbling. Surprised?

Jaybird · Aug 24, 2006

Gotta Love this hobby its endless and very rewarding in so many ways. blah blah blah you get to make $%^@ you can get SLAMMED on how fkn killer is that
JJ

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

To paraphrase Comic Book Guy, "Best hobby ever".

Exo · Aug 24, 2006

I told myself...no brew tonight. Worked ok until I got to the recipe section. Sipping some of my SNPA clone now. GaahhH!!! Just tastes to good.

edost · Aug 24, 2006

olllllo said:
Regarding Mexican Vanilla.

Please read this.

http://www.vanilla.com/html/facts-mexican.html

Wow, I didn't know that. I also used what I thought was pure vanilla from Mexico. It was crystal clear though, so apparently not...

mysterio · Aug 24, 2006

I think this is awesome that so many people have brewed the same recipe. Have you entered this in a competition, Cheese?

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

No, I haven't entered it but I'm curious to do it. I'm afraid the judges will not be as tolerant with the vanilla taste as I am. But screw them, they're a bunch of drunk hippies. I know what I like and that's all that matters.

With that said, I think I'm going to brew up a batch soon.

NoBull6 · Aug 24, 2006

I got the recipe from the original thread, and I didn't notice a version 1 and a version 2 - just saw the one version. What's the difference between the two recipes? Just curious which "version" I made

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

NoBull6 said:
I got the recipe from the original thread, and I didn't notice a version 1 and a version 2 - just saw the one version. What's the difference between the two recipes? Just curious which "version" I made

V1 focused more on sweetness. It tastes less like a beer and more like cream soda. The hops are overpowered by the vanilla and lactose.

V2 has more of a beer profile with less unfermentable sugars and more hops. It's got the hops bite at the end of it and a more mellow vanilla proile.

I like both. My friends who have drank both like V1 better.

NoBull6 · Aug 24, 2006

What are the actual recipe differences? I only see a single recipe in the other thread.

Desert_Sky · Aug 24, 2006

I was looking around and found a weyerman caramel wheat 45.5L. Do you think that would add too much caramel when combined with 60L?

http://pivo.northernbrewer.com/nbstore/action/search-do?searchTerm=caramel&x=0&y=0

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

Chimone said:
I was looking around and found a weyerman caramel wheat 45.5L. Do you think that would add too much caramel when combined with 60L?

http://pivo.northernbrewer.com/nbstore/action/search-do?searchTerm=caramel&x=0&y=0

I chose the 60L because it's just at the point prior to getting a burnt caramel flavor. Adding some 45 will give you a more robust caramel flavor I'd imagine. Go for it.

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

NoBull6 said:
What are the actual recipe differences? I only see a single recipe in the other thread.

Version 1
Version 2 (Boom Boom)

Desert_Sky · Aug 24, 2006

well your extract version called for some wheat extract. I was thinking of an AG version, and adding a couple lbs of wheat malt. You dont htink the caramel crystal and the caramel wheat would be too much?

Cheesefood · Aug 24, 2006

Chimone said:
well your extract version called for some wheat extract. I was thinking of an AG version, and adding a couple lbs of wheat malt. You dont htink the caramel crystal and the caramel wheat would be too much?

No clue. I'm making it up as I go along.

Desert_Sky · Aug 24, 2006

Cheesefood said:
No clue. I'm making it up as I go along.

those are the best ones :cross:

Yuri_Rage · Aug 25, 2006

So I tapped the keg today - and I'm not sure I like this stuff yet. Oddly, the vanilla everyone complains about is the only thing I like - it balances some really fruity/cidery flavors I'm getting. I think the off flavors are probably due to my 73-75 degree fermentation temps, and I'm hoping another week or two will help.

Muntzster · Aug 25, 2006

im thinking eggnog.

neuron555 · Aug 29, 2006

I'm planning on this one next but have a question. My sister in law is lactose intolerant. Has anyone tried any substitutes like soy or some other non-fermentable, or is she just going to have to miss out on this one?

Cheesefood · Aug 30, 2006

neuron555 said:
I'm planning on this one next but have a question. My sister in law is lactose intolerant. Has anyone tried any substitutes like soy or some other non-fermentable, or is she just going to have to miss out on this one?

Go with malto-dextrine. It won't be the same, but close enough. The Lactose is a sugar and, as far as I know, there aren't any soy sugars.

Cheesefood · Aug 30, 2006

Yuri_Rage said:
So I tapped the keg today - and I'm not sure I like this stuff yet. Oddly, the vanilla everyone complains about is the only thing I like - it balances some really fruity/cidery flavors I'm getting. I think the off flavors are probably due to my 73-75 degree fermentation temps, and I'm hoping another week or two will help.

Yeah, you shouldn't be getting any cider flavors. That sounds like an operator error.

Yuri_Rage · Aug 30, 2006

Cheesefood said:
Yeah, you shouldn't be getting any cider flavors. That sounds like an operator error.

Yeah - I think it might've been error on my part. I had a REALLY long lag time (several days!), and I can't rule out some sort of wild yeast or even a mild infection. On the plus side, it gets better by the day - finally getting some head retention and the flavors are blending a little better. I might have to try this one again and get it right.

olllllo · Sep 7, 2006

My batch has been conditioning for a week now and is carbonated to an acceptable level. Still 2 weeks to go.

I hooked it up to the nitro and can report the following:

The lactose powdery sensation is now gone and the beer is starting to mellow out. Just a hint of vanilla. I know its there but others may notice it as a new flavor and won't be able to put thier finger on it. Kind of like when first timers try a wit and aren't able to place corriander and orange until you tell them. This is exactly how I wanted it to go down. If you're keeping score, I did original recipe, added all of the lactose in the boil and 1/2 the vanilla.

I hesitate to write this without a photo. I am at work now, so you'll have to wait.

The nitro head and cascading smoothy goodness is unbeliveably satisfying. I almost tapped one this morning...
so that I could...
take a picture of it for you guys.

I take a break midway through tonites football game and snap a pic...
for documentation purposes of course.

olllllo · Sep 7, 2006

Cheesefood · Dec 19, 2006

I'mm bumping this for the sake of my own ego.

rdwj · Dec 19, 2006

Well, I would have never said anything if you didn't ask, but you did...

I'm thinking I MUST have screwed something up, because mine was undrinkable. It was REALLY sweet and the vanilla was overpowering. You did say to watch the vanilla, but on a first attempt, I went with the exact recipe. I ended up dumping it.

I'd like to try someone else's effort sometime to see if my batch was that far off the mark or if it's just not for me.

Cheesefood · Dec 19, 2006

rdwj said:
Well, I would have never said anything if you didn't ask, but you did...

I'm thinking I MUST have screwed something up, because mine was undrinkable. It was REALLY sweet and the vanilla was overpowering. You did say to watch the vanilla, but on a first attempt, I went with the exact recipe. I ended up dumping it.

I'd like to try someone else's effort sometime to see if my batch was that far off the mark or if it's just not for me.

Wait wait wait...

I live 20 minutes away, and you DUMPED IT WITHOUT OFFERING???

Tx, take away his membership. He violated HBT law.

rdwj · Dec 19, 2006

Cheesefood said:
Wait wait wait...

I live 20 minutes away, and you DUMPED IT WITHOUT OFFERING???

Tx, take away his membership. He violated HBT law.

Unfortunately, I don't have ANY bottling equipment, or I might have offered. I needed the keg and the tap, ...and it just wasn't getting better. And it don't think you had kegging stuff at the time either.

Honestly though, I think I screwed it up, because it just wasn't good. It looked nice and would have made a nice picture, but it had a REALLY strong vanilla taste and smell.

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