2 oz pure vanilla Extract

[HBDrinker008]

Is 2 oz or pure vanilla extract too much to add to the secondary of a 5 gallon batch?

I am shooting for a raspberry vanilla stout. I think I went overboard with spices on my pumpkin ale and don't want to do the same thing with this.

The base is a sweet stout kit from Northern Brewer that I added an extra 1/2 lb of DME that I had laying around, and I plan on racking onto just over 2lbs of raspberries (3- 12 oz bags)

 

[Iordz]

Sounds like a good dessert beer. Is that 2fl oz or 2oz in weight? You could just add half, let it mature for a week, take a sample and taste. If you like the flavor leave it, if you want more put the rest in.

 

[z987k]

I added the vanilla to the bottling bucket at bottling time. about 2oz, probably fluid oz.

Worked great. What I did was put in 1oz, taste, put in another 1/2 taste and so on until it was right.

 

[rcbrew]

I used about 1.5oz in an oatmeal stout and turned out fantastic. The "heavier" the beer, the more I would use. But I would think 2 oz would be tops.

 

[sleepystevenson]

I made a caramel vanilla creme ale with pure vanilla extract. The recipe called for 4 oz., but I thought it sounded like too much, so I just used 2 oz. in the secondary. It turned out to be a nice subtle vanilla. Definitely not over powering. (this was a 5 gal. batch)

 

[Flyin' Lion]

Cheese's original CCA recipe called for 2 oz boiled and 4 oz in the bottling bucket. I went by the recipe and didn't think it was too overpowering, plus the vanilla will fade over time so if you think it's too much, just let it age.

 

[HBDrinker008]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I used ~1.5 oz in the secondary I figured I can add more at bottling if necessary. After overdoing it on the spices for my pumpkin ale I don't want to overdo this. I think the spices will fade over time though. I can always add more but can't take any out.

 

[ColoradoXJ13]

BTW: I would suggest using the Oregon Preserves raspberries instead of frozen/fresh fruit. The stout I did with frozen came out a little bitter, but the rasp. wheat with the Oregon preserves came out a little sweeter in flavor, which I prefer. Jamil gives the same advice in his podcast on fruit beers

preserves > fresh fruit > fruit extracts