Adding flavor during fermentation

[18thstatebrew]

I'm brewing a coffee stout tomorrow. I will be cold brewing the coffee grains then adding the coffee directly to the primary. I was also thinking about adding some pure vanilla extract syrup. Would adding this cause any problems I'm not aware of ??
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Piratwolf]

Threads I've read on here have suggested that adding flava to primary may not be thoroughly effective b/c fermentation may blow off some of the flavor. YMMV.

 

[18thstatebrew]

Ok so maybe add it into the secondary once fermentation has slowed down. I'm mainly concerned with the pure vanilla extract syrup. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Lennie]

Vanilla extract works fine, it is an alcohol extract not a sugar syrup. I'd get a good quality extract, and don't add too much. Better yet buy a vanilla bean and soak it in some vodka and add that to secondary.

 

[18thstatebrew]

Ok if I get some vanilla beans and soak them in vodka, would I just add the beans to the secondary or the vodka and the bean together?

 

[MrTheKing]

I just kegged a Vanilla Bourbon Porter - After 2 weeks fermenting I added two vanilla beans. Sliced down the middle, scoop all the junk out, chop the rest into 1-2" segments and chucked it all in the primary for a week. Didn't bother sanitizing it, but you could soak it for a while, then try to just add the vanilla. (I suppose I could have soaked the vanilla in the bourbon I added, although that wasn't until I kegged).

Came out great, just the right amount of vanilla on the nose and taste, but doesn't overpower anything. Very smooth.

I should rebrew that with coffee next time, sounds good.

 

[Lennie]

Ok if I get some vanilla beans and soak them in vodka, would I just add the beans to the secondary or the vodka and the bean together?

Add it all, the vodka will have extracted some but not all of the vanilla flavor.

And the "junk" in the bean aka the seeds are about as flavorful as the pod, so throw it all in.

 

[18thstatebrew]

Thanks for all of the great advice. I think I will soak the beans in some spiced rum. The coffee, vanilla, and rum should make an exceptional stout. I'm also adding oak chips into the secondary.

Does anyone know how I should sanitize those oak chips?

 

[tugbucket]

You can just soak the chips with the beans in rum. My Flanders, I soaked cubes in Pinot Noir for a few days, drained it, did it again and dumped them in.