Best use of Vanilla beans

[jrspru]

try farmhousebrewingsupply.com I just bought 6 for $6.50.

 

[Kurtamous]

It sounds like you all are running into some expensive beans; my LHBS has em in a pack for 6.80 containing 12 beans. Being part of a local brew club takes 10% of as well so they are about 50 cents a pop.

I soaked 4 beans in about a 3 shots of Froggy B vodka (80 proof) after splitting, scraping the insides, and cutting them up (inch long pieces or so). I split the lot into two 5 gallon carboys that I racked a porter into. Will let ya know how it goes!

 

[jimmayhugh]

The Trader Joe's that I frequent has whole vanilla beans. As I recall they were about $7.99 for two large beans. They also have a very good vanilla extract that's $4.99 for 4oz.

 

[KuzinChaos]

how long do you keep the beans in the secondary fermenter? 1 or 2 weeks?

 

[darkeagle03]

I'm a newbie to home brewing and want to add some vanilla to my second-ever batch of beer, so I'm reading through these forums on tips. I just want to mention that Amazon has some good deals on vanilla beans if you can't get good prices locally. I just ordered a 1/4 lb pack (~27 beans) for $19. It's technically sold by JR Mushrooms & Specialties. They also sell a 1 lb bag for $52 (so basically 50 cents / bean). It's Prime eligible so the shipping is free and it got here in 2 days. I'll happily throw up a link, but not sure if that's allowed on these forums. I plan to buy a lot of these kinds of ingredients from Amazon in the future due to the combination of speed (with Prime), ease, and cost.

Off Topic - does anyone know of a good LHBS in the Alexandria, VA area? (specifically near Old Town if possible). Please PM me if you do, so as to not hijack this thread. Thanks, and happy brewing!

 

[steinsato]

Good lord that is a lot of vanilla beans. It would take me years to use that many. 2-3 beans per 5 gallons is all I use and I only make one batch of vanilla porter a year.

 

[TimTrone]

I use coffee and vanilla beans in a imperial stout. Damn fine combo

 

[darkeagle03]

Good lord that is a lot of vanilla beans. It would take me years to use that many. 2-3 beans per 5 gallons is all I use and I only make one batch of vanilla porter a year.

well it is possible to use vanilla beans for things other than brewing beer I've got plans to use them in other alcohol, sauces, some desserts (home made vanilla bean ice cream?), teas, and I've already tried some in sprite and that turned out well

 

[pilafdm]

Jay-

Grocery store, look in the area with the the spices...about $14 for 2 beans

Terribly sorry if anyone already pointed this out (haven't yet finished reading whole thread), but Peet's Coffee sells nice vanilla beans in cool little glass vials for $2.25 a pop. That way if you think even one bean will benefit your brew, you're not breaking the bank and buying extras.

Cheers!

 

[Timmyg316]

I noticed a lot of the recipes people are using vanilla in are dark beers like porter and stout. Does anyone have any ideas for a lighter color beer?

 

[pilafdm]

I noticed a lot of the recipes people are using vanilla in are dark beers like porter and stout. Does anyone have any ideas for a lighter color beer?

There's a brewery in San Francisco that makes a _delicious_ vanilla cream ale. I've only got about six beers under my brewing belt, and my attempt at a vanilla cream ale is one of them. I used light oak spirals and vanilla beans, and soaked them in Velvet Falernum rather than vodka. (Unfortunately I think it fermented at too high a temp as it came out slightly odd -- but still totally tasty!)

For my Christmas gifts this year I'm making three beers, and two of them will be using vanilla beans (a spiced ale and a vanilla wheat).

 

[jetmech_63]

I'm currently making a vanilla cream stout with 6 oz lactose. I'll boil the cream stout in the normal fashion, add 8 oz of cocoa powder and 2 beans (scraped, split) and all added with 15 minutes to go. That will spend about 10 days in primary and on transfer to secondary ill add 2 more beans, split and scraped, to secondary for usually 3 weeks. I also add an oak spiral, medium toast(soaked in bourbon to sterilize) to secondary as well. The end result will blow your mind! Do I taste cocoa, or is it vanilla, or is it oak... Very complex and über tasty! Never lasts long enough to see what extended aging will do

 

[FATC1TY]

Vanilla gets used in my porters and browns if I feel froggy.

Stouts that need vanilla will get aged on oak for more complex flavors.

Easiest way to use it, is to cut it in 1/2 inch slivers after you have split the bean down the middle. Scrape the caviar from the bean, and put it all in vodka. Sometimes I'll use bourbon to really bring it all out if bourbon will work in my recipe.

Dump it all in the secondary after about a week or 4.

Gets a nice subtle, clean vanilla flavor that you know is not extract.

 

[boisebrew]

Vanilla gets used in my porters and browns if I feel froggy.

Stouts that need vanilla will get aged on oak for more complex flavors.

Easiest way to use it, is to cut it in 1/2 inch slivers after you have split the bean down the middle. Scrape the caviar from the bean, and put it all in vodka. Sometimes I'll use bourbon to really bring it all out if bourbon will work in my recipe.

Dump it all in the secondary after about a week or 4.

Gets a nice subtle, clean vanilla flavor that you know is not extract.

How much bourbon will you use?

 

[hopmomma]

I have to ask...where are you all sourcing your beans?

My LHBS doesn't have them...and neither does my regular online shop.

Natural food stores have them, you should also be able to find them in your common grocery store in the spices section. Little more costly this way though. (2 for $15)

 

[boisebrew]

Natural food stores have them, you should also be able to find them in your common grocery store in the spices section. Little more costly this way though. (2 for $15)

I found them at an organic food store 2 for $10. I later saw them at a local home brew shop for 1.99. Per bean. The ones at the homebrew shop were much smaller and looked pretty dried out though...

 

[Slainte-brew]

I am going to go along with secondary and scraped. I've done vanilla beans three times, always in liquor. Has worked really well for me. I am usually spending around 2 dollars a bean.

 

[lunshbox]

I used 1/4 of a bean in my Irish red. It makes the creamyness really stand out.

 

[bassdokes]

Vanilla beans. Natural food, herbal and nutritional stores will usually carry them in bulk. Here is another online source. http://www.chefdepot.net/spices.htm. I just bought half pound. The more you buy the cheaper the bean. I will also use them in root beer, cream soda, and I plan to do a few bottles of homemade vanilla extract for me and for gifts.

 

[Laurel]

I have a history in food prep. Vanilla bean flavor is best extracted either via spirits or by heat. Vanilla extract is basically just split and scraped vanilla beans soaked in cheap flavorless grain alcohol. When vanilla beans are used in something like ice cream or creme brulee, they are generally split and scraped and steeped in HOT milk or cream to transfer the flavor. If I were to add vanilla to a recipe, I'd get a small (pint?) jar and throw a few (several?)whole vanilla beans in there with something like bourbon (more flavor than vodka and compliments many beers) After several weeks, pull the beans out, snip the end off, and squeeze out caviar like a toothpaste tube into the secondary. Then toss in the empty beans and your booze. Rack on top of the vanilla mixture.

 

[hopmomma]

I have a history in food prep. Vanilla bean flavor is best extracted either via spirits or by heat. Vanilla extract is basically just split and scraped vanilla beans soaked in cheap flavorless grain alcohol. When vanilla beans are used in something like ice cream or creme brulee, they are generally split and scraped and steeped in HOT milk or cream to transfer the flavor. If I were to add vanilla to a recipe, I'd get a small (pint?) jar and throw a few (several?)whole vanilla beans in there with something like bourbon (more flavor than vodka and compliments many beers) After several weeks, pull the beans out, snip the end off, and squeeze out caviar like a toothpaste tube into the secondary. Then toss in the empty beans and your booze. Rack on top of the vanilla mixture.

Thanks so much for the ideas!

 

[Montanaandy]

I have a history in food prep. Vanilla bean flavor is best extracted either via spirits or by heat. Vanilla extract is basically just split and scraped vanilla beans soaked in cheap flavorless grain alcohol. When vanilla beans are used in something like ice cream or creme brulee, they are generally split and scraped and steeped in HOT milk or cream to transfer the flavor. If I were to add vanilla to a recipe, I'd get a small (pint?) jar and throw a few (several?)whole vanilla beans in there with something like bourbon (more flavor than vodka and compliments many beers) After several weeks, pull the beans out, snip the end off, and squeeze out caviar like a toothpaste tube into the secondary. Then toss in the empty beans and your booze. Rack on top of the vanilla mixture.

Wonderful advice.

 

[a_hard]

Jay-

Grocery store, look in the area with the the spices...about $14 for 2 beans

Should be six at most. Sprouts sells em three each. Try ethnic markets for cheap spices

 

[NateLTB]

I recently discovered that Costco is the place to go for buying vanilla beans. I can usually pick up 2 tubes that are sealed together for about $12. Each tube has five or six whole Madagascar vanilla beans in them.

 

[OldWorld]

Slice the vanilla diagonally and soak in vodka. It will sanitize it but also allow some of the vanilla to secrete it's natural flavors.

Sassafras is also very good for porters.

 

[pilafdm]

CRAP! I forgot to soak my vanilla beans, and I was planning to add them in secondary tomorrow. I assume overnight won't be enough time to get ze flavorz. What should I do?! Should I:

• Not transfer to secondary for another week?
• Boil the vanilla beans with some sugar or something to try and make a syrup?
• Just plop sliced vanilla beans into secondary without soaking?
• Soak the beans now and just add at bottling?
• Bone out and just buy ready extract? (But I already bought all these nice beans?)
• Give up and cry?

Help a brewer out!

 

[FATC1TY]

You can add them without soaking, but you can run the risk of possibly, but an unlikely infection, and it might take a bit longer to get the flavor out.

So, I'd suggest, splitting them length wise, scraping it, splashing a tiny bit of vodka to wash the caviar out and off your knife and putting it all in your beer. Let it sit and you'll be fine.

 

[sccreech]

My LHBS has brewer's best vanilla beans. 10 for $11. Great Deal. You should let your LHBS know so they can stock them.

 

[cbehr]

eBay has them pretty cheap as well. I actually got 1 oz(about 8 nice 6'+beans) at my LHBS for $7.50.

 

[AdamHasser]

I'm cheap so I'm considering using vanilla extract in a 1 gallon secondary from my Irish Stout to experiment. Any recommendations on the amount I should use?