Vanilla bean cream ale......need opinion

[huskers]

I'm going to be attempting to clone a beer my wife enjoys that taste like cream soda.

I will obviously be using vanilla in this recipe but was wondering about using lactose to try and get that sweet cream flavor?


Any thoughts on this?

 

[Pappers_]

In my experience, lactose adds body but not much flavor, including sweetness.

 

[tmendick]

Whats the beer that you are trying to recreate?

 

[huskers]

Whats the beer that you are trying to recreate?

The vanilla bean blonde from infusion.

They just informed me there is no lactose in that beer I guess.

 

[Pappers_]

The vanilla bean blonde from infusion.

They just informed me there is no lactose in that beer I guess.

Yes, lactose wouldn't work well in a blonde, probably. If you want a little sweetness, maybe mash a little higher (if you're doing all grain) or steep a little caramel 20 (if you're doing extract).

 

[tmendick]

If I were you, I would soak about 3-4 vanilla beans in some vanilla vodka and throw that into the secondary or keg.
I've made my fair share of vanilla beers, but I usually throw a little coffee bean into it so it's not so over the top sweet like Infusion's attempt

 

[huskers]

If I were you, I would soak about 3-4 vanilla beans in some vanilla vodka and throw that into the secondary or keg.
I've made my fair share of vanilla beers, but I usually throw a little coffee bean into it so it's not so over the top sweet like Infusion's attemp

Thanks.

My wife loves the stuff, I'm with you though.....to sweet.

I will do just what you told me.

Appreciate it.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

I did something similar a few years back. Brewed a standard cream ale, and then added ~5 vanilla beans and a ton of sweet orange peel after fermentation subsided. I let that sit around for about two weeks and then kegged. Turned out to be a pretty darn good Dreamsicle Ale.