Vanilla beans

[d3track]

So I am going to try doing a secondary with vanilla beans for the oatmeal stout in primary.

In looking around, I'm not fully sure on the process, so thanks to everyone for helping to clarify if this is correct:

Spray beans & knife with starsan
Split beans lengthwise, scrape insides, and cut into 1" chunks
Add everything - pods & insides - to fermentor
Rack beer on top, age for 2-4 weeks

If I should do anything differently, I'm all ears n eyes

 

[neovox]

I don't see anthing wrong with that process.

 

[LLBeanJ]

When I've added vanilla beans to secondary, this is the process I followed...

1. Split pods lengthwise and scrape out beans into a small container, along with the pods cut into 1" lengths.
2. Add about 1 oz of vodka.
3. Place lid on container, shake it all up, and store out of sunlight.
4. Shake the container once per day for at least a week.
5. Pitch entire contents into secondary and rack beer over it. Leave for at least 2 weeks.

You're essentially making vanilla extract. The vodka will sanitize and will not be noticable in your brew.

 

[Golddiggie]

When I've added vanilla beans to secondary, this is the process I followed...

1. Split pods lengthwise and scrape out beans into a small container, along with the pods cut into 1" lengths.
2. Add about 1 oz of vodka.
3. Place lid on container, shake it all up, and store out of sunlight.
4. Shake the container once per day for at least a week.
5. Pitch entire contents into secondary and rack beer over it. Leave for at least 2 weeks.

You're essentially making vanilla extract. The vodka will sanitize and will not be noticable in your brew.

That's pretty much what I was going to post. You can use other alcohols instead of vodka, just be aware that you'll get the flavor of the alcohol in the brew. Depending on what it is, it could be rather evident.

For the vodka, you want the cleanest you can get. At least three distillations and three or more filterings. The more of each, the cleaner it will be, the less flavor you'll get from the vodka. I actually picked up some Skyy vodka to make my extract. It's been in process for about four months now. In another month, or two, I'll filter and bottle it up.

Something else to keep in mind... You can get vanilla flavors from aging on/with oak.

 

[jaytizzle]

I did the process using a couple of oz of good bourbon and two vanilla beans for a 5-gallon batch of a porter. It turned out AMAZING! I'm about to duplicate it for an imperial stout using 3 or possibly 4 vanilla beans.

1 - cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise
2 - scrape out all the gooey goodness
3 - cut beans into 1/2" to 1" pieces
4 - put in plastic container with 1 to 2 oz of good liquor (bourbon or vodka would be my first choice)
5 - shake the container a couple of times a day for at least a week
6 - dump the whole container, liquor and all, into the fermenter and leave it for at least a week
7 - cold crash for 2 to 3 days
8 - rack to keg or bottling bucket for packaging

 

[dynamobrewing]

Randy Mosher suggests in Radical Brewing that quality of vodka is irrelevant for making extracts, that the extra dollars will only make you feel better about your choice. I've only done it once with Smirnoff, and it was OK, so I'm not much of a source myself. I think I'd use more than one bean next time, though.

 

[Golddiggie]

Randy Mosher suggests in Radical Brewing that quality of vodka is irrelevant for making extracts, that the extra dollars will only make you feel better about your choice. I've only done it once with Smirnoff, and it was OK, so I'm not much of a source myself. I think I'd use more than one bean next time, though.

I was going with information I found on making vanilla extract, where you want the cleanest vodka you can get. Besides, Skyy vodka wasn't all that much. I looked at how it was processed, not the brand. For all I care it could be Uncle Yuri's brand that's distilled and filtered more, which I would get.

 

[d3track]

Ok, maybe I will stop n get vodka for the beans - is it bad luck to have a vodka tonic while racking?

 

[bssrf4]

Ok, maybe I will stop n get vodka for the beans - is it bad luck to have a vodka tonic while racking?

Never bad luck.

 

[Golddiggie]

... is it bad luck to have a vodka tonic while racking?

Only if you have too many of them...

 

[Stauffbier]

I've used the vodka method, and I didn't care for the flavor it left in my beer. I'd be willing to try bourbon, but I have a felling I wouldn't like that either. Maybe if I cut back and just use about half an ounce it would be less detectable...

 

[ASassyBeerChick83]

This sounds interesting....

I might have to eventually try this with a brew...
What kind of brew do you guys to use the Vodka-Vanilla Bean extract?



Peace. Love. & Beer!!
CHEERS!!!

 

[Stauffbier]

This sounds interesting....

I might have to eventually try this with a brew...
What kind of brew do you guys to use the Vodka-Vanilla Bean extract?



Peace. Love. & Beer!!
CHEERS!!!

I like Vanilla Espresso Stout..

 

[d3track]

This sounds interesting....

I might have to eventually try this with a brew...
What kind of brew do you guys to use the Vodka-Vanilla Bean extract?



Peace. Love. & Beer!!
CHEERS!!!

I'm using an oatmeal stout (and adding coffee at bottling) - full disclosure - trying this to see how the flavors work out, end goal trying to mimic Surly's Mo's Bender in a future batch

 

[BeerChef17]

another cool trick for cleaning out the beans is to pop them in the microwave for like 5-10s. Once they come out they are very easy to split length wise and even easier to clean. Honestly if you are adding them to the secondary and dont want to sanitize with alcohol you should be fine just throwing them in since most of your alcohol has already been produced. If you are worried just wipe the pods down with sanitizer.

 

[Golddiggie]

This sounds interesting....

I might have to eventually try this with a brew...
What kind of brew do you guys to use the Vodka-Vanilla Bean extract?

None yet. I'm making it to use as gifts this holiday season as well as when I want some in a brew. I have enough beans, and patience, that I can simply split, scrape, and dump them in if/when needed. :rockin:

 

[bottlebomber]

I am so pissed off right now... It bought a pound each of Tahitian and Madagascar gourmet quality beans, turkey bagged em, and then I stashed them somewhere in either the pantry or the garage and I can not find them to save my soul. If I can't locate them in a month when I put my creme brûlée porter in secondary I will have to buy more

 

[Golddiggie]

I know exactly where the balance of the 1/2# of Madagascar premium beans I bought are...

I might have to look up the creme brulee recipe to see if it's something I'd like...

 

[Stauffbier]

I am so pissed off right now... It bought a pound each of Tahitian and Madagascar gourmet quality beans, turkey bagged em, and then I stashed them somewhere in either the pantry or the garage and I can not find them to save my soul. If I can't locate them in a month when I put my creme brûlée porter in secondary I will have to buy more

I hate when that happens!

 

[ASassyBeerChick83]

None yet. I'm making it to use as gifts this holiday season as well as when I want some in a brew. I have enough beans, and patience, that I can simply split, scrape, and dump them in if/when needed. :rockin:

How do you use the vanilla beans to give as Christmas gifts?

 

[Golddiggie]

How do you use the vanilla beans to give as Christmas gifts?

The vanilla extract I'm making from them...

BTW, I never said they would be for xmas... I said 'holiday season'...

 

[Stauffbier]

The Creme Brulee thing seems to be trending lately. I might have to try it out...

 

[ASassyBeerChick83]

The vanilla extract I'm making from them...

BTW, I never said they would be for xmas... I said 'holiday season'...

Dang. Right. Holiday Gifts.
Excuse Me. :cross:

 

[Golddiggie]

Dang. Right. Holiday Gifts.
Excuse Me. :cross:

Not everyone celebrates xmas...

 

[d3track]

I've used the vodka method, and I didn't care for the flavor it left in my beer. I'd be willing to try bourbon, but I have a felling I wouldn't like that either. Maybe if I cut back and just use about half an ounce it would be less detectable...

What type of vodka did you use that you got the flavor from?

 

[ASassyBeerChick83]

Not everyone celebrates xmas...

You are totally right!!

 

[bottlebomber]

The Creme Brulee thing seems to be trending lately. I might have to try it out...

I'm just flying blind... I'm going to add a pound of burnt caramelized sugar in the secondary, and prime with burnt sugar as well.

Dang. Right. Holiday Gifts.
Excuse Me. :cross:

Not everyone celebrates xmas...

Ok, time for group hug.

 

[ASassyBeerChick83]

Ok, time for group hug.

True. Story.
HUGS!!

& CHEERS!!

 

[d3track]

So....does making the vodka extract improve/increase the vodka flavor vs. just adding the chopped/scraped beans?

 

[Stauffbier]

What type of vodka did you use that you got the flavor from?

I've tried it a couple times with two different brands, and to be honest I don't remember what brands they were. I do know that they were cheap-o's.. I might have a sensitive pallet, or it's even possible that it was just in my head. I swore I could taste the "hot" taste of the alcohol, though. Somehow it just goes against my grain to add alcohol to beer...