Vanilla Beans

[C-Rider]

We have discovered Vanilla vines growing in the "jungle" and have tried pollinating over 200 of the flowers. Beans seem to be forming on a lot of them. Research says it takes at least 6 months for the beans to ripen.

I plan to try a Vanilla Porter, but I only do 2 gallon batches. From what I've read one bean might be to much for 2 gallons. What do you think?

 

[Jwin]

Make some homemade extract w vodka. A lot of it. And forget about them for years to come. Time is money

 

[mrdail87]

2 beans is pretty standard for a 5 gallon batch. Proportionately, 1 bean in a 2 gallon wouldn't be too terribly high.

Of course they are fresh, and it's hard to say what the effect will be without knowing what kind of vanilla beans they are. If you want to play it safe, just put a portion of the bean in.

 

[signpost]

200 vanilla beans would definitely be too much for a 2 gallon batch.

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

200 vanilla beans would definitely be too much for a 2 gallon batch.

I don't man, I could go for a 200 Bean Beer.

Joking aside I don't think I've tasted *any* beer with vanilla where I had the thought "wow theres way too much vanilla in this beer". Because its so aromatic it doesn't necessarily contribute a ton of flavor on the tongue, my personal theory is its really hard to over do it with vanilla in a beer.

 

[signpost]

I don't man, I could go for a 200 Bean Beer.

Joking aside I don't think I've tasted *any* beer with vanilla where I had the thought "wow theres way too much vanilla in this beer". Because its so aromatic it doesn't necessarily contribute a ton of flavor on the tongue, my personal theory is its really hard to over do it with vanilla in a beer.

I agree completely, and I'm glad my joke wasn't taken too seriously.

I did a 5-gallon batch of porter with 3 vanilla beans and whenever I make it again, I'd probably go with 4 or 5 of them if not even more.

Also, a tip I picked up on another thread here on HBT - if you don't have hundreds of beans growing near you, good deals on vanilla beans can be found on eBay.

 

[LandoLincoln]

We have discovered Vanilla vines growing in the "jungle" and have tried pollinating over 200 of the flowers. Beans seem to be forming on a lot of them. Research says it takes at least 6 months for the beans to ripen.

I plan to try a Vanilla Porter, but I only do 2 gallon batches. From what I've read one bean might be to much for 2 gallons. What do you think?

I typically use 3 beans for a 5 gallon batch and that gives a nice vanilla presence but is definitely not overpowering.

So one bean for 2 gallons wouldn't be over-doing it in my opinion.