Vanilla Mead, questions from a cheapskate.

[ButterDonkey]

I am in the process of another mead and am planning on plain ol vanilla to keep it simple and hopefully free of mistakes. My question is how big a deal is vanilla flavouring. My choices so far look like the raw bean, artificial extract and extract. I have 5 gallons going right now and have heard it is good to have maybe 2 beans per gallon, problem is I am poor and wife is a non drinker with furrowing eyebrows whenever I buy mass amounts of this type of thing. I have 2 beans but each set costs $7. So i also bought a container or artificial extract. If i pour his in to taste, will it in anyway ruin the mead? I understand more quality ingredients usually mean more quality in taste, just can't do it financially. So artificial extract yes/no?

 

[TheBrewingMedic]

Just be careful with the extracts, artificial or real they are usually grain alcohol based, I don't know if that part will really effect your mead but I've read a bunch of posts about extracts overpowering so add less than think you need in multiple dosings maybe? I also had issue with the cost of the vanilla beans, found my breshop had them at an almost reasonable price then did some extensive searching on amazon and found a place that had grade b madagascar beans (the ones used to make the extracts) 10 beans for $8

 

[biochemedic]

I have 2 beans but each set costs $7.

You're buying your beans at the wrong place. Check out online, for example here. You could get almost 5 beans for what you paid for two

 

[fatbloke]

You're buying your beans at the wrong place. Check out online, for example here. You could get almost 5 beans for what you paid for two

It pays to look around. I found 100 vanilla pods on ebay for about £6 (what's that ? about the $9 or so mark). They've been split down the middle (length-wise) and are now sitting in 2 litres of vodka, to make a home made extract.

For that price, 2 beans per gallon is nothing. Yes there's a lot kicking around, sold in nice, shiny, cigar tubes for stupid money. There's also some good prices to be had.

The ones I found were labelled as madagscar grade A vanilla beans, whether they are or not, I don't know, but they're certainly putting plenty of colour and flavour into the vodka.

 

[Matrix4b]

It pays to look around. I found 100 vanilla pods on ebay for about £6 (what's that ? about the $9 or so mark). They've been split down the middle (length-wise) and are now sitting in 2 litres of vodka, to make a home made extract.

For that price, 2 beans per gallon is nothing. Yes there's a lot kicking around, sold in nice, shiny, cigar tubes for stupid money. There's also some good prices to be had.

The ones I found were labelled as madagscar grade A vanilla beans, whether they are or not, I don't know, but they're certainly putting plenty of colour and flavour into the vodka.

I echo this. Get them in bulk, online. Amazon.com also has great prices. Just use Bulk Vanilla beans and you will find a great price. Also, you can make homemade extract to apease the wife. 6 beans to a cup of white rum or vodka, split beans and scrap, put in pod and all. Shake once a day for a week and let sit for 2 months, filter out the beans and you can make another cup of extract with it using the same process. She will apreciate the superior quality of the extract if she bakes. Even if she doesn't, I like using vanilla extract in my every day cooking, pancakes are great with a touch of vanilla, or french toast.

Many times on Amazon.com you can find free shipping as well. If you have extra then you can share those beans with friends, fellow brewers, or even friends that bake. Homemade vanilla extract makes great gifts.

As for your vanilla mead, I would use 6 beans in a 5 gal batch in the secondary fermentation. This will produce a light vanilla flavor. For extract, 1/4 cup for that amount should be really good for the homemade. I like lots of vanilla flavor. You should be alright if you use the artificial but I would wait till you are about at oaking time and then add it to a sample, to taste.

Matrix

 

[Tusch]

Beanilla.com has great products and great prices. I wouldn't use extract personally, but I was going to, it absolutely wouldn't be artificial. Mead takes too long and costs enough that it's not worth it to cheap out