Vanilla Porter

[C-Rider]

I plan on making an American Vanilla Porter but am lost as how to add the vanilla into BeerSmith2. I don't see it listed. Spooky this will be the first time I try using a secondary.

 

[C-Rider]

Bump

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

Nevermind, I see now its to add to beersmith, not how to add to the beer...

 

[Morrey]

Not sure about plugging vanilla into BS, but I do vanilla additions regularly.

I did a pumpkin ale last month that needed a lift. I split a vanilla bean and soaked it in a shot of vodka to create a tincture. That helped, then I added that bean and another to dry hop another week.

I am soaking 2 vanilla beans with a couple of oak cubes in bourbon to pitch into a bourbon barrel porter this weekend.

I prefer to control the infusion by making tinctures....personal preference. I like whole vanilla beans vs extract...even the premium stuff.

I keg so my additions are a bit more controllable than if I was bottling. Either way, however, tinctures are quite predictable. I say this as I note you mention secondary and I assume you intend to infuse the secondary.

 

[C-Rider]

Mahalo. I have access to vanilla beans that were growing wild in one of the valleys here on O`ahu. The plan was to soak 1 bean in bourbon or some other booze and then transfer the beer to "secondary" and add the beans and bourbon for about a week.

Or since they were soaking in 80% alcohol or higher if I use Spiced Rum could I just add it/them to the primary?

 

[Morrey]

Mahalo. I have access to vanilla beans that were growing wild in one of the valleys here on O`ahu. The plan was to soak 1 bean in bourbon or some other booze and then transfer the beer to "secondary" and add the beans and bourbon for about a week.

Or since they were soaking in 80% alcohol or higher if I use Spiced Rum could I just add it/them to the primary?

I envy your access to those premium vanilla beans! With a Porter as your base, you can certainly use a variety of spirits to create a tincture that will compliment the Porter. I especially like the idea of a spiced rum infused with wild vanilla beans for what is sure to be an amazing flavor!! Beans soaked in spirits seem to extract the vanilla flavors better than if you simply drop a split bean into a secondary of just beer.

Since I keg, I feel my control is better to add a tincture so I can sample my taste profiles as I add into secondary. (I call my keg a mini brite tank or secondary of sorts) If I fall short of the taste I am looking for with the tincture infusion, I simply dry hop directly in keg (secondary) until I am there.

I see no reason why you couldn't add a tincture to primary, but if you are transferring anyway, I'd wait til you went to secondary. If you hopped a straight bean w/o making a tincture, I think primary will work fine.

Please post your results!!

 

[22galbrewer]

I have simply added 2-3 vanilla beans (per 5 gallons) to my secondary.

 

[C-Rider]

I envy your access to those premium vanilla beans! With a Porter as your base, you can certainly use a variety of spirits to create a tincture that will compliment the Porter. I especially like the idea of a spiced rum infused with wild vanilla beans for what is sure to be an amazing flavor!! Beans soaked in spirits seem to extract the vanilla flavors better than if you simply drop a split bean into a secondary of just beer.

Since I keg, I feel my control is better to add a tincture so I can sample my taste profiles as I add into secondary. (I call my keg a mini brite tank or secondary of sorts) If I fall short of the taste I am looking for with the tincture infusion, I simply dry hop directly in keg (secondary) until I am there.



Please post your results!!

We discovered the vanilla vines growing in the wild about 40 years ago. Were planted by coffee plantation workers in the early 1900's. Only last year one of my friends learned how to pollinate the flowers and now we have beans.
I see no reason why you couldn't add a tincture to primary, but if you are transferring anyway, I'd wait til you went to secondary. If you hopped a straight bean w/o making a tincture, I think primary will work fine.

 

[Morrey]

That is amazing! If not mistaken, is the vanilla bean a relative of the orchid family?

 

[C-Rider]

That is amazing! If not mistaken, is the vanilla bean a relative of the orchid family?

Yup, you got that right. Pretty greenish yellow flower about 3" across.