Vanilla Beans

[GrandpasFootsteps]

I have about 60 dried vanilla beans that I bought online, leftover from a vodka infusion project I finished. Any suggestions on applications for these vanilla beans? Besides ice cream, which I'm already planning to do. Any use in a new wine project?

 

[winemaker_3352]

I added a vanilla bean in my chokecherry and caramel crab apple wines - adds some body and great smell!!

 

[Duster]

interesting, I would have never thought of adding vanilla to a wine, thanks for the idea

 

[mmadmikes1]

I put vanilla beans in almost everything I make. I am making vanilla mead right now. I put 10 ground up beans in a 6 1/2 gallon batch. It taste like cream soda right now and the SG is at 1.05. I think this is going to be a real good experiment

 

[J-Gee]

Mike...how did the vanilla beans work with this mead,after aging?

 

[tonyandkory]

I put 1 fresh vanilla bean in a 1 gallon raspberry mead I made last year and even after all this time the vanilla is still to predominate.

But I split and scraped the bean also so that may have had something to do with it.

 

[mmadmikes1]

I can't tell how it turned out this time but it has been good in the past. The batch is still in aging. And yes I put vanilla beans in Raspberry mead too. Just be careful not to get carried away. You want a hint of Vanilla not raspberry flavored Vanilla mead

 

[J-Gee]

I may try it on a cherry melomel or cherry wine.I'll see how they continue to age. I've got blackberry on deck,but can't see adding beans to that.Do they store well?

 

[mmadmikes1]

I do! and it turns out NICE

 

[mmadmikes1]

I used Vanilla beans and made a mead with Ale yeast. It finished at about 8% and taste like cream soda. I kegged it and carbed it.

 

[Deezil]

I used Vanilla beans and made a mead with Ale yeast. It finished at about 8% and taste like cream soda. I kegged it and carbed it.

Any chance at more info on this batch?
PM me if ya can, sounds awesome.. Dont wanna derail the thread too much

 

[GrandpasFootsteps]

It's been 18 months since I opened this thread and just last week I received another batch of vanilla beans. I vacuum sealed them into 7 bags of 30 long beans each. Should keep a long time since they are dried. My previous 4 gallons of vodka were finally consumed and now I'm making more. Should be ready by October. I use 20 beans per gallon to infuse the vodka. For wine, I plan to use only 1-2 beans per 5 gallons.

 

[mmadmikes1]

I use 3 for 6 gallons all the time. More when making Vanilla mead. 6 or 8 depending on my mood.
Dezzil I just used a straight honey mead recipe with 8 beans and a little pineapple use to bring the PH down. Then added one packet of ale yeast to a apple juice starter. Nothing fancy

 

[Deezil]

Dezzil I just used a straight honey mead recipe with 8 beans and a little pineapple use to bring the PH down. Then added one packet of ale yeast to a apple juice starter. Nothing fancy

S'all i was lookin for, my friend!

Thinking im gonna 'Nilla a fraction of my big batch of mead coming up... Pineapple to bring down the pH eh? Must use apple juice for all your starters? Which ale yeast?

 

[J-Gee]

There seems to be varied opinions on the number of beans,strength,etc. Evidently,once again it goes back to personal preference. I think I will experiment with smaller batches.Thanks for the input!

 

[mmadmikes1]

S'all i was lookin for, my friend!

Thinking im gonna 'Nilla a fraction of my big batch of mead coming up... Pineapple to bring down the pH eh? Must use apple juice for all your starters? Which ale yeast?

Yes I use apple for all my starters. Pineapple juice is high acid. I use Wyeast American Ale 1056

 

[Polarhug]

I put 2 Madagascar Vanilla Beans in my Caramel Apple Spiced holiday wine last year, it was really good. Put them in 2 weeks before bottling as they were pretty strong.