Vanilla Beans -- do I use the scrapings or just the pod?

[BrewBlender]

I'm planning on brewing Denny Conn's Vanilla Bourbon Porter soon. I was wondering when using Vanilla Beans--I know you're supposed to slit it and scrape the insides...but do you add these insides to the beer or dispose it? Are you supposed to just add the pod parts?

Thanks for everyone's time and input.

[bj_braggot]

Use all of the bean. Scrape the insides and chop the empty pods into small pieces.

[Lufah]

Use all of the bean. Scrape the insides and chop the empty pods into small pieces.

Yup. Good recipe. Enjoy.

Travis

[crazymonkey15]

Use all of the bean. Scrape the insides and chop the empty pods into small pieces.

The lady at the Organic Store even warned me to make sure that I knew to use the insides as well as the pod, something about the gunk inside being where most of the goodies are. Let me know how you add it to the secondary I think I got more vanilla on my hands than in the carboy.

[Bugeater]

The method I used for this recipe was to cut and scrape the beans and add them to some Jim Beam BLack Bourbon for a few days. I then dumped the whole works into the secondary carboy. When the vanilla tastes right I will transfer it to a keg and add more bourbon to taste.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[SaintTaris]

I brewed a recipe similar to DVBIP and it was tasted on the lost archive show. Be careful not to add too much Bourbon. I added about 4oz, I thought it was great but some said it was waayyy to much.

If you could, brew 10 gallons and experiment with different amounts of bourbon.


Ohh, I used wild Turkey instead of Jim Beam.

[Bugeater]

Ohh, I used wild Turkey instead of Jim Beam.

Yeah, Wild Turkey is a different flavor profile than Jim Beam. The BVIP of mine they tasted during the Winter Warmer show had 12 ounces in a 5 gallon batch and they thought it was just right. I have had enough Wild Turkey in the past to know that a little does go a long way.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[SaintTaris]

Ohh, I used wild Turkey instead of Jim Beam.

Yeah, Wild Turkey is a different flavor profile than Jim Beam. The BVIP of mine they tasted during the Winter Warmer show had 12 ounces in a 5 gallon batch and they thought it was just right. I have had enough Wild Turkey in the past to know that a little does go a long way.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

I used Wild Turkey because I thought it was a superior Bourbon. In the end, I'm a brutha, WTF do I know about Bourbon?