When do I add vanilla beans to vanilla porter? and how much should I add V
I put them in the secondary. I usually use 2 beans, but it will depend on how fresh they are. Slit them lengthwise and use a knife to scrape out all the stuff inside. Put that in the fermenter, than coarsely chop the pods and add them, too. Rack the beer onto the vanilla. Start tasting after 5 days, but it may take up to 2 weeks to get the vanilla character you want. It’s a good idea to let it get a little stronger than you think you need since it fades. I’ve never had a need to sanitize the beans and I hate the “heat” that soaking them in vodka gives. By the time the beer gets to secondary it has alcohol and a low pH that makes it resistant to infection.
