Vanilla bean in bourbon: Bacteria?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by boothbeer, Sep 20, 2015.

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  1. boothbeer

    boothbeer Initiate (0) Jul 19, 2009 Illinois

    I cut a vanilla bean into 4 pieces and scraped out the inside, and put it in a half cup of bourbon Ina small mason jar. 2 days later, the paste from the inside has a discoloration (light brown) on it. Is it possible this is mold or bacteria? Or does the paste change color as it sits in the bourbon? I wouldn't think bacteria or mold could grow in the alcohol, so looking for some confirmation. I do t want to add it to my stout and ruin it.

    Anyone have the same results with a vanilla bean?
     
    #1 boothbeer, Sep 20, 2015
  2. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    It's highly unlikely mold or bacteria is growing in your bourbon. Maybe even impossible.
     
    #2 Brew_Betty, Sep 20, 2015
    Avelasquez80, DrMindbender and corbmoster like this.
  3. boothbeer

    boothbeer Initiate (0) Jul 19, 2009 Illinois

    I thought so. But the paste looks odd. Maybe the alcohol is breaking it down
     
    #3 boothbeer, Sep 20, 2015
  4. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Mmmmmmn...odd Bourbon and Vanilla paste : )
     
    #4 GreenKrusty101, Sep 21, 2015
    Avelasquez80 likes this.
  5. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    Hmmmm... I don't know. Unless you added something else, ethyl alcohol shouldn't be breaking it down. I bet it is a it more likely that some of the compounds in the bean seeds actually just dissolved into solution.
     
    #5 corbmoster, Sep 21, 2015
  6. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    do you have teenagers in the house? checking to make sure how bourbon-y is the bourbon is...
     
    #6 telejunkie, Sep 21, 2015
  7. Lukass

    Lukass Pooh-Bah (2,891) Dec 16, 2012 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Agree with @telejunkie here.. assuming your bourbon hasn't been diluted with water, (as I would've done when I was younger) there's no way anything could live in there. I actually have a tincture of the same mixture sitting right now, and yea it changes color a bit but I wouldn't worry about it.
     
    #7 Lukass, Sep 21, 2015
  8. boothbeer

    boothbeer Initiate (0) Jul 19, 2009 Illinois

    It is buffalo trace, and it was a brand new bottle. I scooped out a chunk of the bean paste, and the light brown part was slimy. I'm not taking the risk of infecting my whole batch of imperial stout. I put the tincture in the fridge, and I'm thinking that may have something to do with it.
     
    #8 boothbeer, Sep 22, 2015
  9. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    Almost nothing survives sitting in alcohol man. Damn near nothing. Ethanol is what we use in my lab to sanitize work spaces.
     
    #9 corbmoster, Sep 22, 2015
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