“Vanilla” in common use, has become synonymous with “boring” or “plain.”  And yet, brewers will tell you that it is an excellent flavor in beer – and not just stouts.  Real connoisseurs of vanilla will even tell you it is one of the most complex spices, with a broad array of aromas and flavors coming from different varieties of vanilla grown in different areas around the world.  Think you know vanilla?  Think again.  There’s nothing boring or plain about it.

Vanilla Expert Guests

Horus Aged Ales was started in in April 2015 by Kyle Harrop. It has been a one man operation since the beginning. It was built around a business model that would allow him to do it on a small scale and work a full time aerospace career. Horus has had a bottle club named The Convocation for seven years now that has grown from its original 200 members to 600 members now. There is a lottery for a few new members every May.

Ted Jones has a long history in restaurants and food services, having started seven restaurants, and other companies involved in commercial kitchens and ingredients.  Since 1993, Ted has been working with vanilla and now sources vanilla from over 50 countries at Vanillas of the World, supplying major internet resellers, ice cream manufacturers, breweries, chocolate makers and spice companies.

Additional Listening

The Brewer to Brewer Podcast

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Estrella Galicia is an independent, family-owned brewery  in northwest Spain, founded in 1906. Estrella Galicia Cerveza Especial, a world class lager is brewed with the finest malt and locally cultivated Galician hops in a state-of-the-art facility in A Coruna. Recognized around the world for quality and exceptional character. Estrella Galicia is “A beer like no other.”