Vanilla Bean Porter will be release on MONDAY January 16th.  It will be sold as new and refill growlers, priced as $10 refills and $15 new fills.  It is only available at the brewery.. and while it lasts!

Last year we made a Tahitian Vanilla Bean Porter, named mostly because the vanilla beans that we got from our good friend Ian Sullivan at the Underground Bakery were from Tahiti.  This year they did not.  They came from Madagascar.  So this led us to wonder…

Madagascar vs. Tahitian Vanilla Beans. What’s the Difference?

And here is that we found, thanks to ehow.com

Different types of vanilla beans have different applications and uses. Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans are no exception. When comparing the two, keep in mind the properties that differentiate them, such as flavor profile and origin. These vanilla beans are different and therefore have different purposes.

Origin

• Madagascar vanilla beans are grown on the islands of Reunion and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, about 75 percent of the world’s supply of vanilla comes from this region. Tahitian vanilla is much more rare. It’s native to Oceania, a cluster of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Scent and Flavor

• Madagascar vanilla beans have a very rich, full-bodied woody flavor. They are used most frequently used beans because they are so versatile. Tahitian vanilla beans are much more delicate than Madagascar beans. Rather than being sweet and strong, Tahitian vanilla beans have light floral overtones.

Culinary Uses

• Both Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans can be used in cooking, but Madagascar beans have more applications. Madagascar vanilla beans are most commonly used to flavor ice cream, baked goods, chocolate and other sweets. Tahitian vanilla beans are usually paired with delicate desserts, such as fruit-based items, ice creams and custards. Tahitian vanilla beans are best used in foods that don’t require intense heat to prepare.

Other Uses

• Madagascar vanilla beans are primarily used in cooking. However, the essential oil from Tahitian vanilla beans is often mixed into perfumes and soaps. Because the scent of Tahitian vanilla beans is so delicate, they are more subtle when added to body fragrances.

Storage

• Both Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans need to be stored in the same manner. The cured beans should be kept in an airtight container. As heat can dry and damage the beans, place them in a dark, cool place (such as a pantry). Both types of vanilla beans last about 18 months under these conditions.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5448896_madagascar-vs-tahitian-vanilla-beans.html