When i made mine i over spiced mine (might have something to do with adding the same amount of spice i put in the boil into secondary for 4 months). I brewed in late March and didn't bottle until early this month. That being said, I like the extra spice, just probably wouldn't add to secondary until a week or 2 before bottling. As far as the vanilla bean goes, I added 3 fresh vanilla beans to mine (1.5 in boil and 1.5 in secondary for 4 months) and didnt notice hardly any vanilla flavor. was considering next time i brew this (as all my friends like it still over spiced or not) im going to add same amount of vanilla bean and at bottling add 1/8# to 1/4# of lactose for more of a cream flavor to help accentuate the vanilla a little more.