Are You A Skimmer

[Ducatiboy stu]

Who skims off their wort at the start of the boil.

Some people do, cause they dont like the idea of the scum going into the beer, and it makes for a clearer beer

But, I did read a thing on here that the "scum" helps with the formation of the hot break, as it gives the proteins something to cling to

So what does everyone else do..

Will we and up with the " No-chill, No-Skim" method.... :lol:

 

[johnno]

I do sometimes.
Cant say i have noticed any difference.

cheers

johnno

 

[Gough]

Haven't 'skimmed' to this point

Shawn.

 

[shmick]

Couldn't really be bothered.
Unless it's looking very brown or has a few bugs or something h34r:

Never noticed any difference eitherway.

 

[sluggerdog]

used to but have not done for the last 6 or so batches, found no differance so now I won't worry about it anymore...

 

[Stuster]

used to but have not done for the last 6 or so batches, found no differance so now I won't worry about it anymore...

[post="117208"][/post]​

Ditto.

 

[nifty]

I used to but then started fwh'ing. Didn't want to remove the hops and didn't see any difference.

nifty

 

[Guest Lurker]

No need to skim. Just screw the Nasa all the way open, turn away to measure the hops, and when you hear a bubbling hissing sound your beer has skimmed itself.

 

[Tony M]

But, I did read a thing on here that the "scum" helps with the formation of the hot break, as it gives the proteins something to cling to

[post="117198"][/post]​

Have never skimmed. I also read a long time ago that it was a desirable part of the alchemy, but I cant remember why.

 

[Tony]

Guest lurker......

I almost wet my self when i read that

I thought the same when i had a boil over the other day.

Turned around to stir dunkel decoction and a loud hissing noise started.

Turned off gas, foaming stopped and thought to my self......... well thats been skimmed

other than that boilover i have never skimmed a beer so cant comment. I dont skim the crap in the firmenter either.

oh..... i tell a lie!

I did skim a dead cricket that kept popping up in the froth of the boil once ages ago He must have got in the kettle and when i saw him i said a few nice words that would make your mum cringe and spent 5 min trying to catch his dead boiled body.

The beer was fine though.

Was going to call it "the friendly cricket ale"

It ended up qualifying for the AABC B)

cheers

 

[Doc]

I skim.
Only reason is because with 47 litres in the kettle before boil, skimming once it has just come to a boil stops the boil over.

Beers,
Doc

 

[Stagger]

Same as Doc i skim at the start of the boil then all is ok never had a boil over that way. Only time i had a boil over was when i didn't skim.

Stagger

 

[warrenlw63]

Self-confessed skum skimmer... We even have a secret handshake. h34r:

Warren -

 

[neonmeate]

i do sometimes and then other times i just plain don't.

another good reason for doing that nobody's said yet is you get slightly better hop utilisation. but probably no more than your margin for error in weighing the hops anyway...

i love it when there are no right answers, it means i can vary my brewing day every time - skim, don't skim, keeps me entertained.

 

[Duff]

Nope.

 

[bindi]

I skim.
Only reason is because with 47 litres in the kettle before boil, skimming once it has just come to a boil stops the boil over.

Beers,
Doc

[post="117223"][/post]​

Wish I had read that a few hours ago I had the same in 50L kettle pre boil and used the above method of turn your back and self skim :blink: did a little hissing no worries though.

 

[Trough Lolly]

Skim the boil - no

Skim in primary - sometimes...

Cheers,
TL

 

[homebrewworld.com]

Yep, me a Skimma !
Cant let that brown,cream gunk stay in my boil !

 

[Ross]

Self-confessed skum skimmer... We even have a secret handshake. h34r:

Warren -

[post="117235"][/post]​

Yep, i'll shake on that ... always skimmed, stops boil overs & gives me something to do

cheers ross...

 

[tangent]

i thought because it's full of hop bits that it'd be better off in the boil