Skimming The Hot Break

[Goose]

Sadly, my lautering process is not what it should be so I do end up with a litle bit of grist in my boil. However just at the onset of the boil I have been skimming off the froth that rises to the surface which does contain some of the grist but probably numerous other protiens etc...

Is this good practice or am I wasting my time ?

 

[Norsman]

I usually don't skim the hotbreak. Can't see it hurting to skim though, most of those hot break proteins contribute to bad flavours if they end up in the final product.

 

[Stuster]

I skimmed the first few times I did AG, tried not doing it and didn't notice any difference. Skimming doesn't seem worth it to me. I'd just try to leave all the hot break behind in the kettle.

 

[Ross]

Firstly, The scum formation at the start of the boil is NOT the hot break.

Until recently I've been an avid skimmer, but after this topic came up on another forum i frequent, i have now switched to non-skimmer. Apparently removing this scum can seriuously affect the head on your beer.
The link is here The skimming starts in post#11 & the links are in post #13. My verdict is still out until I have a few beers on tap done this way...

Cheers Ross

 

[warrenlw63]

Until recently I've been an avid skimmer, but after this topic came up on another forum i frequent, i have now switched to non-skimmer. Apparently removing this scum can seriuously affect the head on your beer.

One "skum-skimmed" saison... Send that jury back out.

Warren -

 

[warrenlw63]

In all honesty Ross I've often thought this myself. OTOH once all that foam starts to go crackers on the top of the pot threatening to go straight down the sides (particularly with stouts <_< ) I find that skimming it all off settles things down quicker and lets me get the bittering hops in quicker.

If there was a way to keep it all in the pot without boiling over I'd most certainly be willing to leave the stuff alone. Never one to argue over the merits of a better head.

Warren -

 

[Asher]

I'm a scum skimmer...
Since I'm standing there watching for the early boilover and adjusting heat to get a good rolling boil I might as well be doing something... So I skim. I wait until the initial foam has rolled back into the kettle and I'm left with a small amount of greying slime - thats the bit I skim off before my first hop addition..

Asher

 

[Goat]

I skim - in an attempt to avoid the boil-over only really.

Has anyone used that anti-foaming stuff ?

I was a TWOCs a while ago and Roy was singing its praises and reckoned that by using it, boil-overs were a thing of the past.

 

[Screwtop]

I skim - in an attempt to avoid the boil-over only really.

Has anyone used that anti-foaming stuff ?

I was a TWOCs a while ago and Roy was singing its praises and reckoned that by using it, boil-overs were a thing of the past.

What ever happened to spraying the foam with cold water to stop boilover? Doesn't everyone do this!

One "skum-skimmed" saison... Send that jury back out.

Warren -

Any chance of you moving to the Sunny Coast Warren, somewhere near me, could alternate visits between you and Bind's place. And you could try my latest HefeRoggenWeizen, what a summer quaffer!

 

[Goat]

yep - that works.... most of the time.

 

[Ross]

In all honesty Ross I've often thought this myself. OTOH once all that foam starts to go crackers on the top of the pot threatening to go straight down the sides (particularly with stouts <_< ) I find that skimming it all off settles things down quicker and lets me get the bittering hops in quicker.

If there was a way to keep it all in the pot without boiling over I'd most certainly be willing to leave the stuff alone. Never one to argue over the merits of a better head.

Warren -

I'm still skimming as it foams up to avoid boil overs (must get my self a spray bottle), but allowing it to drain back through the fine sieve (flour sieve) into the kettle, This removes the fine husk particles but lets the foam back into the brew.
As you say - You can never get too much head

cheers Ross

 

[Keifer]

I have used the anti foam a few times and it looks like a boil over wont happen using one, very very useful for close to maximum capacity boils.

 

[Batz]

I don't skim it's a waste of time and does affect your beer for the worst IMO
A long time back I tried to tell brewers the foam is not hot break with varied success <_< ,I did once have a sight glass on my kettle,you can see the hot break forming in this.

Boil overs are never a problem if you just use a spray bottle of water,spray as the foam forms and keep it up for perhaps 60 secs.Too easy

Batz

I won't memtion cold break yet,wait till I get a hammering for this post first

 

[Jye]

I did once have a sight glass on my kettle,you can see the hot break forming in this.

I think the break material in a sight glass is cold break. I once blew into my sight tube (using a long piece of tube) and clear wort refilled the tube, over the next minute break material form as the wort cooled.

I also used to be a skimmer but then got lazy, with a vigorous beginning to the boil it all sticks to the sides of the kettle.

 

[JasonY]

I did this on my last brew as the kettle was very full and I didn't think my spray bottle was going to cut it. I shall blame any faults in the brew on this

 

[Batz]

I think the break material in a sight glass is cold break. I once blew into my sight tube (using a long piece of tube) and clear wort refilled the tube, over the next minute break material form as the wort cooled.

Be very surprised to see cold break forming as the wort comes to the boil :huh:

Batz

 

[Pumpy]

I am a scum skimmer it is very theraputic .

I started scum skimming since I threw my boiling pebbles at the ducks that foul my pool ( they are like glass boiling beads which prevent boilovers

Pumpy

 

[stillscottish]

I also used to be a skimmer but then got lazy, with a vigorous beginning to the boil it all sticks to the sides of the kettle.

Yeah. The outsides!!

Campbell

 

[warrenlw63]

I am a scum skimmer it is very theraputic .

Says Pumpy in between weaving baskets and repeating mantras.

Warren -

 

[Finite]

I skimed my first 3 AG's but ive now got a new kettle with a much smaller hole, I doubt i can get a strainer in there to skim it let alone without burning myself.

I might have a go of this spraying cold water...is that just to stop boil overs or does it stop the formation of hot break too?