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Author Topic: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?  (Read 8402 times)

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #15 on: April 07, 2014, 08:10:31 am »
I skimmed a couple times then I heard (Bamforth I think) on the BN say that the top foam at hot break, if left in, will bind to tannins and other polyphenols. I dont recall which episode, and cant vouch for my memory on this. I do recall them saying that skimming vs not skimming is not much difference, so I just quit doing it.
I know it doesn't make much difference in the final product if you skim or not. It does help eliminate boil overs if you skim. Sometimes I don't skim if it looks like the boil will behave, and no problems there.
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Offline Stevie

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #16 on: April 07, 2014, 08:18:06 am »
I rarely skim. If I do want to skim on a lighter beer, I bring to a boil slower than normal. I find this gives more time to skim before the boil pulls it back in.

Offline Slowbrew

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #17 on: April 07, 2014, 08:30:16 am »
I have never tried skimming the hot break.  I vaguely recall some folks saying that the hot break contributed to head retention somehow.  Never looked any further into and after 17 years I don't really plan too.  It's interesting to hear people opinions though.

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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #18 on: April 07, 2014, 08:34:34 am »
I know it probably doesn't do much. I think I started doing it because Gordon wrote in his book that it could help with clarity in pale beers. Haven't really noticed it to any big extent.
Jon H.

Offline dkfick

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #19 on: April 07, 2014, 08:40:25 am »
I don't skim the boil kettle ever... but I do sometimes skim off some of the oils and trub during fermentation... but only when I plan to top crop... ;-)
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Offline denny

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #20 on: April 07, 2014, 09:23:01 am »
I'm a skimmer, as it gives me something to do while waiting for the boil.

+1.  Me too.

I'm not a skimmer because I've got better things to do during the boil than stand there skimming!  In addition, I usually FWH and I don't know how I could skim the foam but leave the hops.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #21 on: April 07, 2014, 10:17:30 am »
I'm a skimmer, as it gives me something to do while waiting for the boil.

+1.  Me too.

I'm not a skimmer because I've got better things to do during the boil than stand there skimming!  In addition, I usually FWH and I don't know how I could skim the foam but leave the hops.

Yes, Denny, when we FWH, no skimming. The hops do help to control the break. When I do skim, it is only for a little bit, until the boil is behaving. My assistant, aka wife, is cleaning out the mash tun while I skim.
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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Hot Break - How to know when you've hit it?
« Reply #22 on: April 07, 2014, 10:21:54 am »
I only skim until I add hops, too. Again, probably not much difference anyway.
Jon H.