[BrewBama]

I read skimming hot break foam at beginning of boil makes for a clearer finished beer.  I have never done that.  Do you skim?

[Wort-H.O.G.]

i do -couldn't tell you if it matters or not.

[flbrewer]

If you're using Whirfloc...I don't think it'll make any difference. It will all settle out.

[HoosierBrew]

I read Gordon's quote about that and started doing it a few years back. If it helps it's not in a major way. 

[denny]

I read skimming hot break foam at beginning of boil makes for a clearer finished beer.  I have never done that.  Do you skim?

Nope.  It's an old, totally disproven myth.

[Wort-H.O.G.]

I read skimming hot break foam at beginning of boil makes for a clearer finished beer.  I have never done that.  Do you skim?

Nope.  It's an old, totally disproven myth.

how about big foot.....i want to believe he's running around your neck of the woods 

[Stevie]

I don't bother.

[BrewBama]

Great feedback.  Thanks folks!

[Stevie]

One thing it helps is prevention of boil overs at the beginning of the boil. If using a kettle at capacity, it helps to get rid of the sticky stuff.

[majorvices]

One thing it helps is prevention of boil overs at the beginning of the boil. If using a kettle at capacity, it helps to get rid of the sticky stuff.

I can fill my 14 gallon kettle to about 1/2 inch from the top and not have a boil over and don't skim foam. OTOH I am a ninja.

[BrewBama]

It's amazing to me how much disproven or mis-information is out there in reference to home brewing.

[brewinhard]

I skim the foam prior to adding my first hop additon (in the boil) only because I have noticed that I end up with less trub/cold break in the bottom of the kettle when I am done brewing.

[flbrewer]

It's amazing to me how much disproven or mis-information is out there in reference to home brewing.

Like the myth that hot side aeration doesn't exist.

[jeffy]

I usually add hops as a first wort charge which makes it counterproductive to skim the foam.  When I do not first wort hop, I have been known to skim, but this is mostly because some really good brewers I know skim, not because I have seen any difference.

[Slowbrew]

For what it's worth (if it's worth anything) I don't and have never skimmed off the hot break foam.  It typically falls back into the wort and to me it's easier to deal with the trub than try to skim.

I read way back in the early days of this hobby that the foam contributed to stability of the head in the glass.  That's probably a myth too.   

Never seemed worth it to me.  A spray bottle of water will make the foam fall if it gets out of hand.

IMHO.

Paul