Hot Break Question

[phill71]

I've always hovered over my simmering brew, diligently skimming off the hot break 'crust' and flicking out the garage door and usually all over the dogs back, who seems to enjoy lapping it up off the grass :wha:

It's just occured to me however, that the hot break and all its crud might well be beneficial to the overall process and should I just put the spoon down, sit back and let things be?

Phill

 

[dennisking]

A rolling boil is preferable to a simmering boil, I don't really get any crud on the surface.

 

[Rolfster]

Have you put hops in at that point? Are you skimming off hops and good stuff that comes from the hops?

I don't skim and find that the crud I don't want is left in the bottom of the boiler, in a nice pile after I whirlpool the wort and drain it.

Also I don't really know what I am talking about!
You could try redoind a brew you have already done, without skimming and see which is best!

R

 

[jonnymorris]

Doesn't sound like the hot break... more like proteins forming on the surface. As above you need a good rolling boil to achieve the hot break which I've only seen a couple of times in my 13 AG brews and then only towards the end of my boil (I usually aim for 75mins) when I've had the lid mostly on.

Either way, your hops should filter our whatever it is so I wouldn't bother skimming if I were you.

 

[Duncs]

Have you put hops in at that point? Are you skimming off hops and good stuff that comes from the hops?

I hope not if his dog is eating it, hops are poisonous to dogs

 

[adomant]

Hot break appears as little beads, they are not beneficial to beer, hooking the out is not a bad idea

 

[oz11]

For a discussion on the correct definition of "hot break" see here

 

[Jimmy321]

I always thought that the hot break was the snowflake looking things.

 

[Aleman]

I always thought that the hot break was the snowflake looking things.

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: