Yeast head removal

[user 40634]

Is it necessary to remove the head of the yeast during fermentation? I’ve read that any brown sludge on the surface should be taken off but that if it falls into the wort it will taint the flavour.

Any advice would be appreciated. I’m on my 4th AG batch and, thanks to the advice I’ve previously received each on this site, each one is better than the last.

 

[moto748]

I think that used to be the accepted wisdom decades ago when I first did home-brew. I seldom bother to do it now, and I doubt many other posters here do either. I think the idea was that was hop debris, but these days, with many people using hop pellets rather than leaf, and also constraining them inside hop bags etc, I suppose that it's less of an issue. Normally you can leave the krausen on top of the beer, it will dissipate in time.

 

[Agentgonzo]

There's no need to remove any yeast. It won't affect your beer.

 

[The Baron]

I think it is like skimming the hot break off the boil its entirely up to yourself if you think it is better do it if not IMO it will not make any difference as Moto said there are a lot of old and new things that are questionable in whether they do add to the process

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Beer myth territory

 

[The Baron]

Yep it certainly is CC

 

[Brew_DD2]

Leave it. Likely outcomes of this are:

Introducing infection
Removing healthy, active yeast.