white film - HomeBrewChatter.com Home Brew Forum

botb78 · 10-19-2009, 09:27 PM

I put a gallon of store bought cider on the yeast cake from my 5 gallon batch when I racked it to the secondary.

When I checked on it last night, after about a week, it had a white film on top. I'll try to post a picture tonight when I get home from work, but the look like little seeds. Almost like mini sesame seeds. The cider has a funky smell about it.

The 5 gallon batch doesn't have anything like this going on, it's ready to bottle.

Is this an infection?

Ó Flannagáin · 10-19-2009, 09:58 PM

Quite possibly, a picture will definitely help

WOP31 · 10-20-2009, 12:02 AM

I wouldn't jump right to the infection camp. I have 4 different carboys of cider going on in the garage now, and they all look and smell funky. The one I did with wine yeast was almost unbearable, the smell it was putting off. The ones that were done with ale or cider yeast all got really strange Krausens on them and left some funky residue on the side of the carboys.

I would let it rock out for a couple more weeks and see how it tastes/smells.

zoebisch01 · 10-20-2009, 12:36 PM

Sounds like the start of a Lacto ferment. They start like seeds and then become a thick, wavy colony. I have seen the thin white films on occasion and I am not sure what it was but it never proved to be a souring infection. At any rate, there is nothing you can do at this point if it is (other than trying to use Campden to halt it).

10-19-2009, 09:27 PM	#1
botb78 609 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 197	white film I put a gallon of store bought cider on the yeast cake from my 5 gallon batch when I racked it to the secondary. When I checked on it last night, after about a week, it had a white film on top. I'll try to post a picture tonight when I get home from work, but the look like little seeds. Almost like mini sesame seeds. The cider has a funky smell about it. The 5 gallon batch doesn't have anything like this going on, it's ready to bottle. Is this an infection?

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10-20-2009, 12:36 PM	#4
zoebisch01 3 point plan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: House of Representin' Posts: 3,312	Sounds like the start of a Lacto ferment. They start like seeds and then become a thick, wavy colony. I have seen the thin white films on occasion and I am not sure what it was but it never proved to be a souring infection. At any rate, there is nothing you can do at this point if it is (other than trying to use Campden to halt it).