White foam/scum??

[Bear979]

Hi all,
I made a pumpkin pie mead back at the start of October, I've racked it once and went to rack it today again but there was this weird white scum, like a skin, sitting on top. Any ideas to what it is? Should I be worried??
Cheers.

 

[noblesquirrel]

That sure looks like a pellicle. Might be a brett infection. If it's white, it probably isn't just Sacc. yeast.

 

[FermentedFruit]

I had that on my batch of figgy..... Not sure what it was but after waiting a week or so it seemed to be multiplying. Never had it before but it seemed bad so when I racked it I was very careful to to avoid it. Also since it was done fermenting any way I swirled some pure potato vodka around in the new jug (like a cup) after sanitizing and didn't poor it out. Also started the racking with a couple tbls of vodka in my syphon hose. Been about 3 weeks now and all is well. Going to bottle it soon. Slightly fortified figgy melomel. Lol

 

[Yooper]

Oh, yes, it's infected for sure. It looks like it had a very wide headspace (maybe it was in a bucket, and not a carboy?) which will ruin the mead.

Darn it!

 

[Bear979]

"Ruin the mead" is exactly what I didn't want to hear but thought was the case... Oh well, best just dump it out and move on!
Thanks everyone for the info!

 

[schwiz]

"Ruin the mead" is exactly what I didn't want to hear but thought was the case... Oh well, best just dump it out and move on!
Thanks everyone for the info!

Let it ride, with enough age it might be good. Some people like sour beverages.