Mold on apple brandy wash

[Boda Getta]

I have 2 x 5 gal pails of apple brandy wash working; it is store brought apple juice w/ EC 1118 and has been working 10 days. Iy has stayed around 70-73F during the ferment. I did not check the OG but assume it was consistent with other store juice at 1.05 ish. I just checked the SG and it is right at 1.00, but I noticed some small patches of mold on top of the wash. I was going let it work 14-20 days per Jimbo's advice but now I need to get a handle on this mold thing. I don't want to give up on this wash, what should I do? Should I try to skim the mold off the top, ignore it or what. Any advice you apple brandy guys greatly appreciated.

BG

[goose eye]

White look like carpet
spider web
all mold aint the same.
skim it will slow it down then charge it when you will.

So I'm tole

[S-Cackalacky]

If it's white like goose describes, it could be a lacto infection which ain't terrible. I've only heard about it on grain washes, but that don't mean it couldn't happen on fruit - especially if it was already on your equipment. Does it stink like puke? If not, you're probably OK.

[Boda Getta]

Not like spider webs, just small white circles, the largest about the size of a quarter; does not smell bad. Strange because I disinfected everything before I put in on. I will skim as much as I can and keep a watch on it; I had hoped to get below 1.0 but may have to run it early.

BG

[SoMo]

Skim it off and run it, it's no big deal just don't give it any more time to get nasty, and ruin a good brandy.

[MichiganCornhusker]

1=Done

[MDH]

It's not unusual in Central europe to pull off the top two inches of mash when the time comes to distill. Don't worry about it.

[cb_j]

+1 MichiganCornhusker

[chambersranch]

Fruit washes that get oxygen after fermentation is complete can turn to vinegar and the mother will float on top, an it's white.

[Red Rim]

Now that you mention it, I have had the same thing on some of my brandies and washes. No big deal. Run it!