White growth on top of cider brew

[calimba]

Hi, I have one 16 litre cider brew which is fine - bubbling away and no white growth. I have a second 11 litre batch, brewed a week later which is also bubbling away nicely but has developed a white growth on top. Anyone know what this is and how I can get rid of it? Or is the batch already failed?

Cheers,

Dan

 

[oldbloke]

If you're lucky that's the start of a malolactic fermentation, there are a few people here who know what that looks like and hopefully will spot this thread and say yes or no.
If you're less lucky it's something bad you can skim off or siphon the brew out from underneath to rescue it
If you're unlucky, it's a lost brew.
How's it smell? Definitely growth and not just clumped solids?

 

[RobWalker]

just looks like yeast leftovers to me...if it tastes good it's probably okay.

 

[calimba]

It smells pretty alcoholic especially when I first lift the lid, the same as my other brew. Was planning on fermenting it a lot longer. Should I scrape the white bits off the top then let it continue?