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That looks like a pellicle, yes. How long has your cider been in that carboy (since you racked it)? That huge headspace (containing air, 21% oxygen) is probably part of the cause. A wild yeast may have crept in at some point and they need oxygen to grow a pellicle. I'm surprised it didn't...

Good to hear your cider turned out well! You must be doing most things right to get there. Most homebrewers aren't. It takes special equipment and process to filter without oxidizing your alcoholic beverages. Gravity and time will crash out pretty much anything suspended. And bottle dregs are...

Find suitable (plastic) containers with a screw lid (such as from peanut butter or mayonnaise) to store PBW, dextrose, etc. in, and label accordingly. When you fold over a piece of plastic wrap 2x (so you get 4 layers) and put it over a jar opening, covering the threads, then screw the lid on...

How did they end up in unlabeled containers? Especially the PBW comes in it's own well-marked and very recognizable tub.

It's always interesting seeing a 120V plug/device connected to a 220/240V European outlet... Since the plug/cord is green, something to do with Christmas perhaps?

The film that has formed on top, along with the white flecks, looks to be a pellicle, yes. Pellicles are usually caused by a wild yeast (possibly by certain bacteria, not sure), that is slowly taking over and turning your beverage sour. Pellicles or their remnants are not harmful and are safe to...

Oxidizing your beer is a potential enemy when using filter systems such as those. Unless you can liquid pre-purge the system using CO2 or N2.

If fermentation restarted I'd think the OP would be sweeping glass shards by now, not looking at a small plume of sediment: @pdbolt Have you opened and drank one of those bottles yet?

Although not much will grow under CO2, for good measure I would use a cleaner, rinse, and sanitize them too. then shake out and let (air) dry thoroughly, before reassembling. If in a hurry to dry, a hair dryer can be used at its cold air setting (don't use heat!!!). Just put all the hose...

If I had to guess, it's sediment that gets re-suspended when handling and moving the bottles. When storing (aging) your bottled ciders (or other fermented, then bottled, beverages), usually under cool conditions, they'll get clearer over time due to residual yeast and other suspended solids...

I noticed the asterix I left in my previous post. So for completion: * Except when brewing on location and at events such as Big Brew, there are usually only a limited number of 120V outlets available, and seldomly 240V ones. So brewers will bring their good old propane rigs for those very...

That's a bit off topic isn't it? Besides, I wouldn't consider your system "simple" by any definition.

Although 120V is slower to heat than 240V kettles, it mostly counts when getting (cold) tap water to strike temps, and later the wort from mash temps to boil. When using the delay timer to get to strike temps, the only time you need to wait around for 30-45 minutes is to get it to boil. Good...

Just make sure the Farmhouse yeast is not of the Diastaticus variety (STA1 positive). This one would be very suitable: https://www.lallemandbrewing.com/en/united-states/products/lalbrew-farmhouse/ It comes in 11 gram pouches for homebrewers.

If you can, put them in a warmer area, and see if fermentation resumes/continues. It may take a few days. Yet, it's quite difficult to resurrect stalled fermentations. The alcohol % being present is one of the factors. To provide a warmer environment? Just don't cook them. ;) A good strategy...

That's good, your measured gravity should be as accurate as can be with a hydrometer. It's not bottoming out, right? I asked, because we often have "homebrewers" use a refractometer, especially with small(er) batches. With a refractometer, when alcohol is present, the gravity readings will be...

Welcome to HBT! What instrument did you use for your gravity readings?

"Built in 2002" We're still puzzled after scrutinizing the 2 main living spaces, being: 1) the mostly open space concrete basement (with a ground level walkout) containing an "efficiency grade kitchen" (no cooktop/oven) 2 bathrooms, one doubling as a laundry room, plus a storage room. 2) a...

That amenity needs some clarification then, since there are no bedrooms to be found.

My wife found another gem for us. She's got an eye for what we like. The entryway is most promising, as are the solid wooden floors. Just don't have any loose change or jewelry around. Look at that one-of-kind roofline...