Port barrel mould???

Discuss everything about oaking and aging here

Port barrel mould???

Postby Fishleg » Sat Jul 08, 2017 5:10 pm

Got this little 5 litre barrel filled with port at the moment. Thought I had it sealed but it still weeps just the tiniest bit and where it's weeping there's this greenish white mould growing. The port has been in there for 6 weeks or so.
Has anyone seen this before?
Should I be worried about using it for spirit?
Obviously the weeping is a problem, pretty sure I can fix that by belting the hoops on a bit harder

Can anyone let me know if this mould might be dangerous? I highly doubt it would be living inside the barrel?
Fishleg
 
Posts: 307
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:42 pm
Location: Canberra
equipment: FSD neutraliser with 85 litre keg boiler

Re: Port barrel mould???

Postby Fishleg » Sat Jul 08, 2017 5:11 pm

Sorry forgot to put pics :angry-banghead:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Fishleg
 
Posts: 307
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:42 pm
Location: Canberra
equipment: FSD neutraliser with 85 litre keg boiler

Re: Port barrel mould???

Postby bluc » Sat Jul 08, 2017 5:23 pm

Have seen big funky kumbucha type mushroom inside barrels...
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Port barrel mould???

Postby Kenster » Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:51 pm

Remove the port, fill with water and let sit till it swells the wood enough to stop the leak. 6 weeks should have already done the job though. The mouldy stuff is prob just feeding on the sweet nutrient exuding from the leak... When sealed, rinse inside with 90% ABV to kill/sterilise the heebie geebies and go for it.
Kenster
 
Posts: 643
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:53 pm
equipment: Still Spirits... turbo 500...retired.(Boiler retained, added 3kw element with variable temp)
RPG...3''x1200mm LM/VM combo...400mm double wound coldie
3''x1200mm copper pot & shares leibig from combo.

Re: Port barrel mould???

Postby Wineleader » Sun Jul 09, 2017 8:24 pm

Hi Fishleg,
Mould on wine barrels is common when you have a little leakage.
The way I have approached this problem in the past on 220ltr barrels is as follows:
1. Clean off the mould with brush etc
2. Spray the affected area with a potassium metabisulfite.. Say 15gms desolved in 1 litre
This will slowdown the mould from growing back any time soon.
3. Tighten the hoops.... I'm sure your have done this.
4. Assuming the small leak continues I would mix up a small batch of bentonite with the solution above and apply it to the areas that are leaking. From my experience bentonite is the best way to stop persistent leaks in barrels. Noting that my barrels are 220ltrs.

I don't believe that the port will be infected by the mould... It never has in my experience though if concerned you could clean the barrel as detailed by Kenstar.

Hope this helps.
Wineleader
 
Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 7:39 pm
Location: Macedon Rangers, Vic
equipment: T500 and matching pot still

Re: Port barrel mould???

Postby Doubleuj » Sun Jul 09, 2017 8:42 pm

Wineleader wrote:Hi Fishleg,
Mould on wine barrels is common when you have a little leakage.
The way I have approached this problem in the past on 220ltr barrels is as follows:
1. Clean off the mould with brush etc
2. Spray the affected area with a potassium metabisulfite.. Say 15gms desolved in 1 litre
This will slowdown the mould from growing back any time soon.
3. Tighten the hoops.... I'm sure your have done this.
4. Assuming the small leak continues I would mix up a small batch of bentonite with the solution above and apply it to the areas that are leaking. From my experience bentonite is the best way to stop persistent leaks in barrels. Noting that my barrels are 220ltrs.

I don't believe that the port will be infected by the mould... It never has in my experience though if concerned you could clean the barrel as detailed by Kenstar.

Hope this helps.

^:)^ great info :dance:
Doubleuj
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 3630
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 7:15 pm
Location: rockhampton qld
equipment: 4" stainless glasser

Re: Port barrel mould???

Postby Fishleg » Sun Jul 09, 2017 8:47 pm

Sweet thx guys, haven't tightened the hoops yet. Think I'll just leave as is until my next rum spirit run and I'm ready to fill it.
Remove those pesky little keeper nails and belt the hoops on a bit more I'm sure it will be tight as a fishes arse(hopefully it doesn't taste like a fishes arse) :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Fishleg
 
Posts: 307
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:42 pm
Location: Canberra
equipment: FSD neutraliser with 85 litre keg boiler


Return to Oaking and Aging



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests

x