Second time boiling...what a fun hobby!

[MJFlores]

Thanks to everyone for all the info you've supplied. I'm just a small time boiler just having some fun dad and son time. We tapped just out our trees, and are up to 15 taps, hung buckets. I believe all my trees are Red Maple but I'll know more when I can really get a good look this summer at their leaves. I'm positive 75% are Reds. Anyway, just using a propane burner to boil and collecting sap after work with my little one using flashlights, we're able to fill milk jugs with sap and load up the fridge (and freeze a few gallons in the freezer downstairs. Our first batch just produced 8 ounces from 4 gallons of sap, but yesterday we started with just under 12 gallons and ended up with 26 ounces of the best syrup we've ever had! That was only 10 hours of boil time from start to finish. I don't have a hydrometer or even a thermometer...I'm just boiling it and waiting for it to "look" right, and to begin clinging to a spoon. When the bubbles change behavior I stay right there with the spoon getting ready to shut the heat off. Anyway, it's a great family hobby and one we'll surely do every year now. One thing I'm very surprised at is just how much syrup we're able to make off just 15 taps and Red Maple trees. Last night I only expected half of what we got...a pleasant surprise that I'll take any day! :lol:

Thanks again everybody, I'm sure you're all having as much or more fun as we're having.

Our second syrup yeild:

5621

[John c]

Awesome! Your story sounds oh so familiar. Last year I too was going by eye and had good luck doing so, but this year I decided to use a hydrometer so I can be more consistent. Have fun with the wee one!