B grade question

[Johnny Cuervo]

Yesterday I finished off 2 and 3/4 Gallons of b grade. This is the first time ever making syrup this dark; it also was not too sweet and had an almost chocolate flavor to it. I did do two things a bit different, I started boiling Saturday shut down and finished Sunday. I have 1 flat pan and boil one batch at a time. This was the longest boil yet. I usually boil enough to make 1.5 - 2 gallons then wash down the pan and start over. Could this long boil and doing it over two days contribute to the dark grade, or is it just this year? I will say that this years syrup has been a bit darker overall. I might take this afternoon and tomorrow off to start with a clean pan and do smaller batches. Sap ran fast Friday and Saturday filling 3 gallon buckets in less than 24 hours.

Thanks

[mapleman3]

has it been warm there? your sugar % may be way down now...

[Fred Henderson]

If the % of sugar is low you will have to boil longer and therefore the longer it is in the pan the darker it will be.