Syrup Tasting Like Felt?

[justlookingon]

Is it possible for a felt filter to flavor or add a felt smell to your syrup? We washed our felt filter after the season last year, let it dry, and then hung it in our 5 gallon stainless steel "bottling" tank between seasons. It seems like I am detecting the felt smell/taste in our syrup this year. This will be the 4th season using this felt. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[jrgagne99]

I had the same thing happen to me this year. 4-year old felts, cleaned well prior to storage, but they sat 2 years because we skipped sugaring completely last year. I through them away and bought new ones.

[Sugarmaker]

I have had off flavors from old filters. Tasted the syrup off the evaporator and it tasted good. After filtering not so good. New filters were in order.
Regards,
Chris

[justlookingon]

Thanks everyone-I was beginning to wonder if it was just me!

Has anyone out there gone to all synthetic filters and given up on the old felt? They are certainly cheaper and look like they wouldn't hold flavors like maybe the felt would. Cheap enough to have a new one annually.