Still running nice and clear in Willington. Hoping to get a few more days
Printable View
Still running nice and clear in Willington. Hoping to get a few more days
I am just down the road in Tolland but its lookin like tomorrow will be it for me. I had one tree Going to take Wednesday off to boil what I can, and clean everything I think. All in all I should have over a gallon and considering last year I only had 30 oz.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich R
pulled my taps today. I dumped 40 gallons of clear sap which was still just a hair under 2%. I boiled Friday and Saturday to finish the season. 13 gallons. It was a fast and fun season!
Done for the season - pulled the taps on the buckets yesterday. It was so nice not to come home and first thing have to collect! Boiled sat and sunday, drained as much as I could from the pan and then flooded it with the last remaining sap. Still have to finish and bottle. I had a little over 5 gal from the previous weeks, and I will probably have over 5 gal from this weekend, so I might actually make my goal!
Wish I was closer to Cheshire! I would gladly make use of that!Quote:
Originally Posted by lafite
Great Season
Taps in Feb 24 ... Taps out March 23.
My favorite season so far. Mostly due to the home built RO. The stuff is mind blowing. Thanks to all the MapleTraders for the help on that one. Made about half my syrup using good dry Ash bark and Black Locust bark. Lots of refueling but man what biomass that stuff is when its dry. Had flames shooting two feet out the top of my stack. Looked like the aft burner on a F16! Kept lots of throwable sap nearby.
Had my first cook over out of the steam pans. Lost a quart or two of syrup. Not used to getting to syrup so quickly. Made that mistake one time, hopefully not again.
Finished with 10+ gallons on my 50 taps. Over 80% of my expectations.
More sap then other years. Less sugar content then other years. Never saw more then 2% on the Grand Daddy Maples. Small sugars 1% large sugars 1.5% was the general trend. Saw 1/2% on Red Maples and Silver Maples. Thank Jesus himself for the RO membrane or I would be boiling into July.
My two new Silver Maple taps ran profusely. Even still running today. Did not think they had it in them.
Still have a bit of good sap flowing today but the writing is on the wall.
Peaked at 17 inches of mercury on a 7 tap 5/16 tubing run. Not sure about my other runs. Will check them next year. All my tube runs are still putting out a bit potable sap. Especially the 17 incher. Vacuum gauges are cool. Natural vacuum is even cooler. Now wondering how high people have gotten on 5/16 natural.
Wondering if anybody has ever considered doing union connections between different natural vacuum runs in order to increase sap column size at times of low flow???
Glad I did not tap any earlier then Feb 24! Started to have my doubts in early March, but I suffer anxiety attacks like everybody else.
But anxiety is a killer of good things to come so steer clear of it.
I'm done too, took my last buckets down this AM. Would up boiling just over 1900 gal/sap - Now for the cleanup..............
Definitely was a short season. Had a higher yield last year for sure.
Question, my syrup has an after “bite” this year. Can’t figure it out. It’s not bitter and not sour. Anyone have any suggestions as to why?
All my equipment was cleaned with white vinegar and hot water. Didn’t use spoiled sap. I boil on an evaporator.
Any suggestions?
aQuote:
Originally Posted by aviboy97
I noticed a similar taste in our last batch of the season..astringent/ dry in the back of the tongue not bad but noticeable. Some honey I've produced had similar qualities.