I heated mine to 190 before filling the barrel. With a 5 gal barrel you want to open it after aging 3-3.5 months. When you loosen the bung, stand to the side, not right over it, sometimes they will have pressure in them, usually not. I had one hit me in the forehead as I opened it. Initially I was worried the syrup might no longer be good, but it proved to be the same as my other barrels that had no pressure. After 5 weeks I still have a bump I can feel on my forehead but it doesn't hurt. At first when it hit, I thought I was going to go down, but I didn't.
The end result will please all who taste it.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.