New Brunswick 2018

[Marvel26]

I just finished all my taps....well I have been asked to put some in on yet another neighbour's yard so I will put more in in the next few weeks. Almost every tap was giving sap, and lots of it. I only have one run of 12 sugar maples with the 3/16 line and that 55 gal drum is over 1/3rd full! The reds are all giving sap nicely....hopefully the season is long this year.

Maple Lady, based on your location you are not very far away from me ;-)

Rob

[Maple Lady]

Marvel26,
Hopefully this will be a good week. I boiled a very small batch yesterday and my best tree was running like a tap, �� I don't have all my taps out, time factor. Work is really interfering with life,lol. I converted an old wood chief stove to an evaporator for this year, it works better than the old cook stove, but I still need to do improvements to make it more efficient. I wish I could find some ceramic blanket. The shipping is so expensive to Canada. The budget is very limited.

[MarkNB]

Just came in from putting in another batch of taps, about 18 yesterday (Feb 24) all of which were running, then another 40 or so today, not running. Hoping to do 80-90 this year. And I have to agree with those that had a terrible year last year, we did too. Although I heard elsewhere like some places in Quebec had record years. Sure wasn't the case here. Fingers crossed, the forecast isn't perfect, but it does appear there will be cold overnights and above freezing during the day.

[Maple Lady]

Just came in from putting in another batch of taps, about 18 yesterday (Feb 24) all of which were running, then another 40 or so today, not running. Hoping to do 80-90 this year. And I have to agree with those that had a terrible year last year, we did too. Although I heard elsewhere like some places in Quebec had record years. Sure wasn't the case here. Fingers crossed, the forecast isn't perfect, but it does appear there will be cold overnights and above freezing during the day.

How did you make out today? Mine started to run pretty good. Tomorrow looks like it'll be a good one too. I wish I could take all maple season off of work,lol.

[murferd]

Marvel26,
Hopefully this will be a good week. I boiled a very small batch yesterday and my best tree was running like a tap, �� I don't have all my taps out, time factor. Work is really interfering with life,lol. I converted an old wood chief stove to an evaporator for this year, it works better than the old cook stove, but I still need to do improvements to make it more efficient. I wish I could find some ceramic blanket. The shipping is so expensive to Canada. The budget is very limited.

You probably can get ceramic blanket from Briggs Maple in Moncton. I got some in my area from Royal View Maples & they use some of the same suppliers.

[Maple Lady]

You probably can get ceramic blanket from Briggs Maple in Moncton. I got some in my area from Royal View Maples & they use some of the same suppliers.

Thanks for the info, I'll check them out.

[Big Daddy's Sugar Shack]

I am working on my second batch. First batch boiled last Saturday came up to the right temperature but now seems thin in the bottle. I seem to remember my first run in previous years was a bit thin and really light like this too... lower sugar content or should I bring it up to 221+ vs the 219.5 or 220 I usually shoot for?

[Marvel26]

If you accounted for atmospheric pressure it should be good. Light syrup is common on a first run, you should have your highest sugar content in the first few weeks of sap collection. The complex nature of syrup colour, taste, clarity from batch to batch are incredible....search it on this site when you want some light reading material ;-)

Try this App the next time you finish a batch: https://www.saptapapps.com/ it saves boiling water for an hr while getting your thermometer calibrated.

I bring mine over temp (thicker than syrup) in the evaporator, let it settle for a week, decant it into my finishing pot, bring it to temp and thin it out until the specific gravity is spot on, then bottle. Way faster during finish.

[Big Daddy's Sugar Shack]

Cool App. Thanks for the site info. The second batch went much better and is significantly thicker at 220, as I am used to. Makes sense too according to the site you shared as it says my temp goal is 118.72 according to my location.

Thanks!

[Marvel26]

I am pulling my taps this weekend....final tally is unknown yet but it looks like my best year yet!