Tapped in Chester... sorta

[Aaron Stack]

Second boiling session here yesterday and netted 2 quarts on two draws. I don't think that's so bad with 115 gallons to start the season and sweeten the pan. Only about 15 gallons or so left in the tank so I'll finish that today along with what's been frozen in the buckets since Thursday.

On vacation this week so going to take tomorrow cold weather to rinse the tank and pans. Also going to get the trailer cleaned out and ready. I didn't use it last year, but already had to take two trips to collect twice so with 50 taps it might just be a necessity.

[berkshires]

Nice! That first draw of the season sure is satisfying, eh? Mine was quite light/golden, what about you?

Speaking of cold, looks like this whole week might be too cold for more than a few little drips. :/

GO

[Aaron Stack]

You know it. I've never seen the light/golden yet lucky you. Mine seemed to be in between amber rich and dark robust and had a great light taste. Weather still looking good Wed onward here.

The addiction is spreading. My brother in NH took home a couple buckets and taps. 15 maples next door to his and permission.

[Aaron Stack]

3 quarts in the freezer. Was able to boil off everything in the tank by 3:30 today and collected about another 20 gallons which I'll run through the evaporator tomorrow. Stack temp thermostat didn't make it through the second boil on Saturday so using an exterior magnetic gage. It's double wall so targeted 250 - 300 after some google searches. Good boiling rate at that range while dropping the level to 1.5-1.75 in the pan.

Question - My syrup looks red-ish in the plastic tubs I store in the freezer (bottling after the season). Tastes fantastic, and in a spoon you really can't see any color other than a light gold. Is this anything I need to work on?

[berkshires]

Did my third boil of the season. A few of the buckets were a little cloudy, but I took home a gallon and a half of beautiful dark nearup from 55 gallons of sap.

That was the biggest boil I've ever done. Not the longest, but most sap

Gabe

[Aaron Stack]

A gallon and a half is a looong day of boiling - congrats!

[bigschuss]

Did my third boil of the season. A few of the buckets were a little cloudy, but I took home a gallon and a half of beautiful dark nearup from 55 gallons of sap.

That was the biggest boil I've ever done. Not the longest, but most sap

Gabe

Awesome Gabe. How long does 55 gallons take you on your 2x3? Once up to full boil, I can do 55 gallons in about 4 hours on my 2x4. Maybe 5.

Blair

[berkshires]

I usually average about seven GPH, but it took me eight hours from lighting the match to shut down. So that was only 6 GPH. I have everything ready to add AUF, just need to screw it on before my next boil. That should help.

Blair: you must've been swimming in sap this last week?

GO

[RedMapleCreek]

I usually average about seven GPH, but it took me eight hours from lighting the match to shut down. So that was only 6 GPH. I have everything ready to add AUF, just need to screw it on before my next boil. That should help.

I also have a Mason 2x3 XL and I typically average 8 GPH without AUF. A lot has to do with how deep you run the pan and what you use for wood. Bill Mason recommended wrist sized hemlock as the best fuel, which is what I use. Actually I use wrist size and smaller, usually without bark, very dry, and it really burns hot. Hardwood does not burn as hot and fast enough and the greater coals would tend to block the grate (limit air). Also firing about every 6 minutes. I run a 1 inch pan depth which boils a lot harder than the 2 inch depth some people use, but does require more attention. Of course AUF will improve your boil rate, but also consider the above if you are not already following those practices.

[bigschuss]

I usually average about seven GPH, but it took me eight hours from lighting the match to shut down. So that was only 6 GPH. I have everything ready to add AUF, just need to screw it on before my next boil. That should help.

Blair: you must've been swimming in sap this last week?

GO

Thanks Gabe. Thanks for getting back.

Yes, I had a goods run last week and was able to get my pan sweetened....about 150 gallons or so. But, even in Savoy it's been mild even at night. So I haven't gotten anything in the past few days. Got to light the evaporator each day to kill bacteria. The weather this coming week looks only decent. The other issue I have now is that I lost all my snow, and without the snow gathering sap is just a muddy mess. I really hate tearing up my trails this time of year. So getting sap has become problematic. I'll have to see what happens this week.

Are you done, or are you coming back out next weekend?