Eastern Ontario 2022

[limestone]

Emptied the tanks ,lines and boiled that along with yesterday mornings small run. We pulled the spiles in the afternoon with mostly dry holes. Next it’s on to wash up and cutting firewood for 2023.
Overall a nice average syrup season. I’m sure our “maple fever” will build again next December or so and it’s off we go again.

[paulslund]

Paul - we still have some snow on the north facing slopes and our cedar swamps are mostly frozen over. We also benefit from being on the edge of Bennett Lake which is still frozen over and creates a colder micro-climate later in the season.

I have 5000+ gallons of pretty decent looking sap to get through again today. Incoming sap is down to 2.0 Brix, which is normal late in the season without a freeze up. Hopefully we can get through tomorrow to the cooler temps forecast for the weekend.

Wow.. I wouldn't have thought there could be such a difference so close by. Let us know how the run is this week.

So that last 80L batch I boiled on Tuesday, although it tastes fine, is, well.. a wee bit stringy... when I run it off a spoon it appears fine until the last few drop just keep stretching, and stretching leaving a spider-web thin line.. I've never seen that before, but I guess that means it was the right time to stop. I'll be keeping this batch for coffee and BBQ sauces I think..

[ennismaple]

Yesterday's boil went well. The incoming sap still looks good but was coming in to the RO at 55 F by the end of the day so we cleaned up everything we could hoping we can get through the next few days and into the weekend. First drum was 45 LT but lightened to the low 50's midway through. Great flavour with no aftertaste.

[DrTimPerkins]

it tastes fine, is, well.. a wee bit stringy... when I run it off a spoon it appears fine until the last few drop just keep stretching, and stretching leaving a spider-web thin line..

Yup, stringy (ropy). Rejected in Quebec if the string is 4 cm or longer.

It'll stick to your ribs though...both inside and outside.

[ennismaple]

It looks like we're not done yet! We got 3/4 GPT in the last 24 hours and it's still good sap so we'll fire up again tomorrow.

I drained the flue pan and gave The Beast a bath tonight hoping we still get a few more boils before the hot weather that's coming next week. At this point in the season it is critical to wash all the tanks and sap/maple contact surfaces as frequently as possible or you'll get a tankful of snot pretty fast!

[paulslund]

Yup, stringy (ropy). Rejected in Quebec if the string is 4 cm or longer.

It'll stick to your ribs though...both inside and outside.

Hmm.. Definitely perfect for BBQ sauces then. I think it definitely was around the 4cm mark.. maybe longer. So that's what ropy syrup is.. learn something new every year.

It looks like we're not done yet! We got 3/4 GPT in the last 24 hours and it's still good sap so we'll fire up again tomorrow.

I drained the flue pan and gave The Beast a bath tonight hoping we still get a few more boils before the hot weather that's coming next week. At this point in the season it is critical to wash all the tanks and sap/maple contact surfaces as frequently as possible or you'll get a tankful of snot pretty fast!

Wow! It's snowing this morning in Ottawa so I bet you also had a cold night.. hopefully a good run today too!

I wonder if washing out my collection tank would have helped prevent my ropy syrup on that last batch.. it was pretty warm Monday and Tuesday.. Pulled my pump and noticed my strainer basket was full of slime, so I bet that didn't help.. I should have cleaned all that out after my Sunday evening boil (although I really thought that was the last of it so wasn't thinking ahead). I pulled all my taps yesterday but lines seemed to be full of sap even though buckets did nothing.. I think I'll factor in some changes next year to make it easier to clean during the season.Weekend cooler than expected so I may have gotten more.. Lesson learned..

Have a great weekend to everyone still boiling!

[Galena]

Just graded my last batch, #5, at 49 on the Hannah so it's a nice Dark Amber. Lots of nitre in this batch so patiently filtering it out, should come out around 4.5l. Ought to have the annual *class picture* up soon!

@paulslund, sent you a pm.

@ennismaple, also sent a pm.

[ennismaple]

@ennismaple, also sent a pm.

@galena - my inbox was full. Try again?

[Bruce L]

Finished washing all the tubing this morning,just before my wife headed off on some much needed r&r with her sisters

[Galena]

@ ennismaple pm sent again.