Central Ontario Tapping

[Run Forest Run!]

Great staging effort with that photo c0ps! Congrats on your first batch - it almost takes the sting out of last year's ice storm, well, almost.

[c0ps]

Great staging effort with that photo c0ps! Congrats on your first batch - it almost takes the sting out of last year's ice storm, well, almost.

Lol thanks....yes almost got rid of the sting. Im sure the next batch will do the job.

[Hkb82]

I just finished my first boil ever before the storm happened around me. Can't remember the last time that happened in February. Syrup turned out great. Started this year with 40 tap as I am not sure how fast or how much my arch will be able to boil. Hope for s great 2017

[c0ps]

I just finished my first boil ever before the storm happened around me. Can't remember the last time that happened in February. Syrup turned out great. Started this year with 40 tap as I am not sure how fast or how much my arch will be able to boil. Hope for s great 2017

Its a fun hobby. Thank god the season doesent last long. Its alote of work, but worth it!

[ridgerunner394]

Looks like the warm spell is over for a bit now. Started my boil today will finish off what is on hand hopefully tomorrow. So far I have collected just over 100 gal of sap, that will equate to just over 2 gal syrup :{) Finished off just over 5 Litres today as the rain came tumbling down!

[wobbletop]

First batch. Lightning storm was awsome.

Attachment 15698

I like the bottles! I've always used canning jars. Is there a different method for those bottles? Any issue with storage?

Boiled through the 85L I had collected. Haven't bottled so not sure of the exact amount of syrup. Emptied whatever was left in the sap bags into storage barrel. Might have been a mistake as now some of the bags are blowing off the trees.

Also tried using a hyrdometer... Always seemed to read low. I boiled a pot of water and the digital thermometer read 210, so add 7 deg and I stopped boiling at 217 (218 actually). Hydrometer still read low (needed more boiling). It's only for my consumption, so not really concerned about it, but has anyone used one and can give tips? It's also a pain to try to fill the hydrometer with syrup since it doesn't fit in my boiling pot. I may just give up on it.

[c0ps]

I like the bottles! I've always used canning jars. Is there a different method for those bottles? Any issue with storage?

Boiled through the 85L I had collected. Haven't bottled so not sure of the exact amount of syrup. Emptied whatever was left in the sap bags into storage barrel. Might have been a mistake as now some of the bags are blowing off the trees.

Also tried using a hyrdometer... Always seemed to read low. I boiled a pot of water and the digital thermometer read 210, so add 7 deg and I stopped boiling at 217 (218 actually). Hydrometer still read low (needed more boiling). It's only for my consumption, so not really concerned about it, but has anyone used one and can give tips? It's also a pain to try to fill the hydrometer with syrup since it doesn't fit in my boiling pot. I may just give up on it.

Bottles are great. The caps have an induction seal. As long as you bottle the syrup while it's 190 degree or higher it will last a long time unfridgerated.

I use a a hydrotherm...but I wouldn't be putting the hydrometer in your boiling batch. If the glass on the hydrometer breaks you will end up throwing the whole batch out!

[Hkb82]

Bottles are great. The caps have an induction seal. As long as you bottle the syrup while it's 190 degree or higher it will last a long time unfridgerated.

I use a a hydrotherm...but I wouldn't be putting the hydrometer in your boiling batch. If the glass on the hydrometer breaks you will end up throwing the whole batch out!

i agree that using it in the batch would be bad if it were to break that would just make ya cry. I had trouble finding a test tube to use so I just used a stainless thermos to test in. Not ideal but it works till I can order one. Plus since its insulated you can just hold it without gloves.

[dre75]

Finally got around to finishing off my first batch, made 1 liter from about 13 gallons. Got to try out my new barrel stove evaporator for the first time, think it went well and it was allot faster then the propane burner from last year.



MAPLE SYRUP 2017.jpg

[Run Forest Run!]

Pretty picture! You and c0ps have all the right props for some maple glamour shots.

Things started to drip here an hour ago. Looks like we'll be enjoying some good sap runs tomorrow.