Maple Syrup Boil

Up and @ 'em early: weather induced backlog has overcome our storage, and batch cooking 30 gallons of sap on a home-made arch promises to be an all-dayer. I'll let you know how it goes.

Nine to Five: 30 gallons 3% sap to 3 gallons 80% Brix syrup. Jill's filtering it for bottling now. The taps were running, so the bags are almost full again!

I want maple syrup donuts now! And funnel cake! Oh, the possibilities!

Howdy William, welcome to permies. I have never made syrup so any advise or instructions you could add here would be great.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm only a third year guy in the hobby (anyone under 150 taps is considered a hobbyist), and there are a lot of ways to go. I learned everything I know here: http://mapletrader.com/community/index.php
except what came the hard way. Everyone there is really great and even the big guys with thousands of taps take the time to talk (must be the isolation ; >), so I'd recommend snooping around there about your region, and don't be afraid to ask questions. I did. Look me up, I'm wilfredjr there, too.
I have a maple play by play going for this year on our blog ( no ads), so if you want the gory details, you can check 'em out there and see the place. I'm have to write up yesterday's action. We are finally going to get a few spare bottles to give as family gifts, but don't ask: it's like gold!
http://twodogsgonewild.blogspot.com/

Around here, the maples are getting set to "bud out", ending the tapping season. Here's hoping the snow melts soon. Jill's chomping at the bit to move on to hoop houses and the garden.
Ah, retirement: so much to do; so much time.
All the best,

Thank you William for the great info! My first attempt has failed miserably, but you have renewed my optimism. Please, keep posting!

Sunny mid 40° today and all the taps are dripping fast. I had emptied the all partly-frozen bags yesterday just after noon as another snow squall hit, and by now they are half full. We might have to boil again more or less immediately, as another spate of foul weather is predicted. I'd better get out there and tweek the arch: the heavy use seems to have spread the bricks apart some, and the back pan fell in at the end again. I put up a couple of iPhone vidios on my blog of what amateur hour looks like. Come see: http://twodogsgonewild.blogspot.com/ Not the pan falling in part: I was busy.
A short history of the season in blue magic marker:

If you could somehow find a small wooden barrel to store that in, that would make one hell of a brewing barrel afterwards!

Does anyone know what the sugar content of canning syrup is? I'd be curious to try preserving peaches/apples in straight maple syrup concentrated to the appropriate amount.

Thanks for the cool update

This thread is fantastic. I am glad that you are sharing the process and information. I am surprised that this seems to be the only thread about the topic or else my search skills are pretty poor. I know this is huge in the NW and SW mountain region of my state.

Thanks. I was surprised there was no thread as well, which is why I ended up putting in Projects. After nosing around, it should probably be in edible forest: can I move a thread? As a brand new permie, I'm just happy to have something to contribute.
I just put up some more pictures and remarks about amateur arch repair on our blog http://twodogsgonewild.blogspot.com/ you might like to see ahead of time how they can fail ; >

Our story so far:
Tapped first Maples 3/27
4/9 5 hour boil in 2 batches of 15 gallons sap yielding 4 1/2 pints syrup
4/13 8 hour boil in 3 batches of 30 gallons sap yielding 10 1/2 pints syrup
4/16 8 hour boil in 4 batches of 33 gallons sap yielding 13 1/2 pints syrup
Plan to pull taps Saturday and boil 35 gallons sap on hand plus tomorrows gain est 10 more gallons.
Sunshine expected then and the maples will likely "bud out", which turns the sap light brown and skunky, ending the season.
20 taps seems too many for batch cooking a bumper crop like this year to this amateur, but may be correct number for a normal year.
It looks like this:

Adam Poddepie wrote:If you could somehow find a small wooden barrel to store that in, that would make one hell of a brewing barrel afterwards!

Does anyone know what the sugar content of canning syrup is? I'd be curious to try preserving peaches/apples in straight maple syrup concentrated to the appropriate amount.

Thanks for the cool update

My refractometer's calibration is suspect, but this syrup reads 78%. I understand the minimum standard is 69%. We overcook because on an open wood fire it is difficult to measure the cooking temperature. This is why syrup is typically "finished" inside on the gas range. The fire also puts ashes and burnt crap into the pan, so the jelly bag filtering is imperative. This over-cooking is why our syrup is quite brown: it's burnt, but tasty. Good Luck!

Well, We are drowning in sap for a month like everyone else up in Northern Wisconsin, this following last season's horrible dearth and quick death (like 10 days), perfectly illustrating the phenomena known as regression to the mean. Not only did the maples not bud out in last Saturday's sunshine, but they have continued to run with little sign of abatement. I did notice a thin layer of tint atop the sap in Bag #19, which could be the sign to stop. The 20°-40° range has held, defying the averages and prolonging my gathering, and I really should boil another 35 gallons today to keep up. The day has dawned sunny as forecast, and cold rain is expected to return, but it becomes a question of will. After the 4th boil, we now have almost 10 gallons of syrup, far more than we expected. Boil 5 will likely bring another 2 1/2, and my attitude about it demonstrates another noted principle: diminishing returns of the psychological rewards. I've only got one boil left in me. The sap dripping as we speak will go into beer brewing, in case it has turned. The idea is to treat it like milk in storage, and I can keep it outdoors in an ice chest against the north side of the house for a couple weeks.

http://twodogsgonewild.blogspot.com/

Beer brewing? (ears perked up)

Any news on the beer front?

Sorry about the delay, Adam & Rion. The sap I saved for beer lasted about two weeks in the ice chest while I was otherwise occupied and then spoiled. I have yet to order the ingredients for my next batch, and am shamefully late with the project. Mea Culpa.

Not that anyone's interested, but here are the bag totals across the whole record season at this location
Maple Trail
Field notes of tapped maples 03/28/13
7/16" spiles; 3 gal blue bags 23" size
Holy Thursday March 28, 2013
1. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 6" / 24hrs
2. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning @ 10am; 4" / 24 hrs
3. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
4. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 4" / 24 hrs
5. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
6. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
7. Dry hole; pulled tap moved to #17; started next afternoon down bark
8. Ran slow when tapped: stalled next morning; 3" / 24 hrs
9. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 4" / 24 hrs
10. Ran well when tapped; resumed next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
11. Ran slow when tapped; stalled next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
12. Ran slow when tapped; stalled next morning; 3" / 24 hrs
13. Ran slow when tapped; stalled nex morning; 3" / 24 hrs
14. Ran well when tapped; stalled next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
15. Ran well when tapped; ran slow next morning; 5" / 24 hrs
16. Ran well when tapped; ran slow next morning; 4" / 24 hrs

Final Tally
Measured inches in 23" sack

Maple Tap #1
40" circumference; 13 dumps; best producer
1. 3/28 6"
2. 3/29 4" dump
3. 3/30 nil
4. 4/1 2.5"
5. 4/2 2"
6. 4/3 2.5"
7. 4/4 3.5" dump
8. 4/5 6"
9. 4/6 4.5" dump
10. 4/7 8" dump
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 4.5"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 7" dump
15. 4/12 5"
16. 4/13 1"
17. 4/14 6" dump
18. 4/15 2.5"
19. 4/16 15.5" dump
20. 4/17 8.5"
21. 4/18 8" dump
22. 4/19 2"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 5" dump
25. 4/22 12" dump
26. 4/23 9.5" dump
27. 4/24 4"
28. 4/25 10" dump
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 11"" dump

Maple Tap#2
42" circumference; 10 dumps
1. 3/28 4"
2. 3/29 2.5" dump
3. 3/30 nil
4. 4/1 nil
5. 4/2 5"
6. 4/3 3"
7. 4/4 3" dump
8. 4/5 5"
9. 4/6 2"
10. 4/7 2" dump
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 3"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 4"
15. 4/12 1"
16. 4/13 .5"
17. 4/14 3" dump
18. 4/15 3"
19. 4/16 9" dump
20. 4/17 5"
21. 4/18 3.5" dump
22. 4/19 nil
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 6" dump
25. 4/22 nil
26. 4/23 5" dump
27. 4/24 2"
28. 4/25 5" dump
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 7" dump

Maple Tap#3
40" 8 dumps; leak day 20 from ice removal
1. 3/27 3.5"
2. 3/28 2"
3. 3/29 3.5" dump
4. 3/30 nil
5. 4/1 nil
6. 4/2 4.5"
7. 4/3 1.5"
8. 4/4 3.5" dump
9. 4/5 7"
10. 4/6 3.5"
11. 4/7 2" dump
12. 4/8 nil
13. 4/9 2.5
14. 4/10 m
15. 4/11 4.5
16. 4/12 1.5"
17. 4/13 .5"
18. 4/14 3" dump
19. 4/15 3"
20. 4/16 8" dump (L)
21. 4/17 4.5
22. 4/18 -2"
23. 4/19 nil
24. 4/20 nil
25. 4/21 nil
26. 4/22 4" dump
27. 4/23 nil
28. 4/24 1.5"
29. 4/25 3.5" dump
30. 4/26 nil
31. 4/27 6" dump


Maple Tap#4
38" 10 dumps

1. 3/27 nil
2. 3/28 5"
3. 3/29 3.5" dump
4. 3/30 nil
5. 4/1 3"
6. 4/2 .5"
7. 4/3 .5"
8. 4/4 3" dump
9. 4/5 5"
10. 4/6 2"
11. 4/7 1.6" dump
12. 4/8 nil
13. 4/9 2"
14. 4/10 nil
15. 4/11 3"
16. 4/12 1"
17. 4/13 nil
18. 4/14 1.5 dump
19. 4/15 1"
20. 4/16 7" dump
21. 4/17 4.5
22. 4/18 2"
23. 4/19 nil
24. 4/20 nil
25. 4/21 7.5 dump
26. 4/22 6.5 dump
27. 4/23 5" dump
28. 4/24 1"
29. 4/25 nil
30. 4/26 nil
31. 4/27 5"

Maple Tap #5
41" 7 dumps fatal leak day 19 curtails sap
1. 3/28 6.5"
2. 3/29 3.5 dump
3. 3/30 mil
4. 4/1 nil
5. 4/2 5"
6. 4/3 2.5"
7. 4/4 3.5" dump
8. 4/5 4.5"
9. 4/6 1.5"
10. 4/7 1" dump
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 3"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 4"
15. 4/12 1"
16. 4/13 .5"
17. 4/14 2.5"
18. 4/15 2.5"
19. 4/16 5.5" (L) dump
20. 4/17 4.5"
21. 4/18 -1"
22. 4/19 -1"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 nil
25. 4/22 nil
26. 4/23 nil
27. 4/24 nil
28. 4/25 nil
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 nil dump

Maple Tap #6
42" 10 dumps
1. 3/28 5"
2. 3/29 3" dump
3. 3/30 nil
4. 4/1 nil
5. 4/2 6"
6. 4/3 2"
7. 4/4 3" dump
8. 4/5 4"
9. 4/6 2"
10. 4/7 1.5" dump
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 2"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 4"
15. 4/12 1"
16. 4/13 .5"
17. 4/14 3" dump
18. 4/15 2.5"
19. 4/16 7.5 (L) dump
20. 4/17 5"
21. 4/18 2.5"
22. 4/19 -1"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 2" dump
25. 4/22 7"
26. 4/23 .5"
27. 4/24 3"
28. 4/25 5"
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 6"

Maple Tap#7
38" 6 dumps late start: dry when drilled 3/27

1. 3/29 2.5"
2. 3/30 nil
3. 4/1 nil
4. 4/2 3"
5. 4/3 1"
6. 4/4 1" dump
7. 4/5 4"
8. 4/6 2"
9. 4/7 2.5 dump
10. 4/8 nil
11. 4/9 2.5
12. 4/10 nil
13. 4/11 3.5"
14. 4/12 1"
15. 4/13 .5"
16. 4/14 .5" dump
17. 4/15 2"
18. 4/16 5"(L) dump
19. 4/17 4"
20. 4/18 2.5"
21. 4/19 .5
22. 4/20 nil
23. 4/21 nil dump
24. 4/22 1"
25. 4/23 1"
26. 4/24 .5"
27. 4/25 nil
28. 4/26 nil
29. 4/27 nil dump


Maple Tap #8
48" 9 dumps

1. 3/28 3"
2. 3/29 2" dump
3. 4/1 nil
4. 4/2 4"
5. 4/3 1/2"
6. 4/4 2" dump
7. 4/5 4"
8. 4/6 3"
9. 4/7 2.5" dump
10. 4/8 nil
11. 4/9 3"
12. 4/10 nil
13. 4/11 31/2"
14. 4/12 1"
15. 4/13 3/4"
16. 4/14 11/2" dump
17. 4/15 21/2"
18. 4/16 8"
19. 4/17 61/2"
20. 4/18 3" dump
21. 4/19 2"
22. 4/20 2" dump
23. 4/21 21/2"
24. 4/22 3"
25. 4/23 4" dump
26. 4:24 31/2"
27. 4/25 51/2" dump
28. 4/26 nil
29. 4/27 7" dump


Maple Tap #9
39" 8 dumps

1. 3/28 21/2"
2. 3/29 2" dump
3. 4/1 nil
4. 4/2 2"
5. 4/3 1"
6. 4/4 3" dump
7. 4/5 5"
8. 4/6 21/2"
9. 4/7 2" dump
10. 4/8 nil
11. 4/9 21/2"
12. 4/10 nil
13. 4/11 31/2"
14. 4/12 11/2"
15. 4/13 1/2"
16. 4/14 21/2"
17. 4/15 2"
18. 4/16 4" dump
19. 4/17 3"
20. 4/18 4"
21. 4/19 -1/2" L
22. 4/20 nil
23. 4/21 nil
24. 4/22 1/2"
25. 4/23 nil
26. 4/24 nil
27. 4/25 1/2"
28. 4/26 nil
29. 4/27 nil dump


Maple Tap #10
48" 11 dumps

1. 3/28 4"
2. 3/29 2"
3. 4/1 nil
4. 4/2 1"
5. 4/3 2"
6. 4/4 21/2" dump
7. 4/5 6"
8. 4/6 3"
9. 4/7 21/2" dump
10. 4/8 nil
11. 4/9 31/2"
12. 4/10 nil
13. 4/11 31/2"
14. 4/12 1"
15. 4/13 1/2"
16. 4/14 41/2" dump
17. 4/15 21/2"
18. 4/16 91/2" dump
19. 4/17 51/2"
20. 4/18 3"
21. 4/19 1"
22. 4/20 nil
23. 4/21 31/2" dump
24. 4/22 81/2" dump
25. 4/23 7" dump
26. 4/24 3"
27. 4/25 61/2" dump
28. 4/26 8" dump


Maple Tap #11
63" 3 dumps

1. 3/28 3"
2. 3/29 2"
3. 4/1 nil
4. 4/2 2"
5. 4/3 1/2"
6. 4/4 2" dump
7. 4/5 3"
8. 4/6 11/2"
9. 4/7 1"
10. 4/8 nil
11. 4/9 1/2"
12. 4/10 nil
13. 4/11 2"
14. 4/12 1"
15. 4/13 1/2"
16. 4/14 11/2" dump & shut down


Maple Tap #12
44" 11 dumps

1. 3/28 31/2"
2. 3/29 21/2"
3. 3/30 21/2"
4. 4/1 nil
5. 4/2 1"
6. 4/3 11/2"
7. 4/4 31/2" dump
8. 4/5 4"
9. 4/6 3"
10. 4/7 2" dump
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 2"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 5"
15. 4/12 11/2"
16. 4/13 11/2"
17. 4/14 11/2" dump
18. 4/15 nil
19. 4/16 8" dump
20. 4/17 4"
21. 4/18 3" dump
22. 4/19 1"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 4" dump
25. 4/22 6" dump
26. 4/23 nil
27. 4/24 2"
28. 4/25 7" dump
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 7"


Maple Tap # 13
38" 6 dumps
#12 tree until 4/14; moved to 13 @ leak

1. 3/28 2"
2. 3/29 2" dump
3. 4/1 nil
4. 4/2 2"
5. 4/3 nil
6. 4/4 1" dump
7. 4/5 3"
8. 4/6 11/2"
9. 4/7 1"
10. 4/8 nil 4/9 1/2"
11. 4/10 nil
12. 4/11 1"
13. 4/12 1/2"
14. 4/13 1/2"
15. 4/14 1/2" dump & switch
16. 4/15 nil
17. 4/16 51/2"
18. 4/17 11/2"
19. 4/18 nil
20. 4/19 nil
21. 4/20 nil
22. 4/21 1"
23. 4/22 nil
24. 4/23 1" dump
25. 4/24 11/1"
26. 4/25 5"
27. 4/26 nil
28. 4/27 4" dump & pull


Maple Tap #14
48" 10 dumps

1. 3/28 21/2"
2. 3/29 11/2" dump
3. 3/30 nil
4. 4/1 nil
5. 4/2 3"
6. 4/3 3/4"
7. 4/4 21/2" dump
8. 4/5 3"
9. 4/6 2"
10. 4/7 11/2"
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 1/2"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 2"
15. 4/12 1"
16. 4/13 1/2"
17. 4/14 11/2" dump
18. 4/15 3"
19. 4/16 11/2" dump
20. 4/17 41/2"
21. 4/18 4" dump
22. 4/19 1"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 21/2" dump
25. 4/22 5"
26. 4/23 1" dump
27. 4/24 2"
28. 4/25 6" dump
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 7" dump & pull


Maple Tap #15
41" 11 dumps

1. 3/28 4"
2. 3/29 31/2" dump
3. 3/30 nil
4. 4/1 2"
5. 4/2 2"
6. 4/3 2"
7. 4/4 4" dump
8. 4/5 51/2"
9. 4/6 3"
10. 4/7 3" dump
11. 4/8 n
12. 4/9 3"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 4"
15. 4/12 11/2"
16. 4/13 1"
17. 4/14 2.5 dump
18. 4/15 3"
19. 4/16 10" dump
20. 4/17 6"
21. 4/18 3" dump
22. 4/19 1/2"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 4"
25. 4/22 4"dump
26. 4/23 7" dump
27. 4/24 2"
28. 4/25 7" dump
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 7" dump & pull

Maple Tap #16
41" 9 dumps

1. 3/28 4"
2. 3/29 2"
3. 4/1 2"
4. 4/2 1"
5. 4/3 1"
6. 4/4 2" dump
7. 4/5 2"
8. 4/6 1"
9. 4/7 nil
10. 4/8 nil
11. 4/9 11/2"
12. 4/10 nil
13. 4/11 21/2"
14. 4/12 3/4"
15. 4/13 nil
16. 4/14 11/2" dump
17. 4/15 nil
18. 4/16 8" L
19. 4/19 1"
20. 4/20 nil
21. 4/21 21/2"
22. 4/22 1"
23. 4/23 31/2" dump
24. 4/24 2"
25. 4/25 6" dump
26. 4/26 2"
27. 4/27 3" dump & pull

Maple Tap #18
48" 11 dumps

1. 3/28 4"
2. 3/29 4" dump
3. 3/30 4"
4. 4/1 nil
5. 4/2 1/2"
6. 4/3 1/2"
7. 4/4 3" dump
8. 4/5 6"
9. 4/6 31/2"
10. 4/7 3" dump
11. 4/8 nil
12. 4/9 3"
13. 4/10 nil
14. 4/11 5"
15. 4/12 11/2"
16. 4/13 1/2"
17. 4/14 1" dump
18. 4/15 3"
19. 4/16 9" dump
20. 4/17 8"
21. 4/18 11/2 dump
22. 4/19 2"
23. 4/20 nil
24. 4/21 1"
25. 4/22 21/2" dump
26. 4/23 101/2" dump
27. 4/24 4"
28. 4/25 6" dump
29. 4/26 nil
30. 4/27 81/2 dump & pull


Maple Tap # 18
40"+ unmeasured 5 dumps later starter

1. 4/9 51/2"
2. 4/10 nil
3. 4/11 31/2"
4. 4/12 1"
5. 4/13 1/2"
6. 4/14 2" dump
7. 4/15 3"
8. 4/16 8" dump
9. 4/17 5"
10. 4/18 3" dump
11. 4/19 nil
12. 4/20 nil
13. 4/21 1"
14. 4/22 11/2"
15. 4/23 31/2" dump
16. 4/24 6" dump
17. 4/25 3"
18. 4/26 nil
19. 4/27 nil dump & pull


Maple Tap # 19
40" + unmeasured late starter 5 dumps

1. 4/9 4"
2. 4/10 m
3. 4/11 31/2"
4. 4/12 1/2"
5. 4/13 1/2"
6. 4/14 3" dump
7. 4/15 2" L
8. 4/16 4" dump
9. 4/17 3"
10. 4/18 2"
11. 4/19 nil
12. 4/20 nil
13. 4/21 nil dump
14. 4/23 2"
15. 4/24 -2"
16. 4/25 3" dump & pull


Maple Tap # 20

40"+ unmeasured 9 dumps late starter

1. 4/9 6"
2. 4/10 nil
3. 4/11 41/2" dump
4. 4/12 4"
5. 4/13 nil
6. 4/14 21/2" dump
7. 4/15 31/2"
8. 4/16 nil
9. 4/17 3"
10. 4/18 5" dump
11. 4/19 1"
12. 4/20 nil
13. 4/21 41/2 dump
14. 4/22 9" dump
15. 4/23 7" dump
16. 4/24 31/2"
17. 4/25 61/2" dump & pull







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