OT Maple Taps

[gamefisher]

Alec - brought up our old Maple thread which shows the history of the sap-a-holics on IS, hope you don't mind.  Prehaps Scotty or Fool will merge them for us.

I am still waiting, when I start I want it to be "prime time" and not stop and start.  I bought a bigger used pan to speed the process this yr but it still needs to be fit to the barrel, tomorrow sounds like just the day.

Did you come up with a different set up to boil on Alec?

[toguefisha]

Did you come up with a different set up to boil on Alec?

Not yet.  I am at a different location this year (finally bought my own place.)  The block arch worked fairly well for me last year so I may set up something similar.  Not much money in the budget for much more. 

[gamefisher]

You motivated me guys, just went to camp and picked up my rig and all the supplies I need to make the nec. mods.  Good project for tomorrow in the garage, the rest of today is for the shack, man, is it nice out!

[The Rusty Crab]

Dumb question but can you tap any type of maples, not just the sugar maples.  If so I'm going to order some  supplies and give it a try.

[pegasus]

Dumb question but can you tap any type of maples, not just the sugar maples.  If so I'm going to order some  supplies and give it a try.

You can get suryup out of a birch if you want to boil down 55 gals for a quart. I like getting mine out of Skunk Spruce.

[pfd37]

Still a week or two away for us to start, but we did start to dig out the sugarhouse and the sugarbush.  We do about 7-800.

[rockhound57]

Dumb question but can you tap any type of maples, not just the sugar maples.  If so I'm going to order some  supplies and give it a try.

a more direct answer is yes, but the sugar maple has the highest quality sap and the highest sugar content. And, yes, you really can tap birches, if you want the work. the syrup has a more acidic flavor, according to a sample sent by friends who got it in Alaska

[The Rusty Crab]

a more direct answer is yes, but the sugar maple has the highest quality sap and the highest sugar content. And, yes, you really can tap birches, if you want the work. the syrup has a more acidic flavor, according to a sample sent by friends who got it in Alaska

Thanks that was what I was looking for

[gamefisher]

Thanks that was what I was looking for

Reds tap fine, just a little higher sap - syrup ratio, if its maple, its all good.

[TogueShmogue]

I was cutting down a red, and pruning a sugar today at work...In Scarborough and both of them were pouring pretty good!  I think the season is very close.

[pfd37]

FWIW, a few maple facts:

Sugar maples also known as Rock maples or Hard maples tend to have a higher sugar content. 

Red and White maples, also known as soft or swamp maples make sap that can be boiled down to syrup, but because they "tend" to have a lower sugar content and tend to bud out earlier, most producers will thin them out in favor of the sugar maples.

What's the difference you ask?  Sugar maples that produce 2.5% sugar will produce 1 gallon of syrup from 34 gallons of syrup.  A soft maple producing 1.5% sugar content would have to yield 57 gallons of sap to make that same gallon of syrup.  This isn't a major issue unless you're the one paying the gas bill or cutting the wood to boil that extra sap to make the same amount of syrup.

We tend to average about 2.5 to 3% sugar from all our trees combined.  When we test some and find weak trees that aren't producing as sweetly then those are marked for cutting, allowing the area trees more light and nutrients to grow bigger and stronger.  Many of our trees can produce 6% +.  Those are usually the field trees or road side trees that have lots of room to expand.

Anyone in the area that would like to test their sap to see where they are running get in touch.  I can check it with the refractometer and tell you if you have a sweet tree or not.  Then again, if you're cutting the wood to feed the fire, you know if you have a sweet tree or not.    

[gamefisher]

A better day to retro-fit the "new" pan than fish!

[toguefisha]

good looking pan, that ought to give you a little more capacity than the lasagna pans you were using.  Been looking for a pan like that myself.

[gamefisher]

good looking pan, that ought to give you a little more capacity than the lasagna pans you were using.  Been looking for a pan like that myself.

It's homemade but the price was right.  I had a friend add the 3/4" nipple and then I bought a valve.  Can't imagine dumping that thing like the previous owner must have.  I'm hoping for 7gph up from the 3-3.5, too much time for beer drinking.   Keeping the smaller pan to finish with on the clam cooker.

[rude the dude]

Looks good eric. now we just need the warmth again. Why did this topic get moved this year. Last couple there wasn't a problem.

[pfscott]

Probably start tapping around the 12th of March. No frost, lots of snow in the woods. Looks like it might be a good year. We will put out 500 on bags this year, maybe another 100 if the weather looks good.

[HARDTOP]

Have you ever or can you make maple beer?

[Iceassin]

Have you ever or can you make maple beer?

Why...do you want something to pour on your pancakes?

But you probably can...they suck Gin out of a Juniper.

[MaineFishah]

Had a productive day yesterday as I finished cleaning all my equipment and got my 20 taps in. I have about 6 more to put in but I need to get some more containers. I've been using 2.5 gallon water jugs as that was what I had on hand. I also got some 20 gallon rubbermaid containers burried in the snow bank for some storage. I know I'm a little early but I've got things planned for the next few weekends, so now all I need is the warmer weather.

[gamefisher]

Looks good eric. now we just need the warmth again. Why did this topic get moved this year. Last couple there wasn't a problem.

Thanks Iain, I found two little holes that need to be welded in the pan.  I'm concerned that I don't have enough of the flue opening showing to get a good draw with the new pan now but before changing it I thought I'd try a test boil.

Regarding the other, I was very dissapointed as well.  We've had this thread going seasonal on the Maine Board since 2008.  Tiny - If you read this, I know you think you have a job too do but I would ask nicely if this could be placed back on the Maine board while in season.  I think 99% of us stay right there and have viewed this thread as a "right of spring passage" for us.  After the season, burying it here wouldn't be a big issue.  I'm sure we'd even offer a bribe of syrup if that's what it took.   Thank you for considering my request.

[billditrite]

I will move this back to the Maine page for you guys...however i will be lookig for a sample of maple syrup at the banquet...for EACH of the maine mods for keeping it there and maybe a taste for HIMO too...

[_FLAG_]

I will move this back to the Maine page for you guys...however i will be lookig for a sample of maple syrup at the banquet...for EACH of the maine mods for keeping it there and maybe a taste for HIMO too...

Oh i see..... Playing favorites are we??

 

[billditrite]

Oh i see..... Playing favorites are we??

 

yep...rules are rules and a bribe is a bribe!! 

[_FLAG_]

yep...rules are rules and a bribe is a bribe!! 

LMAO!!!!!

[billditrite]

granted I do like Maine maple syrup this thread needs to be moved to the OT section as so many other PERTANATE threads are  as NY VT and NH and many others make maple syrup  consistency please

thank you for your input...i will take it into consideration   

[fishfry]

Have you ever or can you make maple beer?

I brewed a maple porter with 5 gallons of sap instead of water. 6.5% alc, and a hint of maple.

[Sinnian]

I brewed a maple porter with 5 gallons of sap instead of water. 6.5% alc, and a hint of maple.

OH that sounds delicious!!!  There is a brewery in North Woodstock NH that makes a batch every year, but I bet a smaller batch is even better.

[droopy]

I brewed a maple porter with 5 gallons of sap instead of water. 6.5% alc, and a hint of maple.

i think i might have to steal that idea. this is my first year tapping, do you guys think i'd do alright boiling off in my beer brew kettle?(8.5 gallon pot)

[TogueShmogue]

FWIW, a few maple facts:

Sugar maples also known as Rock maples or Hard maples tend to have a higher sugar content. 

Red and White maples, also known as soft or swamp maples make sap that can be boiled down to syrup, but because they "tend" to have a lower sugar content and tend to bud out earlier, most producers will thin them out in favor of the sugar maples.

What's the difference you ask?  Sugar maples that produce 2.5% sugar will produce 1 gallon of syrup from 34 gallons of syrup.  A soft maple producing 1.5% sugar content would have to yield 57 gallons of sap to make that same gallon of syrup.  This isn't a major issue unless you're the one paying the gas bill or cutting the wood to boil that extra sap to make the same amount of syrup.

We tend to average about 2.5 to 3% sugar from all our trees combined.  When we test some and find weak trees that aren't producing as sweetly then those are marked for cutting, allowing the area trees more light and nutrients to grow bigger and stronger.  Many of our trees can produce 6% +.  Those are usually the field trees or road side trees that have lots of room to expand.

Anyone in the area that would like to test their sap to see where they are running get in touch.  I can check it with the refractometer and tell you if you have a sweet tree or not.  Then again, if you're cutting the wood to feed the fire, you know if you have a sweet tree or not.    

They had a "sugar bush" at Umaine...they found that the red maples on their site had just as high, if not higher sugar content then the sugar maples on their site. 

[rude the dude]

I will move this back to the Maine page for you guys...however i will be lookig for a sample of maple syrup at the banquet...for EACH of the maine mods for keeping it there and maybe a taste for HIMO too...

your the man. Thanks