Maple syrup season coming to canada soon

[kevin 82]

I was thinking of using maple syrup in a mash but what would go good for a nutrient in it and mabe add something to the flavor.

[bitter]

Why not just tap some trees and use the sap in your mash... Or you could tap a bunch of trees and then reduce it to the right SG and ferment it out. Some mellow grain... maybe white wheat would go good with it I think.

Also Maple Syrup is pricy

B

[kevin 82]

I was going to tap trees and reduce it down. Do you think a gallon of the reduced sap for a six gallon batch. be enough or to much do you think.

[bitter]

If I remember corectly the SG of Maple sap is about 1.009 now it does varry year to year and depending how late in the season you go. To get 5G of 1.045 or so you would need to boil 25G down. To get to about 1.072 would need close to 40 gallons down to 5g.

Maple syrup can vary year to year. When I was making it the best I see was 32G of sap to make 1G of syrup.... another year was really bad and it took about 100G to get 1 Gallon of syrup (This was really early run also and its lighter). Most years was between 32 and 45:! for me.

I have not done Maple Sap into a ferment so not sure how much flavour comes across. I know Yak made some Maple whiskey last year so maybe he will chime in.

For me I think a grain bill with mellow grains and SAP could make a really nice delecate whisky. For More Maple I think you would have to concentrate the SAP. Another thing to think about is you could just make maple syrup and use it post distillation after aging to make a maple liqueur Whiskey. Then you can do small amount and test to see how you like it.

B

[jedneck]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ilit=Maple
Ive had Randy's maple spirit and it is damn good. If I didn't have all my fermenters running all grain I would be running this. Maybe next year.

[kevin 82]

Thanks bitter you have been very helpful. That is alot of sap to boil down I will have to see how much I get to see which rout to go.

[bitter]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ilit=Maple
Ive had Randy's maple spirit and it is damn good. If I didn't have all my fermenters running all grain I would be running this. Maybe next year.

Darn that does sounds good!

B

[Pesty]

My uncle made syrup for a better part of 30 years in VT/NH. We'd head up there for the boil and what started as a huge tank of sap, would become a couple of barrels. There was always this one neighbor, who at the end would cook the last batch to almost a panela state. I was a kid then, I now know what he used it for and why the barn and house always had mason jars to drink out of.

[yakattack]

My preference is using it instead of water to mash. No reduction required because it's not the only ferments be. I will find the link to my grain bill. I really liked it. It was mapley but not overly sweet. It's worth going this route in my opinion but to each his own.

[yakattack]

Here is a link to the thread. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =+Seasonal

[raketemensch]

One of my favorite childhood memories is getting hot and thirsty running through the woods, and stopping to take big drinks straight from the bucket at the nearest tapped maple.

My property was logged to build the house (by the previous owner), and there aren't really any good maples left. Sad state of affairs.

[yakattack]

Where I am in southern ontario we had a shitty winter. To warm which means no sap this year. I may try tapping a few anyways to see what I can get out but not likely much.

Yak

[ben stiller]

Yak don't write this season off just yet. I am not that far from you in upstate NY and we have had that
same warm winter yet the sap is flowing strong. Couple local kids started up an operation and have brought in over 1000 gallons already. Pretty decent sugar content from what they say. I am cooking my first 10 gallons now.

[yakattack]

Looks like I'll have to get taps out tomorrow then.

Even if I can get 30 gallons it's enough for a decent size run.

How's the taste Ben? Warmer winters often have a bland taste (ol timers info)

You tapping sugar maple? Silver?

[ben stiller]

I am tapping sugar maples. Just finished and it has lots of taste. Quite pleased with it.

[yakattack]

Excellent. I assume you are collecting the sap daily?or are you using a vacuum system?

How was the sg of the syrup initially? Out of your 10g what did you end up with?

Yak

[pythonshine]

Need to find me some o them thar candanadian maplers around here

[ben stiller]

Excellent. I assume you are collecting the sap daily?or are you using a vacuum system?

How was the sg of the syrup initially? Out of your 10g what did you end up with?

Yak

Yeah I am collecting daily. I have not bothered to check the initial sg. I ended up with a bit over half a quart but I cooked it down pretty good.