Tapping Maple Trees

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maltster
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by maltster » Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:58 pm

The sap is running again today after the sun came out. Earlier this week I collected approximately 100 litres from 23 taps.

Boiling the sap the old fashioned way on the homemade wood stove.
boiling_sap2.JPG
Boiling sap the brewnoser way. :mmm:
boiling_sap1.JPG
And the end result after 12 hours of boiling.........approx 2.5 litres of syrup...
maple_syrup1.JPG
I feel a maple porter coming on... :chug:
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LiverDance
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by LiverDance » Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:51 pm

Any chance we can secure some of that maple for this years Satan's Porter? Will trade for homebrew :cheers2:
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mr x
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by mr x » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:20 pm

Nice looking syrup.
At Alexander Keith's we follow the recipes first developed by the great brewmaster to the absolute letter. :wtf:
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spears104
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by spears104 » Sat Mar 17, 2012 4:58 pm

If you tap red maples the boil down ratio will be more like 80:1 like other trees. The easiest way I know to tell them apart is to look at the leaves in the summer time. Red Maple leaves have rough edges to the leaves, Sugar maple leaves are smooth.

Has anyone ever made birch syrup?
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akr71
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by akr71 » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:05 pm

I'm currently boiling down another 25 litres (3rd boil off), which is incredibly hard to do in a 30 litre pot - until you remember that you've got fermcap in the fridge! :wink:
I'd post a pick of what I've bottled, but Im putting it in green Grolsch bottles, so there isn't much to look at.
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maltster
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by maltster » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:42 pm

spears104 wrote:If you tap red maples the boil down ratio will be more like 80:1 like other trees. The easiest way I know to tell them apart is to look at the leaves in the summer time. Red Maple leaves have rough edges to the leaves, Sugar maple leaves are smooth.
I'm pretty sure my trees are red maple (acer rubrum), aka 'soft maple' and I'm getting in the 40-50:1 range. I have noticed the sap season is shorter than sugar maples.
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by gm- » Mon Mar 11, 2013 11:08 am

Resurrecting this old thread as I am planning to tap few trees soon.

Those of who that have tried maple sap/syrup in your brews, what gave the best results? Thinking about making a maple blonde ale.

Also, has anybody tried to use Birch sap/syrup in beer?

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akr71
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by akr71 » Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:18 pm

I tapped a few of my trees yesterday. I'm only bothering so we can make taffy with the kids - last year I spent $40 on propane to get $25 worth of syrup :problem:

If it really flows well, I may take the sap to make a beer.
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Jayme
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Re: Tapping Maple Trees

Post by Jayme » Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:56 pm

I tried making a beer with sap 2 years ago but fucked it up and it didn't turn out (nothing to do with the sap). Last year I didn't get enough sap to even try. Taps are out this year - we'll see how it goes!

Haven't tried birch sap though I've thought about it!
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