The 2008 harvest was remarkable in numerous ways. Strong leaf growth last summer (2007) developed high sugar content in our maples which averaged well over 2% for a long portion of the harvest (around 30-35 gallons of sap per gallon of syrup). In addition, dense snow pack grew deeper and deeper in late Winter helping insure an extended cool harvest. Meantime, the weather and temperature at our farm's altitude of 1295-1645 feet was ideal much of the time, freezing nights-- but not too cold-- and thawing days, resulting in high tree pressure and high volumes of sap flow. This year was a bumper crop which increased the farm's yield 60 percent above last year's modest harvest! The cool harvest temeratures supported a large crop of Light Amber at an unusually high register of straw gold color with strong vanillin and nut flavors; the Mediums are rich with tastes of warm caramel and butter; the Dark ambers are noteworthy for their combination of bold yet smooth flavors; cinnamon, toast or chocolate can occur; and the stout Black Amber's (B) syrups, while not as dark as last year, balance powerful, rich and lasting tastes smoothly balanced by the ideal temperatures of early April. In general, this remarkable harvest is noteworthy for its smooth balance and broad range of colors beginning with unusual straw gold Light Ambers and ending with the hearty, Black Amber stouts as well as tremendous volume.