Phelps Maple Syrup Fest draws 1,500, crowns syrup of the year

The Phelps Chamber of Commerce has announced the results of the Maple Syrup Judging Contest held during the 15th annual Maple Syrup Fest April 11, with B&H Honey and Maple Syrup of Chilton earning Maple Syrup of the Year.

The contest was organized by Smoky Lake Maple Products and featured a panel of judges that included April Lee Wiencek, also known as The Tipsy Housewife; Devin Biggs, meteorologist with NBC 12; and Wisconsin’s current Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow.

“It was a busy day judging all 40 entries for density, clarity, labeling and flavor,” said Laura Richart, director of the Phelps Chamber of Commerce. “Special thanks to Jimmy and Adam from Smoky Lake Maple Products for overseeing the judging.”

Producers from across the region received top honors in several taste and color categories.

In the Golden Color & Delicate Taste division, Twin Pines of Norway, Mich., took first place. Fish House Sugar of Appleton placed second, followed by Maple Sweet Dairy of De Pere in third.

In the Amber Color & Rich Taste category, B&H Honey and Maple Syrup of Chilton earned first place. Ski’s Sugar Shack of Merrill placed second, while Schleif Sugar Bush of Merrill finished third.

The Dark Color & Robust Taste category was led by Primrose Maple of Elkhart Lake in first place. Wrenchy’s Tap House of Kaukauna took second, and InTheWoods Sugar Bush of Manitowoc placed third.

In the Very Dark Color & Strong Taste division, 10 Acre Black Maple Syrup of De Pere captured first place. Fritzo of Howards Grove finished second, while Pickerel Lakes Maple of Eagle River placed third.

Students in the Phelps School technology program engraved the contest’s 10 wooden plaque awards in the school’s Fab Lab. The plaques were donated by the Phelps Chamber of Commerce.

According to Richart, this year’s Maple Syrup Fest drew approximately 1,500 adults and children throughout the day.

“It was great to chat with people from all over Wisconsin and the UP who came to Phelps for this event and made a weekend out of it, including visitors, craft fair vendors and syrup producers,” said Richart.

Maple Syrup Fest also offered tours of local sugarbushes, where fest-goers could see maple syrup production in action and stock up on locally made syrup. This year’s participating sugarbushes were Jackl’s Whataview Farm and Crazy Joe’s Natural Products.

The chamber said the cooking demonstrations featuring maple syrup were also very popular. Cooking blogger and social media influencer The Tipsy Housewife made nachos with maple chimichurri, while Buffy Miller-Jackson of Nicolet College Culinary Arts prepared a herby maple dip.

Other highlights included a craft fair with more than 60 vendors, food at the Maple Café provided by Sunrise Lodge and the Lions Club, hands-on tree tapping, classes on beekeeping and the flavors of maple syrup, maple taffy on the snow, a children’s scavenger hunt and more than 25 raffle prizes.

Many fest-goers also stocked up on Phelps maple syrup, with $1 from every bottle sold going toward continuing education scholarships for local high school seniors.

The chamber also thanked the event’s volunteers and sponsors, including top sponsors Sunrise Lodge, Northern Waters Casino, Headwaters Services and Nicolet Bank.