You did no harm !
Use the SEARCH feature on this board, lot's of post on this subject !
To caramelize it you would need to boil it at a rolling boil for quite awhile.
The amber color is just undissolved sugar !
Use the simple test, sick your finger in and then lick it.
Feed till they stop taking it, 2 gallons is only a start.
They use the sugar water food to build their wax cells, when they get going they can use a quart a day.
Join a local bee-club & visit your local public library they have lots of answers.
Good Luck
Bee-Bop