Beer Forum

Has anyone used a Blichmann Hop Rocket as a filter for a plate chiller?

Tasty dropped some knowledge here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27619#_thread

That thread was about a hopback. I'm not saying the Hoprocket isn't a hopback. In fact, I'm using a Hoprocket. I'm just running it in the opposite direction. I've also removed the screen that's attached with a wingnut. Because I "pull" the wort out of the hopback (modified Hoprocket) using a pump that's on the cold side of my plate chiller, the hops (which are in a hopsack) are pulled against the bottom (formerly top) screen compressing the hops, slowing the flow, and forming a filter that the wort has to pass through.
Tasty

NICE....Thanks Tasty

unless you dont put many hops at all in the hop rocket (say significantly less than half full) - i've found that it works just fine as a trub filter pre-plate chiller when used "normally" too.

The hops float up on the wort and once flow is going it holds them at the top, where they filter things perfectly well.

If I'm using the hop rocket, i dont whirlpool or even allow any settling time - flame off and begin transfer to chiller. Pre-chiller wort isn't quite as clean as it is after my normal WP/rest, but its not bad and happens 30mins sooner. No pump, just gravity.

I have no doubt running the Hoprocket in its normal direction without a pump will provide some filtering. I just want to be clear that running it in the opposite direction with a pump "pulling" the wort will compress the hops to the point that the wort can hardly get past the filter bed. The hops are compressed so much that they're literally like a brick. It may be hard to tell in this picture but the bottom of the hopsack is perfectly flat and you can see the hole marks from the screen.



Tasty

Where does he get all those wonderful toys!?

snowcapt wrote:Where does he get all those wonderful toys!?

This sounds like an A & E .com live read...