Hop Rocket anyone?

[losman26]

Has anyone tried the blichmann hoprocket?
I'm going to buy one next week.

[mtsoxfan]

I've seen it, has the COOL factor....

[Beer-lord]

I almost got one last year but after reading more about it, decided not too. Just too many toys already and I wasn't sure I would use it to justify the $100 plus they want for it. It does look well worth the money.

[Kealia]

I bought one for my wife a while ago and....oh, wait you said HOP rocket.
Nevermind.

[losman26]

I picked up a hop rocket, and this is simply the best homebrew invention ever. For the first use, I added 1 oz of Citra hops, and 1 oz Amarillo to my Gumballhead clone. I was extremely disappointed with this brew, but the hoprocket took an average beer and made it into a really good one by just running the hoprocket as "Randallizer" in my keg lines. At first, I'd say that the hop flavor/aroma was maybe a little too intense, but after two days, it was simply amazing.

I also used this as a hop back for my batch yesterday. Tasting the hydro sample, it had a smooth hop flavor (much like a hop-stand). The only downside to this is, that a lot of wort remains trapped in the Hoprocket. Also, I'd recommend using a pump, because the hop-rocket requires at least 4 ft to gravity feed it. I did this, but was extremely sore lifting a kettle which felt like it was at least 100 pounds. I will definitely be buying a pump soon. The biggest benefit that I noticed, was how clear my wort came out. This was the clearest batch I've ever done.

Overall, I give this product an A+

[Kealia]

So...I'm not the most intelligent guy around so speak to me in small words that a 5-year old can understand....what exactly is this used for?
From reading it, I *think* it:
1) Is used when transferring from the brew kettle to your fermenter, right? If so, aren't you transferring wort that has already been chilled down to pitching temps?
2) Can be used a Randal, meaning that you connect it to your beer-out line so that your beer passes through it before hitting your glass?

Just trying to wrap my head around this.

[haerbob3]

me too I been toying around getting this and the hop-blocker rig needs to be rework. going commando is clogging up the kettle screen

[losman26]

So...I'm not the most intelligent guy around so speak to me in small words that a 5-year old can understand....what exactly is this used for?
From reading it, I *think* it:
1) Is used when transferring from the brew kettle to your fermenter, right? If so, aren't you transferring wort that has already been chilled down to pitching temps?

nope, it's designed more so to go from the kettle, to the hop rocket, into a plate chiller, then directly into the fermenter. I did a 40 min steep on my last batch so I'm guessing that the temps were around 160-170 before passing through the HR.

2) Can be used a Randal, meaning that you connect it to your beer-out line so that your beer passes through it before hitting your glass?

Just trying to wrap my head around this.

Basically, you stuff some leaf hops in your hop rocket. The hop rocket has to an input and an output, which is kind of like using an effects pedal while playing guitar. It's like having a nice, fresh dry hop after every pour. Granted, I'm still figuring it out, but I have to say that the results have been amazing. At first thdde flavor might seem too intense, but after the second day, it is exactly were I need it to be.

[losman26]

me too I been toying around getting this and the hop-blocker rig needs to be rework. going commando is clogging up the kettle screen

Not familiar with the hop blocker. I do as much pre-filtering as possible because I use a plate-chiller. I do not go commando anymore. I have a kettle screen in my valve, and always use a hop spider. I love my plate chiller, and do not want something stuck in there to make it an infection haven. I do have to say that out of all my all-grain batches, this one using the hop rocket was the clearest wort of them all.