I only use my HopRocket with a pump on 10 gal batches...so I don't use it routinely anymore. The only drawback is that you have to use whole cones with the HR and spend a little more time cleaning than normal. It will hold 3 oz of wc hops, so volume is ~ 100 cubic inches I would guess...probably less.
I love my HopRocket. I definitely noticed a difference in my hoppy beers since I started using it. I run it on a gravity feed from kettle to HR to plate chiller and into carboy without problems. Not a big deal cleaning it, more just added time sanitizing and setting up.
I have a hop rocket. It is one of my favorite pieces of brewing equipment. I use it on every single hoppy beer I brew and even some not so hoppy beers. I run a pump to Hop rocket to plate chiller. It is a great set up. I like to make my own equipment also, and I was about to make my own hop back, but when I got my hands on a hop rocket and checked it out, I scrapped my plans and bought one. Blichmann also makes a RIMS heater coil you can use with the hop rocket. Pretty cool. http://www.blichmannengineering.com/products/rims-rocket™ And you can totally use pellet hops in your hop rocket, you have to mod it though. Just buy some stainless steel scrubbies and stuff the crap out of them into the upper area of the hop rocket above the fine mesh screen- (I always put in some whole cone hops first/as a top layer to help filter the pellets before they hit the fine mesh screen/SS scrubbies) a small bit can come through, but it filters 99% of the pellet hops.
Would you be kind enough to post some pictures of your hop rocket setup? I'm going to use mine for the first time this Friday and I was wanting to see what other people have done. I also plan on going pump to HR to plate chiller. Thanks!
I'm not really a picture posting on the internet kind of dude. If you beer mail me your email address I would be more than happy to send photos to you via email. I have utilized this set up in many different fashions in different properties/areas. With a pump you can get away with setting it up however you need to in order to fit your brewing space/area.
Thanks, I'm unable to message you...it also says that your profile is being protected so I can't view it.
