I've read that a lot of homebrewers utilize these in their systems, especially while reading about Hop Rockets, but what else are they used for and are they beneficial to own? Thanks!
I use it for my counterflow heat exchange at the end of the boil (with and without hop rocket). I use it when I am using my system in a HERMS configuration, and I use it it to pump sparge water to my mash tun. I do 20 gallon batch sizes, and if you are only doing 5 gallon batches you can likely just get away with using gravity much easier. Not a necessity, but it sure makes the brew day quite a bit easier.
Recirculation when heating, transfer to the kettle, whirlpool of the kettle, transfer to the conical or fermenters. Saves my back.
Vorlauf (I just don't have the patience for a proper 'traditional' vorlauf), moving wort from any point A to any point B without lifting anything, whirlpool, chill to pitching temp with an immersion chiller in 10-15 minutes without manual stirring.
I bought the Chugger, not the March, but they are basicly the same. As hopfenunmaltz indicated, they will save your back, but only if you are brewing something larger than 5 gal. batches and only if your brew stand is tuned to you....let me explain...my back hurts more now than when I was brewing 5 gal batches, but I think that is because my stand is too low. I find myself bending over (stop it!) a lot more than when I was brewing 5 gal batches.
Now that you're doing bigger batches and have more beer around you're doing extra lifting from glass to mouth. HA, my back hurts!
The March pump along with a plate chiller was one of the best additions for my brew set up. I have been using quick release fittings to make it very simple to move hoses around. Check bargainfittings.com for all stainless parts.
You mentioned the "Hop Rocket" which is a small hopback made by Blichmann Engineering. I wanted to comment on this device. I own one of these and use it now for most of my beers. What it adds to hoppy beers like pale ales, IPAs and Pilsners is pretty profound. I am amazed by how much flavor and aroma it adds to beers. Three ounces added to the hopback for a pale ale and you would swear the beer had been heavily dry hopped even when no dry hop additions have been added. I run it after the pump (obviously) and before the plate chiller. This arrangement basically "distills" the essential hop constituents (flavors and aromas) from the hops into the wort. The plate chiller becomes the condenser in the distillation process. The hopback it additionally serves as a filter because the hops in the hopback becomes a filter medium. Even for traditionally non-hoppy beers like porters, I might add an ounce of whole hops (perhaps fuggles). I'll end up with some more hop characteristics than others might, but this has just become the way I like to brew.
Thanks for the input guys. Considering I am going to start using a HopRocket and plate chiller, it sounds like a march pump will be needed.
i'll throw in CIPing my equipment (clean-in-place). So while I'm boiling my wort, by pump is running cleaning solution through my RIMS tube & MLT so that by flameout that whole side of my brewing system is completely cleaned and ready for next brew day. As soon as wort is chilled, my pump starts running the cleaning solution through the kettle & plate chiller. Pretty much get sparkling clean equipment after every brewday.
