My electric set up is established of 3 15.5 gallon kegs with the top acting as the bottom drain. I cannot figure out what I want to do in terms of whirlpooling and then filtering. I purchased the Blichman Hop Rocket and Blichman therminator for my set up. I've read that you want to try to and filter as much as possible before entering the therminator to prevent clogging it up. I want to try and do everything with as least amount of hose installing and uninstalling. I'd like to be able to sanitize the hop rocket and therminator with the wort but I'm left with filtering the hops while trying to whirlpool. I'm beginning to think that I'll have to sanitize my Hop rocket and therminator separately and then attach the hose to that after whirlpooling is complete. I'd like to see what you guys are doing with a similar set up to this as I'm a newb all over again. Thanks and cheers.
Personally I send the wort from the kettle to pump to hop rocket back to kettle for whirlpool then just switch the hose over to plate chiller when whirlpool is finished. The plate chiller is already thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by the time the whirlpool even starts. Are you planning on sending the wort back to the kettle or direct into the fermenter?
Thanks for the reply. Isn't it counter intuitive to use the hop blocker as you're whirlpooling? I'm just asking here, I really don't know. I would just assume that you want to preserve as much hop debri to fully utilize the whirlpool. I was planning on sending the wort back to the kettle for a 20 minute whirlpool and then go to the fermenter after chilling.
From what others have said (can't remember who) the Hop Rocket works/filters pretty well if it is installed UPstream of your chiller/pump. Up to this point, my Hop Rocket has been installed DOWNstream of my pump and CFC with only sporadic clogging/cavitating when brewing very hoppy beers. I only use the Hop Rocket for 10/15 min additions so sanitizing it is automatic by way of recirc/whirlpool just like my IC and CFC.
