Brewed a double IPA last Sunday and used a HopRocket as a hopback for the first time (standard setup: kettle -> HopRocket -> counterflow chiller -> fermenter using gravity feed.) Overall very pleased with the device. Seemed to add a hop character that was quite different than hops in the kettle or dry hopping. We brew 10G batches and split the output from the kettle into 2 carboys. First half of the "drain" goes into one carboy, last into the …

I was thinking of putting a hop back in line with my whirlpool chilling process. (Pumping hot wort out of the kettle through a hop back and back into the kettle with an immersion chiller running in the kettle). Should I be concerned with that first blast of hot wort going into the hop back and getting oxidized by the air trapped in the hops? Maybe it would be best to chill some first, then go through the hop back. …

Has anyone seen a marked improvement in hop flavor/quality from first wort hopping (adding hops at sparge) vs. late hopping vs. dry hopping vs. a hopback? Are there specific advantages to doing so? Hints for doing so?

I'm curious to hear stories about using a hopback. There are a few incarnations out there and a few reasonable DIY hopbacks. I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble. And, if so, does anyone have tips on using one?