Does CO2 have a bittering Agent Added? Does it affect beer taste?

[Fordiesel69]

I just had a 5 lb cyl recertified and filled by a local fire extinguisher shop. They were the only ones that recertify / test. So I made the mistake of just seeing what it smelled like. Let me just say it made my eyes water and nose run like a faucet.

So does all CO2 contain this?

 

[b-boy]

CO2 will definitely effect the flavor of your beer. I've always thought of it as more acidic than bitter tasting. A big wiff of CO2 will definitely get your eyes watering and you'll feel a burning in your lungs. Not recommended. I almost passed out once reaching for dry ice in a lab I worked at. I had to reach way down into the freezer to get the last few pieces and I made the mistake of taking a few deep breaths.. Luckily I pulled myself out of the freezer.

 

[bioguy]

Easy experiment for you - make some seltzer water. Put 5 gal. water in a keg & carbonate as you would for beer. That's the taste of carbon dioxide without any beer taste.

My wife was spending money for seltzer--I told her I could carbonate water for her

 

[Fordiesel69]

So the smell is just because it is CO2 and not from a bittergent? So it does affect the taste?

If so, why do we use it over a different type of gas? Like dry nitrogen or whatever else might work.

 

[b-boy]

So the smell is just because it is CO2 and not from a bittergent? So it does affect the taste?

If so, why do we use it over a different type of gas? Like dry nitrogen or whatever else might work.

Well it is a product of fermentation, so I'd blame the yeast for that. If we were bottling, and not kegging, we'd have no input to the procss at all. All the CO2 would come from the yeast.

I know nitrogen is used for stouts, but I think that has more to do with serving and mouthfeel, not taste.

 

[bioguy]

To my knowledge, CO2 cylinders only contain CO2. As for why we use it--I agree with b-boy. Yeast produce CO2. Do we have to be stuck with this gas? Heck no. You can nitrogenate or even dissolve H2 gas in there if you want.

 

[BrewKnurd]

You can nitrogenate or even dissolve H2 gas in there if you want.

Mostly off topic, but both nitrogen and hydrogen are orders of magnitude less soluble than CO2.