How to Carbonate Stout on Beer Gas?

[robumba]

I'm sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'm confused.

Rather than carbonating the beer with straight CO2 then dispensing with beer gas, why not carbonate it WITH the beer gas? I mean, according to the tables the carbonation level is very low, which really requires the carbonation being done at room temp if using CO2. And really, does it have to be carbonated at all? Does it really change the flavor of dry irish stout if it's carbonated to 1.2 volumes rather than zero?

 

[day_trippr]

Does it really change the flavor of dry irish stout if it's carbonated to 1.2 volumes rather than zero?

Beer wouldn't have "zero carbonation" unless it was heated to drive off the CO2 that was absorbed during fermentation. Otherwise, if the beer doesn't see any higher temperature than the end of fermentation, it'll typically be in the .6~.8 volumes of CO2 range.

Which clearly isn't far from the 1.2~1.4 volumes that works well with stout faucets on high pressure beer gas. So one could get away with just putting a keg on beer gas and waiting for it to reach equilibrium...

Cheers!

 

[robumba]

Thanks for the response.
I just made the dry irish stout yesterday so I have awhile to ponder it, but it's gonna be a pain to take the co2 tank out of my keezer and carbonate the stout in the house at room temp. Wife's not gonna like it!

Just wondering if anyone carbs their stout with beer gas. Gotta take a chem refresher to see what the expected CO2 level is with 25% C02/75% N2 at 44F.

 

[robumba]

I found this chart.
Seems like at 38F a beer gas mixture of 75%N2/25% C02 would get the beer to the right carbonation level at keg pressure of about 32.

 

[day_trippr]

I concur.
Nice chart, btw. Saved a copy just because

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

@robumba
You are right the beer will " carbonate " with the beer gas at the correct pressure and temp.

Post ferment there will be dissolved CO2 in the beer depending on the temp

Completely flat stout served with beer gas straight off will taste a little flat, but is drinkable.

 

[robumba]

Thanks guys