Intertap stout spout problems

[blacklabbrewer]

Hey all,
Kinda disappointed... installed my nitrogen setup with the new intertap stout spout. Here's the run down

-Beer gas is 75/25 nitro/co2 mix at 25 psi (I tried several pressures between 20 and 30 psi)
-dry Irish stout (finished at 1.020 unfortunately) previously carbonated to 2.0 vols using just co2 before hooking up to the beergas
-38 degrees F
- 10 feet of beverage line

So after pulling a couple pints it's almost nothing like a Guinness draught. A little cascading and the head dissipates almost immediately. Do I need to have the nitrogen hooked up for a period of time? I was under the impression the nitrogen doesn't go into solution so it wouldn't matter how long it's in contact with the beer. Any suggestions?

 

[blacklabbrewer]

So after some further reading it appears the nitrogen does get dissolved but the restricter plate helps knock it out of solution? Seems like I need the beer gas hooked up for at least a week to get nitrogen dissolved in the beer.

 

[Callacave]

Your carb is probably too high. 2 vols is too much. I usually go with 1.2.

Letting it sit for a week or two on beer gas can help.

I always feel like a lower FG helps with head retention in a nitro. Could be wrong, but it's my experience so far. I'm sure grain bill recipe can influence that also.

 

[blacklabbrewer]

So do you carb with 100% co2 first and then switch to beer gas? And if so how long do you let sit on beer gas before serving? Thanks

 

[Callacave]

So do you carb with 100% co2 first and then switch to beer gas? And if so how long do you let sit on beer gas before serving? Thanks

Yes. Carb with co2. Best to do it at room temp. That way you can be a little more accurate, and need a higher pressure to carb. If you do it at fridge temps it's just too low of a pressure to be accurate enough. Unless you happen to have a regulator that's accurate that low.

I usually let it sit for two weeks on beer gas, but steal a taste after one.

 

[blacklabbrewer]

Thanks that's actually awesome advice carbing at room temp I was struggling with my regulator at 38 degrees. And thanks again for the reply, it sucks spending over 200 bucks on a nitro setup and not getting the results you're looking for. This helped for sure.