Nitro tap - worth it or not?

[Peyope]

This sounds great. This probably doesn't work as well if you bottle off the keg.

 

[MrTux]

SHMBO peeked at what I was reading... Said a big fat no. So now I have to find out the true cost and do an analysis and see if I can sneak on in. Rofl!

 

[Silentdrinker]

SHMBO peeked at what I was reading... Said a big fat no. So now I have to find out the true cost and do an analysis and see if I can sneak on in. Rofl!

I found my regulator on eBay pretty much brand new. He was local. I bid, $20 and won. I met him for pick up to save on shipping. He even drove it to me since he was working in the area.

I found two 80lb argon tanks on Craig's list for something stupid cheap like both tanks for $25. I bought them and swapped one for a 60lb beer gas cylinder for nothing more than the cost of gas (and I still have the other tank for future use or resale) so that was under $50 total and might even make me money with the second tank

Then I bought a SS stout faucet for $86 shipped online. But the chrome can be had for $50 or so.

So it can be done for cheap. Just think outside the box.

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

what size nitrogen tank would you guys recommend?

 

[LLBeanJ]

I needed a tank that would fit in the fridge, so I went with a 20 cu ft tank, which is about the same size as a 5 lb CO2 tank. Just like with CO2, it's much more cost effective to go larger if you can accommodate it. When I got my tank I took it to General Air to fill and they told me they won't fill tanks that small and offered to sell me a larger one, I think 50 cu ft IIRC, for around $100 + the gas. I declined and headed over to Airgas. They couldn't fill mine on the spot, but they had full 75/25 beer mix tanks in stock that were the same size as mine, so I swapped mine away for a full one for just the cost of the gas, which was ~$38 out the door.

 

[atom]

Yeah....make sure you check local suppliers to be sure you can get beergas. It's not as easy to come by as CO2. My only local source is Praxair. I originally bought an oddball size tank on ebay (27cuft or something like that)... took it to Praxair and they exchanges it for a full 20 cu ft tank for $30ish. I dispensed about 6-7 kegs with it and it was time for a fill... called to make sure they had beergas is stock and confirmed the price...still $30ish. took my tank for an exchange and was told it was $86! i had to argue with the guy for a while and he "talked to his manager" and was able to give it to me for $30ish...

point of the story is...getting gas can be a hassle...make sure you look into local sources.

 

[masonsjax]

It's so worth it I'm considering converting a second tap. Only downside is the effect is lost when bottling off the tap.

I have an 80cf tank. There's a guy named Scott that sells tanks of all kinds on here for pretty cheap. I swap out for a full 75/25 beergas tank at Airgas for around $35 I think? I have one of the $50 chrome faucets and it works great. I will only ever buy Micromatic regulators after chronic failures with most other brands. Well worth the extra few bucks.

I have an IPA on nitro now and it's incredible. Just about any style works well, but the oatmeal stout seems to go the quickest.

 

[atom]

as soon as my chocolate stout kicks i'm putting a coffee/oatmeal brown on nitro...can't wait!

 

[cfonnes]

Thanks for all of the replies.

This is going to be my next beer investment.

 

[KeninMN]

I don't have space in my house for kegging, so I simulate a nitro tap using the old Guinness syringe activator trick. I when I bottle my Dry Irish Stout I prime it to achieve 2.4 volumes of CO2. Then when I serve the beer I use a 12 ml syringe to suck up 5 ml of beer plus 5 ml of air and then shoot it back into the glass in one motion. This creates a big creamy head with the cascade of nitrogen bubbles and the perfect level of low carbonation.

 

[motobrewer]

I recently added one. It's...ok. I'm still figuring it out. I can't get it to pour without half a glass of foam. I'm using beer gas, 60/40, at 15 psi. It might be something in the recipe. Beer tastes great, once I spoon off all the foam.

 

[Silentdrinker]

I recently added one. It's...ok. I'm still figuring it out. I can't get it to pour without half a glass of foam. I'm using beer gas, 60/40, at 15 psi. It might be something in the recipe. Beer tastes great, once I spoon off all the foam.

Are you carbonating it too high before putting it on nitro?

 

[motobrewer]

maybe. I don't think so though. But it's possible.

 

[Silentdrinker]

maybe. I don't think so though. But it's possible.

What vol co2 are you carbonating it to?

 

[day_trippr]

I'd be surprised if a stout faucet would work well at 15 psi.
Most folks seem to run around 30 psi or higher.
I'm running at 35 psi because I have a long line on that faucet (same 12 footer as on the other five)...

Cheers!

 

[ChemistBrewer]

I have one. Yes for me its worth it. Plus friends and family think it super cool that you have it at home. It can be expensive but I like it and my wife really likes nitro beers. I bought a perlick nitro tap and its badass, probably spent more than I should have. Also as others have said the tanks can get expensive as you usally have to go to Airgas/Nat welders to get them. Most homebrew shops dont carry them. I ended up buying a 30lber so ill have beer gas for a while haha. Also dont forgett you will need a regulator devoted and fitted for nitrogen. Carbonate low like beergolf said otherwise your beer will be waaay too over carbed.

 

[motobrewer]

What vol co2 are you carbonating it to?

About 1.

I'd be surprised if a stout faucet would work well at 15 psi.
Most folks seem to run around 30 psi or higher.
I'm running at 35 psi because I have a long line on that faucet (same 12 footer as on the other five)...

Cheers!

I have 60/40 mix on a 12 foot line. I'm not sure what you mean by "work well" but beer flows out of it. It pours perfect for the first 1/3 then suddenly WHAM! Entire glass turns to pure foam.

 

[masonsjax]

That sounds like the beer is overcarbed. The beer in the line probably loses a little carb, once that's poured and you hit the kegged beer, it's too much carb and foams up. 60/40 is a pretty high ratio of CO2, and maybe even at 15 psi it's too much? I keep my 75/25 mix around 25 psi and it's perfect.

 

[ABVIBUSRM]

If you are a stout junkie like me then yes it is worth it ..also fun to run IPA's and porters too..just make sure you can get nitro gas mix before buying

 

[motobrewer]

That sounds like the beer is overcarbed. The beer in the line probably loses a little carb, once that's poured and you hit the kegged beer, it's too much carb and foams up. 60/40 is a pretty high ratio of CO2, and maybe even at 15 psi it's too much? I keep my 75/25 mix around 25 psi and it's perfect.

Yeah I wanted 75/25 but all we seem to have around here is 60/40. I can try purging I guess but 40% co2 at 15psi is 6psi equivalent. That's not a lot of carb.

 

[masonsjax]

Yeah, I dunno man, I know people run that blend without problems. A certain pressure is needed to overcome the pressure plate and break the CO2 out of solution, so there must be a happy medium there somewhere.

 

[BBBF]

I'm enjoying a braggot on nitro. I have only had mine for a couple months, but I am enoying it.

 

[Silentdrinker]

Yeah I wanted 75/25 but all we seem to have around here is 60/40. I can try purging I guess but 40% co2 at 15psi is 6psi equivalent. That's not a lot of carb.

Is that 6psi co2 equivalent? How cold is your kegerator?

 

[motobrewer]

yes. 41. ish.

 

[Silentdrinker]

yes. 41. ish.

Well, I dont know what to say... Everything appears to be set up correct from what you're saying. Unless you're info isn't accurate or you're pouring it from three feet away... Idk. Good luck with it.

 

[LLBeanJ]

yes. 41. ish.

This definitely sounds like an overcarbonation problem to me. When I first set mine up I had the same issue, but was able to abate it by decreasing the carb.

My guess is that the beer was more carbonated than you think it was when you moved from straight CO2 to the blended gas. It doesn't take much overcarb to blow the whole pour.

What I would do is this...

Take it off the nitro and manually decarb the brew by venting the pressure. Do this several times for a couple of days and then put it back on the nitro and see how it pours. If still too much foam, repeat the process. You should be able to get it to pour without foam before too long. If you go too far in decarbing, such that you have all beer and no foam, just let it be and let the carb build back up slowly over several days and then raise it 1 or 2 PSI every few days and wait some more. The key is to go back up in pressure slowly until you find the sweet spot for your system. If it eventually goes back to all foam, then you know your nitro serving pressure is too high. Start over.

 

[motobrewer]

yeah. i've been doing this. thanks.

 

[Silentdrinker]

This definitely sounds like an overcarbonation problem to me.

I agree due to the outcome, but his replies don't indicate it. At 1vol pre carb and 41f at 6 psi he's at about 1.8 co2 vol. So...

 

[LLBeanJ]

I agree, but when real world results don't jibe with the theoretical, you have no choice but to act on the real world results.

Also, my experience suggests that 1.8 vols is too much for a successful nitro pour. 1.0 is closer to what I have to use, i.e., damn near flat really. Naturally, YMMV.

 

[DGibb]

Irish Red on nitro

I love the glass.