QUESTION: Stout faucet for nitro beer and cold-brew coffee?

[ryryonline]

I just built my first keezer (yay!). I have two taps hooked up to D-coupler lines since I usually just buy kegs from a local brewery. However, I plan on adding a third stout faucet that I can use to swap between beer and cold-brew coffee (CBC).

My question revolves around the type of tank and gas I need. I was reading that one definitely wants 100% nitrogen for CBC and beer gas (75/25) for stouts (like Guinness). I already have a CO2 tank in the keezer for the first two taps. I don't want to do 3 tanks.

Will the 100% nitrogen tank work for both beer and CBC? Should I consider beer gas for both? Is there a way to combine the 100% nitro tank with the CO2 tank and create my own gas so I don't need three tanks?

I really appreciate any help!

(I'd also eventually like to tap wine out of this like a NitroTap or a Coravin but that may be a little more difficult to do without kegging the wine).

 

[55x11]

I just built my first keezer (yay!). I have two taps hooked up to D-coupler lines since I usually just buy kegs from a local brewery. However, I plan on adding a third stout faucet that I can use to swap between beer and cold-brew coffee (CBC).

My question revolves around the type of tank and gas I need. I was reading that one definitely wants 100% nitrogen for CBC and beer gas (75/25) for stouts (like Guinness). I already have a CO2 tank in the keezer for the first two taps. I don't want to do 3 tanks.

Will the 100% nitrogen tank work for both beer and CBC? Should I consider beer gas for both? Is there a way to combine the 100% nitro tank with the CO2 tank and create my own gas so I don't need three tanks?

I really appreciate any help!

(I'd also eventually like to tap wine out of this like a NitroTap or a Coravin but that may be a little more difficult to do without kegging the wine).

I think the reason you don't want beer gas in CBC is that CO2 will give it a harsher, carbonic bite that makes coffee taste too bitter.
But you may like CO2 bite in Guinness and other beers. Without it, the beer under the foam may taste "flat", since most Nitrogen will be knocked out into the foam.

You could try to mix the two gases separately and carb your keg with that mixture. There are gizmos that do that, but it's a bit involved.

You could also just carb your beer first with CO2 (very low CO2 volume, maybe 1-1.5 volumes), then disconnect CO2, connect Nitrogen at higher pressure, like 30 psi, serve. Once you serve significant amount and volume of liquid decreases, CO2 will be coming out of the solution and into the headspace, so you will need to periodically re-carb with CO2.

 

[BBBF]

You can blend the gas yourself, but the equipment is expensive. http://www.micromatic.com/gas-equipment/nitrogen-generators-and-gas-blenders

I haven't seen one pop up on ebay in a while, but sometimes you can find a cheap one of these. http://ahbtestshop.com.mytempweb.com/p/1942/gas-blender-perlick

 

[ryryonline]

The gas blender by Perlick looks interesting, but unless there is a cheap one it would be easier to get a 3rd tank.

I do like the idea of injecting CO2 for a little bit before attaching nitro. That may be the way to go. I honestly think I would have CBC on 90% of the time anyway. I was looking for what to do when I do get that one keg that I want under nitro.

Thanks for the advice! In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes peeled for a used Perlick gas blender.

 

[ryryonline]

Would I need to add CO2 to a keg if it wasn't homebrewed but rather I purchased it from a brewery?

 

[DanB_cdnbev]

Honestly, even the tanks don't work well. bottom line is that CO2 stores as Liquid and N2 as a compressed gas. Tanks only mix correctly if they have a perforated dip tube. this can be nearly as expensive as a blender. Best bet is to watch ebay/craigslist/kijiji for a McDantim or Micro Matic Blender in 25% CO2. Or even an old N2 Generator/Blender. Most have a dual blend capability, one of which will be 25%. Bubble Blenders are okay, but not near as accurate and hard to find.

 

[gromitdj]

If you carbonate the stout to your preferred level, then switch to 100% nitrogen, I don't see why it would lose carbonation over time. If the nitrogen is at 25-30 psi, that pressure would keep the CO2 from coming out of solution. Additionally, I don't believe nitrogen is soluble in a liquid (Which is why it is used for CBC). I believe the point of beer gas is so you can push the beer at a higher pressure through the stout faucet without adding additional carbonation.

You may want to utilize separate lines for coffee and beer though. There is likely to be some flavor scalping in both directions.