Stout faucet without the nitro mix.

[GilaMinumBeer]

Won't it still work the same if the Stout is carbonated at 2 to 2.5 volumes?

I mean, doing a 2 part pour, won't the restrictor just break CO2 out to cause the cascading head?

 

[GreenwoodRover]

The faucet will help some, but the "tightness" on the head of a nitro poured stout is due to the NO2 bubbles being much smaler than CO2 bubbles.
I got a slight cascade from my last oat stout poured with CO2 on my creamer head, but nothing like a true guinness sytle nitro+stout faucet pour.

 

[lmg95]

nitrogen gas (N2) not NO2 but yes smaller bubbles.

 

[GreenwoodRover]

...oops N2 right. NO2 is for Dentists and Dead Shows...

 

[frolickingmonkey]

My understanding, based on reading debate on this topic in other threads, is that N2 is not a requirement for the cascading pour, but makes life way easier. N2 is not (very) soluble in liquids, therefore making it ideal for pushing beer at high PSI (you don't have to be concerned with overcarbing and glasses full of foam). For the restrictor plate in a stout faucet to work properly, the beer must be pushed through at 30-35psi, and it is this high PSI + restrictor plate combo that makes the cascading tiny bubbles that we know and love. You can do this with CO2, but you'd have to crank the regulator up to 30-35psi for serving, and then crank it back down and bleed the pressure when you're done or else you'd end up waaaaay overcarbing.