Thoughts on Nitro Beer Drafts

[danny3460]

Hi I am a fairly new homebrewer with around 7+ batches with mostly ale style beers. Now I want to start brewing the beers I like most, Stouts.
I already have most of the materials set up for the brew but from where I live, Korea, getting beergas to draft stouts is almost impossible.
So I was thinking about using co2 and n2 separately. First carbonating to around 5~6psi with co2, detaching co2 and hooking n2 at 20~30psi. Then I will serve out of pure n2.
I read around the forums and noticed some issues regarding co2 slowly escaping from the beer. But without beergas, I can't figure out how to get around it. I thought of keeping in two 2.5gal kegs instead of one 5 gal keg, or carbonating the beer around every gallon.
Has anyone tried dispensing with pure n2?
How did it come out?
I really want that creamy head of nitro stouts.

 

[Willy]

Find a bar that sells Guiness and ask where they get their beer gas. Also... You are mostly likely to find it at a commercial dealer of gas and welding stuff. Good luck. I would not recommend trying to mix it.

 

[Wayne1]

McDantim Gas Blender

McDantim does make a gas blender unit, but it is on the pricey side.

If you can find blended Gas, that would be your best bet.

 

[Peebee]

The CO2 doesn't slowly escape, the beer does! And it takes a little CO2 and N2 with it. But you can't prevent the slow escape of beer ... 'cos it's you drinking it! The problem is you replace the escaped beer with Nitrogen only. (Roughly, the gases attempt to balance themselves out in the beer and surrounding atmosphere). So, the proportion of CO2 and N2 dissolved in the beer changes (in N2s favour).

I've heard of people switching cylinders ever-now-an'-again to keep the proportions similar. It doesn't have to be exact. But CO2 dissolves much (MUCH) more easily (and it doesn't need much pressure behind it to persuade it). So, people have come up with ways to manage it. And seem happy? (I don't have owt to do with Nitrogen in beer so have no advice on best "scheme"). Your start-point isn't precise, but I guess you'll be happy with it. Clue: dealing with mixed gases is worked out on an absolute scale, relative to a vacuum, so add 14.7 to everything (14.7psi = atmospheric pressure). So, to start with just put the stout on N2 'cos the beer already contains as much CO2 as it needs (from the fermenter it is saturated in CO2 at 14.7psi ... or 0psig to get the absolute and relative to mean-sea-level units right).

Or find that "commercial dealer" selling "beer gas"! Have fun.

 

[mac_1103]

Has anyone tried dispensing with pure n2?

Yes. There are threads. Some at the bottom of this page. Search for others. Bottom line is that it works but carbonation will be lost over time. Using a small keg that you drink fast is one way to solve that problem.

 

[mac_1103]

I really want that creamy head of nitro stouts.

From what I've read, a stout faucet with a restrictor plate is the most important part of this.

 

[Willy]

From what I've read, a stout faucet with a restrictor plate is the most important part of this.

Yes. Stout faucet/restrictor plate is vital to making the magic pour. Stout is a little carbed up, and the nitro hitting the plate pushes into bubble madness. A high psi helps (32-38 is typical)

 

[fluketamer]

how much do you want to spend?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/single-serve-nitro-infuser.736837/#post-10474903

i have done what you are trying to do. its a pain and a juggling act. make sure you use minikegs as the beer will get flat and you will have to switch back to co2 gas to gas it up. the little nitro carts are very little and you will use a lot of them .

this is much easier with small amounts of beer (1-2 gallons) than with 5 gallon keg.

here are a few threads

good luck

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/50-off-nitro-miniregulator.730359/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/nitro-carbonation-vs-serving-pressure.733017/#post-10384544
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...rving-with-100-nitrogen.729339/#post-10331474
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/little-nitrogen-cartridges.728285/#post-10285234
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/beer-gas-cartridges.731048/#post-10340199

reddit and homebrewforumuk also have threads on this subject.

 

[danny3460]

Everyone I thank you so much for all this info. I think I will try with a small keg first and see how it turns out. if I'm not pleased... well I still have good beer