The Perfect Pint – Nitrogen Gas for Beer in Bars

Craft beer has never been bigger, so it’s important that breweries and bars find a way to make themselves stand out from the competition. One way to do this is with nitrogen infused beer. For decades, carbon dioxide has been used to give beers their famous frothy head, but by putting nitrogen in beer, the beer becomes even smoother and creamier. Many say that nitrogen beer also has a better, less bitter taste. Here’s what you need to know to pour the perfect pint with a nitrogen beer system.

The Complete Nitrogen Beer System

Since you already have a full kegging system at your bar, there are only a few more things you will need to serve nitrogen infused beer:

• Nitrogen Gas – Of course, you are going to need nitrogen cylinders if you want to put nitrogen in beer; however, there is a better way than dealing with cylinder deliveries and pick-ups. Instead, get the Nitrogen Blast installed in your bar or brewery and make nitrogen on demand whenever you need it.
• Nitrogen Regulator – In order to handle the increased pressure of nitrogen, you will need a specific regulator made for nitrogen beer. This regulator is also compatible with the connectors on nitrogen cylinders.
• Nitrogen Faucet – The faucet is the secret component to pouring the perfect nitrogen infused beer. It has an internal restrictor plate that has very small holes in it, and as the beer is forced through them, the carbon dioxide is reduced and the creamy feel of the nitrogen shines through.

Pouring the Nitrogen Infused Beer

Now that you have the equipment in place, it’s time to perfect the pour. You probably already know the proper pouring technique, but when you add nitrogen, everything changes. Be prepared for some trial and error to get it right, and use these tips to help you get it right:

• With most nitrogen beer systems, a 30-35 psi works the best. If you have too much foam, your psi is too high, and if there is no cascade, then it is too low. You should start with a psi of 25 and then gradually increase it until you have the perfect balance.
• As far as the gas blend goes, most people pouring nitrogen infused beer opt for a mix of 75% nitrogen and 25% carbon dioxide. But again, you can experiment with this to see what gives you the best result.

While it may seem daunting, once you get the process of dispensing nitrogen infused beer down, you will have a beautiful, delicious, enviable beer to serve your customers. To learn more about our on-site nitrogen beer system, contact us today.