The Difference Between CO2 and Nitro Beer
- Jan 06, 2022
- 200
- tiantai
You consider yourself a beer aficionado . Even blindfolded you can detect an IPA from a porter, a pilsner from a pale ale. You know every name stocked at your local supplier. There is no beer that you haven’t or won’t try. Craft beers are pretty much a haven for you. You’ve even tried a nitro beer or two. I mean, everyone of drinking age has had a Guinness at least once. It had a smoother feel to it, but why? What makes a beer nitro? How is it different from CO2 beer? Below we look at these questions defining the difference in experience between carbon dioxide and nitro beer. We’ll look at the science behind making the beer, the history of where nitro beer even came from, get into the mouthfeels, and of course compare the taste and flavor of the two beer types.
Why is There Gas in Beer?
First things first, why is there even gas in beer? Gas is present during the fermentation process when making beer. Both alcohol and CO2 is created as sugar ferments. The gas actually then dissolves when beer is made. It later reappears as the frothy head on beer which is the gas escaping through bubbles. CO2 is gained through this process naturally, nitrogen is not. Nitrogen, when used, is added before the beer is finished and is kegged.
Nitro beer will usually contain a nitrogen level ranging from 70 to 75 percent with the rest of that percentage being CO2. Scientifically speaking, the difference between nitro beer and the CO2 variety comes down to which taste receptors are activated. CO2 tends to be picked up more by acid taste receptors and also reacts to water when it comes in contact with it. Nitrogen conversely bypasses these sensors, creating more of a smooth sensation. After clarifying beer, brewers will add nitrogen instead of CO2. This requires a close look at the temperature as well pressure level in the beer’s chosen casing.
All of this is extremely important to the end resulting flavor as many a beer aficionado will know. With the science defined, let’s look at how and when nitrogen appeared in the beer-making scene.
The History Behind Nitro Beer
Although the trend recently has had a surge in popularity, nitro beer has actually been around for a while. The nitrogen process was first invented in the ’50s by a man by the name of Michael Ash. Ash was a mathematician who worked for Guinness. As with most invention, nitro beer came from necessity. At Guinness, Ash was tasked with improving Guinness shelf life. In Ireland, Guinness wasn’t being properly served In order to have foam on the beer, bartenders would add foam from a different keg to an already poured beer. It took 20 years to solve the problem.
According to an interview with Ash, getting the nitrogen to work with the beer wasn’t the issue. It was creating a container that could withstand the pressure. The invention then launched in the later part of the decade. Coincidentally, this was also the 200th anniversary of the Dublin brewery.
On the American side of things, Colorado-based brewer The Left Hand Brewing Company was at the forefront of the nitro beer movement. The brewery was founded in the ’90s. In 2011, Left Hand became the first American as well as the first craft brewery to figure out how to bottle a nitro beer without a widget.
One of Left Hand’s most favorited beers is their Milk Stout Nitro, which just happens to be the beer that was first bottled. More recently, Sam Adams introduced a line of nitro beers called Nitro Project. The lineup included three titles, Nitro White Ale, Nitro IPA, and Nitro Coffee Stout. Other American breweries have joined in on the nitro beer trend. These include Sierra Nevada, Berkshire Brewing, Sixpoint Brewery, and others.
The Main Difference is in the Bubbles
In simple terms, nitrogen beers differ from CO2 due to their bubbles. CO2 beers are likely to have larger bubbles while nitrogen-laden beers have smaller ones. In general, this leads to a smoother “mouthfeel” but more on that a little later. The smaller bubbles also lead to more stable head or foam. This can be a bonus, depending on the beer-drinkers preferences.
When pouring, the bubbles create a cascading effect appearing as though the bubbles are floating downward. Many a nitro beer fan consider this one of the key features of nitro beer.
“Mouthfeel”
Beer is largely defined by how it feels when going down. Certain beers have a more intense sensation when ingested due to their carbonation. This aspect is called the mouthfeel. Mouthfeel is present for other consumables besides beer. Generally, mouthfeel is the physical sensations activated by food. Bite, chewing, swallowing, and after taste, all constitute a mouthfeel. Alongside beer, mouthfeel is also considered when tasting wines. Think back to the science behind the bubbles. Nitrogen beer has a smoother feel to it while the CO2 beer is fuller and biting.
Besides the physical features, nitro beer has differences in taste from its CO2 cousin.
Effect on Flavor
A quick note on flavor.
Flavor is defined by experience usually manipulated by senses. The smell and look, as well as memories associated, can all contribute to the flavor of a beer. Meanwhile, taste is more scientifically defined. For example, the taste sensors activated by a beer will determine its taste. As far as flavor goes, it depends from beer to beer, although there are some common trends with nitrogen. Nitro beer tends to pair more with malt while more traditional CO2 has a tendency towards hops. Any subtle flavoring in the latter style of beer would potentially be lost in the nitrogen process.
IPA’s, stouts, and other ales have been made into nitro beers. Aside from the smoothness described above, nitro beer reportedly has a creamier taste as well. Skipping out on bitter taste receptors also makes bitterness in nitro beers at least less noticeable.
Nitrogen’s less-soluble nature leads to its beers having a thicker nature.
The smaller bubbles in nitro beer may have a subconscious effect on the brain, thus affecting the taste for some. Seeing the smaller bubbles in your beer before consuming potentially gives your brain a pleasurable jolt. This difference in carbonation alone is able to change the flavor. Nitro beer pours differently than its counterpart. The visual of a cascading pour can also leave the taster with a pleasant visual. A lot of what goes into flavor is subjective.
With so many different factors, deciding if you are a fan of nitro beer will be up to you. The opinion on nitro beer is mixed with some being completely against the process.
How to Serve Nitro Beer
If you are intent on experiencing nitro beer for yourself or even want to serve the beer to others, there are some considerations. Nitro beer requires some special settings to be served properly. We mentioned the particular kegging, bottling, and canning requirements for nitro beer. If you are kegging your own beer, you will need a nitrogen specific cylinder. This will help combat the high pressure of the added nitrogen. Also needed is a regulator for the nitrogen. As the name implies, it will be responsible for regulating the pressure. Nitro beer requires a “hard pour.”
In this technique, you’ll want to get your beer vertical and in its glass as quickly as possible. Doing this properly will allow you to fully enjoy that cascading effect. When doing this, only fill two-thirds of your glass to leave room for those bubbles. If all you get is foam, chances are your beer is over carbonated. If you don’t see the cascading, your pressure is likely too low.
We’ve Got you Covered
You’ll need a special tap for the bubbles. QuikTap can help you out with that. Our QuikTap Nitro Tap is designed for the requirements of nitro beer. This tap comes with a stout creamer faucet, just for perfecting that pour. If you already have one of our QuikTaps and want to have the option of switching between CO2 and nitrogen beer the Nitro Beer Tap Conversion Kit is the way to go. This kit will allow for quick and easy conversions between the two beer types.
QuikTap has an assortment of products for the beer lover in you. We’ve got you covered with everything from carrying cases to keg coolers. So when you host a nitro beer tasting, you’ll be able to control every little detail.
Making the experience perfect from the first cascading pour to the last tiny-bubbled drop.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
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