Nitrogen For Dispensing

[Bizier]

When at a very reputable brewery a few days ago, I saw that they had a nitrogen generator + storgage tanks for pushing liquids about incl serving (and perhaps purging). I was impressed because I had never thought of it before.

I have a dual reg setup at home and I generally prefer low carbonation to cellarmix, but I thought I would share my little learning experience.

 

[Logman]

I'm getting a Nitrogen setup and Stout Faucet in the next day or so and need a bit of info.

I've got Celli's for my normal taps so the lines are short - I'm wondering if I need to balance the system when using a Stout tap - if so, am I looking at something like 3 metres of 5mm line in a chesty with collar?

Also, I normally just carb my beer at around 100 and never alter it, I just leave it at 100kpa for a week+. Does this same thing work fine with a 70% Nitrogen Cellarmix?

 

[krusty_oz]

I got my setup going. I have Cellamix 40 and run it at ~30psi - I used this as a reference http://www.guinnessnz.co.nz/The-Quality/Gu...-Tap-Setup.aspx.

The stout restrictor (if its like my Floryte tap) will greatly reduce the flow so in with the added flow control on the Celli you should have no problem.

Just remember to back off the pressure when you take off the restrictor.

 

[Logman]

Hey Krustry, thanks for the link. I'm not using the Celli's for this, I got a Stout Faucet and just plan to use the Cellarmix for that tap only. I only use about a metre of line for the Celli's - does the Nitogen require more line like a normal tap?

 

[Paul H]

The ideal solution would be two kegmates with triple fonts, two gas bottles, two regulators, and fit the nitro kegerator font with 3 stout taps. Oh will it never end ......... :lol:

I take issue with what Bribie has stated........ the ideal situation is indeed three (3) kegmates, with a 3-way Manifold on the first splitting into the 2 CO kegmates which internally also have a 3 way manifold & the nitro kegmate has two nitro taps & 1 CO tap. Remember it's not gay if it's a three-way.

:icon_cheers:

Paul

 

[beerbog]

I have just put an Irish ale into the keg, gassed to about 1/2 normal CO2 volume, then attached to my stout tap running 70/30 nitrogen mix. I tried pouring anywhere between 100 - 300kpa but still manage to get large bubbles in the head that dissipate quickly, although there is a faint N2 line there. I have just under a metre of beer line. Any ideas why I'm not getting a nice creamy head? Thanks. :beerbang:

 

[Logman]

How big is the head? You want to run at 200 kpa, if it's got too much head you have over carbed it. Leave it out with the relief valve open overnight, then in the morning try it, if it's flat, hook up the Co2 to around 200, then lay the keg on the ground and roll it back and forth for around 20-30 seconds, then hook back to the Nitro at 200 kpa, should be fine. If it's still flat just rock it a bit more with the Co2.

 

[beerbog]

How big is the head? You want to run at 200 kpa, if it's got too much head you have over carbed it. Leave it out with the relief valve open overnight, then in the morning try it, if it's flat, hook up the Co2 to around 200, then lay the keg on the ground and roll it back and forth for around 20-30 seconds, then hook back to the Nitro at 200 kpa, should be fine. If it's still flat just rock it a bit more with the Co2.

The head size isn't the problem. I only gassed it with CO2 @ 150kpa for 24 hrs, normally I do ales at 300kpa/24 hours so it isn't over carbed. It's more the size of the bubbles from the pour. It isn't the tight nitro head I'm after, more a loose CO2 head that dissipates. Does it need to have the nitro mix sitting on it for a while before dispensing or is it just used to push the beer through. Thanks. :beerbang:

 

[Logman]

I know it sounds weird but I'd bet it's over carbed, it needs a slight rocking when you keg and that's all, 150 kpa for 24 hours is too much. It doesn't need to sit on the Nitro, should pour properly straight away. I'd let it go flat and work your way up by rocking the keg for 20 second intervals on the Co2 at 200 kpa and tasting on the Nitro, you'll get the hang of it best that way.

For example, last stout I did, rocked for about 30 seconds at 200 kpa or so on Co2 and connected to 70/30 mix for 2-3 hours in the fridge. Thought I'd try it to see what it was like when I went to get a beer, ended up having three schooners :icon_cheers:

I went through this at first with my setup, couldn't believe I was over carbing it, took that exact advice and got it perfect straight away.

 

[beerbog]

I know it sounds weird but I'd bet it's over carbed, it needs a slight rocking when you keg and that's all, 150 kpa for 24 hours is too much. It doesn't need to sit on the Nitro, should pour properly straight away. I'd let it go flat and work your way up by rocking the keg for 20 second intervals on the Co2 at 200 kpa and tasting on the Nitro, you'll get the hang of it best that way.

For example, last stout I did, rocked for about 30 seconds at 200 kpa or so on Co2 and connected to 70/30 mix for 2-3 hours in the fridge. Thought I'd try it to see what it was like when I went to get a beer, ended up having three schooners :icon_cheers:

I went through this at first with my setup, couldn't believe I was over carbing it, took that exact advice and got it perfect straight away.

Thanks Logman, I'll get the gas off it and try that. Exactly what do you mean by rocking? :icon_cheers:

 

[Logman]

It's called 'the ross method' in most posts here if you search. You hook the Co2 up and turn it on to say 200 kpa, then lie the keg on it's side so the in tube is below the beer surface. Then while the keg is on the ground, you rock it back and forward with your foot (you'll hear it bubble) and this makes the gas spurt into the beer. 30 seconds at 200 kpa or a bit more should be fine, then put it on the Nitro and try. If it seems OK, put it in the fridge and try it in a few hours.

It's actually a lot easier to carb than beer, just need to work out the carb level, it's very low...

 

[beerbog]

Thanks Log. :icon_chickcheers:

 

[beerbog]

Hey Logman, when you put the 70/30 mix on, do you leave it on permanently or remove it at the end of the session, so as not to absorb too much CO2?

Thanks again. :icon_cheers:

 

[Logman]

I just leave mine on there. Mind you I drink it pretty quick :chug: , not sure if it was left there for an extended time with the Co2 level of 70/30. Maybe Ross or someone knows the answer to that one.

The keg I've got on at the moment has been the best carbonation I've had so far and it's been on there for at least two weeks without being removed after rolling it around.

 

[Logman]

Oh, one thing to watch is taking the QD's off over and over again with the higher pressures. If you want to turn the gas off, turn it off at the bottle and leave the QD's on the posts. You'll eventually wear out any keg lube you have in the posts taking the QD's of repeatedly and with the higher pressures you can end up dribbling beer into your kegerator out of the posts. Not that I know that for sure

 

[beerbog]

Cheers, thanks mate. :beer: