Nitro Beers: Where To Buy The Best Nitro Brews

where to buy nitro beer

Nitro beers are known for their creamy, thick, and smooth texture, achieved by infusing nitrogen into the beverage. This process creates smaller bubbles compared to carbon dioxide, resulting in a unique mouthfeel and flavour. While nitro beers are typically associated with stouts and porters, they can be crafted from any beer style. Nitro beers are growing in popularity, with an increasing number of craft breweries embracing this method. For those interested in purchasing nitro beer, several companies, such as Left Hand Brewing Company and NitroBrew, offer a range of options. Nitro beers can be found at dedicated nitro taps in bars and breweries, as well as in bottles and cans for at-home consumption.

Characteristics Values
Company NitroBrew
Website www.nitrobrew.com
Price range $999.00 – $1,899.00
Shipping time 5 business days
Return policy 30 business days

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Nitro beer taps in bars

Nitro beer taps are a unique and exciting way to serve beer in bars. The use of nitrogen gas instead of carbon dioxide (CO2) results in a creamier and smoother texture with a frothy head, creating a romantic and mesmerising cascading effect as the beer is poured. This method is particularly popular for stouts and porters, enhancing their rich and roasty flavours, but can also work well with IPAs and pale ales if chosen carefully.

Nitro taps have a distinct vertical design with a long and narrow spout. The tap features a restrictor plate, a small disc with tiny holes that forces the beer through, allowing the nitrogen gas to dissolve and creating the signature cascading foam effect. This restrictor plate also slows down the flow of beer, reducing carbonation and further contributing to the smooth texture.

To set up a nitro tap system, you'll need the following components: lines, tank, regulator, keg, beverage, and the nitro tap itself. It's important to use food-grade nitrogen gas to ensure safety and purity. The nitrogen gas is typically kept at a higher pressure of 30-40 psi compared to CO2. Proper cleaning and maintenance are crucial for optimal performance, including regular cleaning of tap lines and replacement of parts such as the faucet diaphragm and regulator assembly.

Nitro taps are not limited to beer and can also be used for coffee, tea, cocktails, and other beverages. Nitro cold brew coffee, in particular, has gained popularity for its smooth texture and rich flavour.

With the increasing demand for nitro beer, more bars are installing independent nitro taps to offer a unique drinking experience to their customers and stand out from the competition. It has become a popular choice for both craft breweries and beer enthusiasts, providing a memorable and enhanced flavour and aroma.

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Nitro beer in cans

Nitro beers are known for their smooth and creamy mouthfeel, achieved by infusing nitrogen into the beverage. The small bubbles created by nitrogen, in contrast to carbon dioxide, result in a less bubbly and more velvety texture. Nitro beers are commonly served on tap at bars and restaurants, but they can also be canned and bottled for at-home consumption.

Canned Nitro Beers

Nitro beers in cans are a convenient option for those who want to enjoy a creamy, smooth beer at home or on the go. The process of infusing nitrogen into canned beer was pioneered by Guinness, who developed the widget, a small device placed inside the can that releases nitrogen into the beer when opened. This innovation won the most important invention of the twentieth century in Ireland and the Queen's Prize in the UK the year it was introduced.

Today, several breweries offer canned nitro beers, including:

  • Left Hand Brewing's Milk Stout Nitro
  • Vault Brewing Co.'s Nitro Sweet Potato Ale
  • Deschutes Brewery's Nitro Obsidian Stout
  • Lawson's Finest Liquids' Nitro Stout
  • Moonraker Brewing Company's Foam Walker
  • Garage Project's Snug
  • Modern Times Beer's Nitro Black House

Other Nitro Beer Options

In addition to canned and bottled nitro beers, there are several other ways to enjoy nitro beer at home. NitroBrew, for example, offers a range of nitro-infusing machines for residential or commercial use. These machines can be used to nitrogenate not only beer but also coffee, tea, soda, or any beverage of your choice. Their products include inline nitro infusers and single-serve systems, with prices ranging from $999 to $1,899.

For those who prefer to nitro-infuse their beer manually, Northern Brewer offers equipment and step-by-step guides to setting up a nitro beer system at home. This process involves using nitrogen cylinders or a blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide to infuse your beer, and it requires additional equipment such as a nitrogen regulator, gas connector kits, and a stout faucet.

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Nitro beer in bottles

Nitro beers are known for their creamy texture and smooth flavour profile, which is achieved by adding nitrogen to the beer. Nitrogen creates smaller bubbles than carbon dioxide, resulting in a less carbonated, velvety mouthfeel. While any beer can be served on nitro, stouts are the most common, with dry Irish stouts, oatmeal stouts, and milk stouts being popular choices.

Bottling nitro beer can be challenging because nitrogen does not easily dissolve in beer under typical bottling pressures and tends to escape from the solution once the bottle is opened. However, some breweries have successfully bottled nitro beer, achieving a similar nitro effect as on tap. Left Hand Brewing, for example, introduced Milk Stout Nitro in bottles at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival, becoming the first American and craft brewery to master the science of bottling nitrogen beer without a widget. They later expanded their bottled nitro series with Sawtooth Nitro and Wake Up Dead Nitro. Left Hand Brewing has not revealed their exact bottling process, but it likely involves counter-pressure bottling, where the bottles are filled and capped while maintained under pressure. Additionally, they recommend a "hard pour" when serving their bottled nitro beers, which involves pouring the beer hard into a glass at a 180-degree angle to create a thick, creamy head.

Another method for bottling nitro beer is to use a widget, a small device that is placed inside the bottle or can and releases nitrogen when opened, creating a cascading effect. Guinness introduced this technology to beer consumers in 1989, and it has since become a popular way to bottle nitro beers, as it does not require specialised bottling equipment.

For homebrewers, achieving a nitro effect in bottled beer can be more difficult. One option is to carbonate the beer with carbon dioxide first and then move it to nitro, using a blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The carbonation process can be done at a lower volume of carbon dioxide, usually 1.5-2.0 volumes, to avoid over-carbonation. When bottling, a counter-pressure bottler with nitro can be used, and a "hard pour" technique can help create a thick head. Alternatively, nitrogen can be bubbled through a carb stone after pouring the beer to create a nitro effect.

Overall, while bottling nitro beer can be challenging due to nitrogen's behaviour, it is possible to achieve a similar nitro experience as on tap with the right techniques and equipment, bringing the unique sensory experience of nitro beer to bottled formats.

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Nitro stout

For those looking to create their own nitro stout at home, there are a few options for equipment. A 5 lbs nitrogen cylinder can be used, along with a nitrogen regulator, gas connector kit, and liquid line connector kits. A stout faucet is also essential, as it includes a restrictor plate that helps to create the cascading foam effect. Alternatively, there are companies such as NitroBrew that offer nitro brew machines for both residential and commercial use. These machines can be used to nitrogenate not only beer but also coffee, tea, and soda.

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Nitro beer at home

Nitro beer, which has a creamy, smooth mouthfeel and a dense, long-lasting head, can be made at home with the right equipment.

The Basics

The key differences between nitro and standard carbonated beer are the gas used to push the beer and the type of tap used to pour it. Nitro beers use nitrogen (N2) or a blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2), and a stout tap with a restrictor plate to create the classic cascading effect.

The Gas

To serve nitro beer at home, you have two options: 100% nitrogen or beer gas. Beer gas is a blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and is the most common method used in commercial settings. If you opt for 100% nitrogen, you will first need to carbonate the beer with a small amount of carbon dioxide, then move it over to nitro for serving. For beer gas, you can put the flat beer straight onto the gas to carbonate and nitrogenate.

The Tap

The stout tap, also known as a Guinness tap, has an elongated vertical design and a restrictor plate, or sparkler, at its core. This slows the speed of the pour and agitates the beer, helping to create a thick head. The restrictor plate can be removed for a standard pour if needed.

The Process

If you're using 100% nitrogen, first carbonate the beer with carbon dioxide to 1.5-2.0 volumes, then switch to nitro. The nitrogen will be set to about 30-35 psi. If using beer gas, put the flat beer on beer gas and set the regulator to 30-35 psi, letting it sit for a few days before serving.

The Pour

There are two methods for pouring a nitro beer. The traditional two-part pour involves filling the glass about three-quarters full, letting it rest for a minute as the foam rises, then topping it off. This method gives more control over the head. Alternatively, you can push the faucet away from you to bypass the restrictor plate and top off the glass without agitating the beer.

The Cost

The cost of setting up nitro beer at home will depend on your existing equipment. A stout tap costs between $75 and $150, and a 5 lbs nitrogen cylinder can be purchased and filled by a supplier. Northern Brewer also offers a Nitrogen Kegging System that includes all the necessary components.

The Alternatives

If you don't want to invest in additional equipment, there are ways to approximate the nitro experience. One method is to hook up an uncarbonated keg of beer to a CO2 tank, shake it, then lower the pressure and let it sit before serving. This will create a similar effect to nitro beer but with a less impressive head and a less full mouthfeel.

The Machines

If you're looking for an even easier way to enjoy nitro beer at home, there are also nitro brew machines available, such as those offered by NitroBrew. These machines can nitrogenate any beverage of your choice, giving it a silky mouthfeel, and range in price from $999 to $1,899.

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Frequently asked questions

Nitro beer is available at most bars and pubs that take craft beer seriously. You can also buy nitro beer from breweries such as Left Hand Brewing Company, which offers a Milk Stout as part of their regular lineup.

Yes, nitro beer can be purchased for home consumption. Left Hand Brewing Company, for example, offers Milk Stout Nitro in cans. NitroBrew also offers a range of machines that can nitrogenate any beverage of your choice, including beer, for residential use.

Nitro beer is most commonly associated with stouts and porters, but it can be added to any beer style.

Nitro beer has a different mouthfeel and flavour profile compared to regular beer. Nitro beer is lightly carbonated and has a creamier texture and a smoother flavour profile, while regular beer has a more prickly carbonation and a more aggressive flavour.

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