Kegging an Irish Stout - CO2 or Nitrogen?

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Babydavid3
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Kegging an Irish Stout - CO2 or Nitrogen?

Post by Babydavid3 » Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:40 am

Hello everyone - newbie here!

I am reasonably new to home brewing. I’ve done a couple of extract kits in bottles using priming sugar. I am now in the process of converting an old fridge for kegging. I have a corny keg, regulator etc. and have bought a stout tap as I am planning to brew a stout (ironically!)

I know that to get a creamy head I need to dispense using nitrogen. My question is, should I force carbonate using co2 or will nitrogen work just as well?

Thanks everyone, looking forwards to kegging!

Dave


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gr_baker
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Re: Kegging an Irish Stout - CO2 or Nitrogen?

Post by gr_baker » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:01 am

I think stout is normally carbonated with a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. My local supplier provides a 70/30 co2/N mix for stouts

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john luc
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Re: Kegging an Irish Stout - CO2 or Nitrogen?

Post by john luc » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:50 am

Nitrogen is much harder to get into solution than co2. A machine called a nitrogenator is used in brewery's to get it in. Co2 it up and serve it on nitro mix with a stout tap.
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Babydavid3
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Re: Kegging an Irish Stout - CO2 or Nitrogen?

Post by Babydavid3 » Wed Jun 19, 2019 10:09 am

Thanks gents, you have confirmed my thoughts. Carbonate with co2, dispense with a 70/30 mix


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LeeH
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Kegging an Irish Stout - CO2 or Nitrogen?

Post by LeeH » Mon Jul 15, 2019 5:28 pm

I would carbonate/nitrogenate with the mixed gas, I’m sure you can get some N2 into the solution to make a difference.

I only managed a perfect pint when I didn’t dick around swapping bottles.


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