Beer comes in various forms, and with technology and brewing equipment developing new and innovative solutions, you can really get creative with your brews. Nitrogenated beer differs from traditional beer in its brewing process and flavor profile. It has a slightly different consistency than regular beer, and people enjoy it for its unique characteristics.

Beer brewers know that to stay competitive and relevant in a fast-changing and growing industry, they must offer different brews to attract potential customers. Having different beer options on the menu will appeal to more customers and keep them coming back.

This complete guide to brewing nitrogenated beer will give you the information you need to create a high-quality, great-tasting brew. You will also learn the differences between nitrogenated and traditional beer to make an informed decision about what to make.

What Is Nitrogenated Beer?

Nitrogenated beer relies on small amounts of nitrogen during fermentation to give the beer a thicker consistency and unique taste. The fermentation process is the same, but the beer gets a nitrogen infusion that will enhance fermentation with the help of gas cylinders or a nitrogen generator.

This type of beer is becoming more popular because it minimizes carbonation, resulting in less gas and fewer bubbles. Regular beer makes you feel full quickly because gas fills up your stomach; nitrogen minimizes gas so you can enjoy more delicious beer.

Using the right equipment and following instructions will help you achieve more consistent practices so you can maintain excellence in every batch. Brite tanks for fermentation allow you to monitor your beer and adjust characteristics like temperature and volume to craft a premium brew.

Characteristics of Nitrogenated Beer

Nitrogenated beer has unique characteristics that make it easy to distinguish from traditional beer. Some people love it, while others are more skeptical. Some of the most recognizable characteristics of nitrogenated beer are:

A thicker and longer-lasting foam for a more flavorful experience
Smooth and thick texture
More efficient fermentation process
Affordable nitrogen options for beer brewing
Naturally bitter flavor

These characteristics make nitrogenated beer unique; hops will give it a slightly different flavor, but the bitterness will prevail. You must serve this type of beer cold and preferably in a tall glass. There is a special way to serve it, which we will discuss later.

Benefits Of Nitro Beer

Beer, in general, has nutritional elements, like protein for stronger muscles, fiber for digestion, and vitamins to keep your immune system strong. Nitrogen does not change many of these benefits. In fact, it adds more nutritional value to every sip.

Nitrogen beer contains lots of antioxidants, which help your body stay strong and recuperate quicker from minor damage. It contains fewer calories due to the lower carbonation, making it easier to digest so you can more easily balance your caloric intake.

An important detail is that carbonated beer contains up to 7 percent alcohol, which means that you will feel the effects quicker, masked by the bitter taste. Drinking consciously is the best way to prevent health problems and minimize the risk of developing an addiction.

Nitrogen Effects on Yeast

During fermentation, yeast transforms wort into beer by breaking down its components, converting cereal into ethanol, and releasing CO2. Nitrogen plays a part during that process by adding new characteristics like flavor, aroma, yeast vitality, and attenuation to deliver an exceptional beverage.

Yeast vitality means that living cells are working in optimal conditions to transform wort into beer while minimizing CO2 release for less carbonation. Nitrogen may not speed up fermentation, but it will give the yeast better working conditions to create a high-quality product with an enhanced taste.

Pouring Nitrogenated Beer

Brewing nitrogenated beer requires special equipment to maintain a cool temperature, prevent oxygenation that could ruin a batch, and keep beer in optimal condition. But brewing the perfect nitrogenated beer does not end until it comes out of the keg. You must pour nitrogenated beer a certain way to keep its characteristics intact and enhance its visual presentation and taste.

For the perfect pour, you must angle the glass about 45 degrees. Tilting the glass this way prevents it from filling with extra foam. Once your glass is in position, pull the handle all the way down until the glass is about 3/4 full and let it sit for a few seconds. When the thick foam settles, you can top the glass with a straight downpour, and it is ready to enjoy.

Sometimes, if nitrogenated beer has been sitting still for a while, foam will pour out when you pull the handle. If this is the case, let the tap run a bit before pouring the beer in the glass. The pour for this type of beer must be precise, and it takes longer because of the thickness—about 10 seconds to fill up a glass correctly.

Differences With Regular Beer

There are differences between regular beer and nitrogenated beer. Nitrogenated beer develops differently and offers a unique experience. Regular beers contain more carbon dioxide, while nitro beers contain 70 percent nitrogen and 30 percent CO2, which makes them less bubbly but more enjoyable.

Regular beer will feel lighter in your mouth, but the taste will dissipate quicker, even in hoppier beers with a stronger aroma. The taste of nitro beer will linger with its thick, smooth consistency, making it more enjoyable for longer.

Like nitrogenated beer, regular beer brews with time and a little monitoring; the main difference is that you must have the right equipment to add nitrogen. Nitro beer is ideal for people who like bitter and strong flavors, like dark chocolate. These flavors are more powerful the more slowly you drink the beer.

The right equipment and tools are essential for beer brewing; they will dictate the consistency and quality of the final product by minimizing errors and contamination. Craftmaster Stainless has the right tools for your business, with long-lasting stainless steel equipment for better results and cost-efficient solutions. Check out our inventory today so you can get to doing what you love: brewing beer.

A Complete Guide to Brewing Nitrogenated Beer