Every now and then you might stumble upon a beer that has the term “nitro” next to it on the taplist. Sometimes this is a new brew you’ve never seen, and other times it’s a beer a you know and love, just with a new twist.
Nitro is a category of beer that changes how we interact with, taste, and feel the beer; yes, literally feel the beer.
What is Nitro in Beer?
Nitro is short for nitrogen, which is one of the noblest of gases. Maybe you know, maybe you don’t, but one of the byproducts of the fermentation process is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide gives beer its bubbly consistency and creates a nice, light head of foam.
In nitro beers, brewers add a combination of carbon dioxide and nitrogen to the beer. Which is why the beer would be called “nitro.”
What is the point of nitro in beer?
One of the most overlooked factors of carbon dioxide’s role in beer is that it significantly affects the beer’s flavor and feel.
Think about a beer that’s gone flat, i.e. has lost all of its carbonation. Tastes terrible, right? That’s because there’s no carbon dioxide left in the beer.
Nitrogen replaces carbon dioxide in beer, and it completely changes how we interact with the brew. Nitrogen produces smaller bubbles than carbon dioxide, making the beer have a creamier, smoother flavor. Nitrogen also kind of cuts into the sharper flavors of beer, making the final product taste a bit milder and smoother than it would with carbon dioxide.
Is this why Guinness uses nitrogen? Maybe, kind of, who knows. But I love Guinness.
Nitrogen in Beer: Quick Facts
Hey! Here’s some useless trivia about nitrogen in beer.
- Nitro beers need to have dedicated tap handles. These taps have little plates that prevent the beer from pouring out too quickly, ensuring it doesn’t lose too much nitrogen during the pour. These handles and lines also use nitrogen to ensure that you get the maximum nitrogen experience.
- When brewers add nitrogen to brews, it replaces the oxygen in the tank. This essentially removes the chances of contamination, ensuring a clean brew.
- Foam on nitrogen beers is technically thicker and lasts longer due to those nitrogen bubbles I mentioned earlier. This means that nitro beers need to sit longer before the head settles.
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