Too cheap for a stout faucet

[bradknows]

Do you REALLY need a stout facet for stouts? I would love to be able to serve stouts without coughing up the $80.00+ bucks for the faucet.

[MikeB]

Not necessary, but as someone who has a robust porter on nitro right now, I will say it is worth every penny we spent. I think you may be underestimating some costs though. We put more like $340 into it - $80 for the faucet/shank, $60 for separate regulator, $200 for 20 lb Beer Gas (70/30 Nitrogen/CO2) tank.

[Mylo]

I found a new faucet on eBay for $50. Haven't got my regulator or tank yet.... You can crank up regular CO2 during a serving session to 30 PSI and get away it until you buy the beergas and regulator - but you need the faucet. You have to remember to knock it back down to 10 PSI after you are done serving - otherwise you will overcarbonate your beer.

Also, to tide you over in the meantime, you can also buy one of those seltzer makers. Put some CHILLED flat beer (maybe some of the extra from your primary) in there, pop the CO2 and shake. The tiny outlet is enough to give you a glass full of tight, creamy foam that will cascade out. It's just a hack - and definitely not the same as a well designed system.


Mylo

[bradknows]

Not necessary, but as someone who has a robust porter on nitro right now, I will say it is worth every penny we spent.

That is not what I wanted to hear exactly, but I guess I don't have it so bad afterall. I already use nitrogen for powering air tools, filling tires, etc., so I am set up with bottles and regulators, just need the faucet and stem I guess.

[Mylo]

Not necessary, but as someone who has a robust porter on nitro right now, I will say it is worth every penny we spent.

That is not what I wanted to hear exactly, but I guess I don't have it so bad afterall. I already use nitrogen for powering air tools, filling tires, etc., so I am set up with bottles and regulators, just need the faucet and stem I guess.

Well, no. Not really. What you really need is "beer gas" which is a 2/3 mix of nitrogen to 1/3 CO2. The nitrogen isn't very soluable in beer - it's just there to provide the pressure. The law of partial pressures means that your 30 PSI of beergas will only result on 10 PSI of CO2 on your beer - which will maintain the carbonation level without overcarbonating it.


Mylo

[bradknows]

Well, no. Not really. What you really need is "beer gas" which is a 2/3 mix of nitrogen to 1/3 CO2. The nitrogen isn't very soluable in beer - it's just there to provide the pressure. The law of partial pressures means that your 30 PSI of beergas will only result on 10 PSI of CO2 on your beer - which will maintain the carbonation level without overcarbonating it.


Mylo

Any chance that the nitrogen bottles can be filled with beer gas? I can't say I have ever looked for beer gas at my gas supplier, hopefully they are willing to sell it!
Update: I am screwed, none of the local gas suppliers will sell beer gas.

[Henning1966]

i know of a few places that will fill a regular co2 tank with beer gas just costs more. I am not sure who it was but one of the guys on the more beer forum has a setup with a regular tank he has his supplier fill with beer gas might look over on that forum .

[Brandon]

i know of a few places that will fill a regular co2 tank with beer gas just costs more. I am not sure who it was but one of the guys on the more beer forum has a setup with a regular tank he has his supplier fill with beer gas might look over on that forum .

That may have been me. Yep one of the suppliers around here will give me a beer gas mix in my 10lb tank.