Co2 and nitrogen mixes

[Stanna]

Hi, I have been having a good read and can't really find the diff inactive answer to my question, after bottling my first 2 batches of beer I am now looking at corney kegs, I've been looking at bottles of co2 and co2/nitrogen mixes, would there be any need for a home brewer to have nitrogen with their co2 on such short pipe work, as I take it nitrogen is really just for long distance beer movement without over carbing, am I missing something ?, should mention i will be making ales, stouts and bitters.

[Dave S]

Hi, I have been having a good read and can't really find the diff inactive answer to my question, after bottling my first 2 batches of beer I am now looking at corney kegs, I've been looking at bottles of co2 and co2/nitrogen mixes, would there be any need for a home brewer to have nitrogen with their co2 on such short pipe work, as I take it nitrogen is really just for long distance beer movement without over carbing, am I missing something ?, should mention i will be making ales, stouts and bitters.

Nitrogen promotes a much creamier head than CO2 on its own. Guinness use it in their draught version.

[Stanna]

Thanks for the reply but still a bit baffled, will the nitrogen addition promote a better pint as in smaller bubbles less gassy ?

[wally]

It will give you smaller bubbles, but less gassy depends on how much gas you have forced into the keg and the temperature of the keg contents.

Nitrogen will strip the flavour from your beer. It works OK for Guinness, but do you want all your other styles to be bereft of flavour?

[Stanna]

Right got it cheers Wally