1
Nitrogen behaves differently from carbon dioxide
It is much less soluble in beer, which helps create very small bubbles at dispense.
← Beer & Cider
Beer dispense · Nitrogen
Nitro beer: why the bubbles are smaller and the texture feels creamier.
Nitro beer is dispensed with nitrogen in the gas mix and usually carries less dissolved carbon dioxide than conventional draught beer. The result is a dense head, tiny bubbles and a softer, creamier impression.
2
The faucet matters
A restrictor plate helps break the gas out of solution and creates the characteristic cascading pour.
3
Mouthfeel changes
Lower carbon dioxide and fine bubbles soften the prickly sensation associated with highly carbonated beer.
Why does nitro beer cascade?
As the beer passes through the restrictor faucet, tiny gas bubbles form throughout the glass. Their movement creates the familiar rolling or cascading appearance before the beer settles.
Does nitrogen add a flavour?
Not in the way hops or malt do. The biggest difference is texture and aroma release: less carbonic bite, denser foam and a smoother perception of the same underlying beer.
Why is stout so closely associated with nitro?
Roasty dark beer works especially well with the soft texture and persistent creamy head, but pale ale and other styles can also be served on nitrogen.
Is nitro the same as cask?
No. Nitro was developed partly to reproduce some of the softness associated with cask ale, but it uses a pressurised draught system and a different conditioning route.
Keep exploring
Put it to work
If this page has done its job, the next glass should make a little more sense.