FAQ

Yes. We have different configurations for home and commercial settings. You can use the kettle system or our nitro tap systems. Call us for any specific questions or email us at info@nitrobrew.com.

Absolutely not. You can convert any beer to a nitro beer. You can use beer from a bottle, a can, a tap or any other way to provide beer!

Nitro style beers are smooth and creamy with reduced carbonation bite. They present a very different mouthfeel on your palate and offer a unique beer drinking experience. To learn more about nitro style beers please check out this blog article by the inventor of NitroBrew .

A NitroBrew kettle, a charger and a clean air compressor that is quiet and oil-free

It comes with the home bundle but if you already have one, please call us and we can send the home kit without the compressor.

Absolutely. If you can provide nitrogen at about 35 psig (2.4 barg), you won’t need air compressors.

Yes. If you have your own air compressor or a Nitrogen tank, you will need a pressure regulator. This is for safety reasons. Gas supply pressure should be set at about 35 psig (2.4 barg).

From the Nitrogen cylinder hooked up to the charger or the air compressor. The air we breathe is 78% nitrogen!

Oxygen in beer is bad, but only if you let it sit around.  With NitroBrew, the intent is to enjoy the beer right after NitroBrewing or within a short time. In any case,  using air with NitroBrew is no different than pouring beer in a glass in ambient air. For more information please read this Perfect Pint blog article.

The charger can be mounted over or under the counter with a double sided adhesive tape. If necessary, it can also be mounted on a vertical panel, like the side of a cabinet.

This is really a personal choice. But most Stouts and Porters are well suited for NB. We have folks that also love an IPA on nitro. So try and see what appeals to your taste buds!

You can use it with cold brew coffee, tea, root beer, cream soda etc. The kettle system provides the flexibility for you to try any drink you fancy on nitro! Go ahead and experiment

Absolutely. You can use espresso or drip coffee and use NitroBrew to make great cold nitro coffee without any dairy!

It is very important to shake the kettle thoroughly so the nitrogen is dispersed evenly through the beer/beverage in the kettle. You don’t want to leave untreated pockets of the beverage.

Make sure you completely tip the kettle upside-down over the drinking glass. To start the dispense process and gently press on the nozzle to control the pouring speed. Anticipate that toward the end when you run out of the drink, a shot of gas may shoot out. If the valve does not close by itself when the push-button is released, gently pull the the push-button with your other hand to help close the valve.

Vent the residual pressure completely before removing the lid. Rinse the kettle and lid under a faucet. Pushing the push-button and rotating it will latch it in the open position. Rinsing while in this position will run the water through the valve mechanism for a full rinse. You can also NitroBrew some tap water. Even better, the kettle is completely dishwasher safe. Just remember to latch the valve in the open position so the detergent and sanitizer will run through the valve and venturi and clean everything thoroughly.

If you clean the system after each use, very little maintenance is really necessary. If the valve mechanism gets sticky, usually a squirt of PAM will lubricate the seals. Always rememeber to remove the excess lubricant by nitrobrewing some water. In extreme cases, the valve assembly can be completely disassembled and cleaned. First remove the channel screw. Then unscrew and remove the nozzle. Do not lose the crush seal O-ring at the base of the nozzle. Push-in the push button and hold the valve spool with a paper towel or another soft gripper. Rotate the push button to unthreadrelease the valve spool from the push button. Clean all parts with a soft cloth, and re lube them with a food-grade lubricant. Reassemble the system by retracing the process. Never attempt to dislodge or separate the valve body from the lid. Contact NitroBrew for replacement spare parts.

If you buy the entire home kit from us you will have everything you need. No other parts and tools should be necessary for typical installations.

The lid cannot be opened if the kettle is charged and under pressure. That is a built in safety mechanism. You should always vent the kettle before attempting to open the lid. ****Tip*** Until you are familiar with using NitroBrew, feel free to simply charge the empty kettle or pour water into the kettle and charge. Set the kettle on a flat surface and simply give a slight push on the handle. The kettle should spin and that means it was properly pressurized/charged. If it does not spin please make sure to charge it correctly. We don’t want you to waste your precious beer or coffee!

The large gasket in the NitroBrew assembly forms the seal between the lid and the kettle. Although designed with very precise tolerances, this gasket sometimes tends to compress due to top loads during storage and transportation on stacked pallets. A gasket that may be a little too compressed may not seal consistently.

However, even the slightest internal pressure forces it to push outwards and seal positively. During charging, if you apply even a slight downward pressure on the lid (for example, press-down momentarily with your thumb of your free hand), you should find that the issue goes away. You only need to do this momentarily- just to get some pressure started. You can then continue charging normally

Excess of foam in dispensed NitroBrew'd beer is generally indicative of excess residual carbonation. And it is not necessarily the nitro-style creamy foam you would want.

Insufficient mixing/shaking is a common problem because it is so counter-intuitive. Whenever folks see excessive foam, they tend to mix less vigorously because usually wild pours are associated with disturbed beer :)

Certain factors may interfere with NitroBrew's carbonation adjustment function, for example: - if the beer is too cold (i.e., less than 38degF) - stock beer is over carbonated (more than 2.65 volumes) - improper equilibration, i.e., insufficient mixing/shaking after charging - use of beer gas (N2/CO2 mixes) to NitroBrew normally carbonated stock beer, etc.

Lastly, if you have a pocket of untreated beer in the NitroBrew kettle (due to incomplete mixing), that slug of higher carbonation beer will 'explode' when it hits the millions of nitro style microbubbles during dispense. Nitro bubbles nucleate CO2 release much like those coca-cola and mentos experiments :)

Good mixing is important- both for carbonation adjustment and nitrogen infusion. Also, we recommend holding the kettle by the body (not the handle) while shaking.

You have 30 days from the day you receive the system to return it if you are not satisfied for any reason. We will refund your money back, minus the shipping charges. Once the unit is inspected upon return and is in good condition, you should see your refund in 7-10 business days!

We ship both 110v and 220v compressors. It is important that you tell us which one you want included. All US shipments will receive standard 110v compressors.

You will have a 90 day warranty on the NitroBrew kits. You should expect a long life with the NitroBrew system and most of the issues can be addressed with periodic cleaning and simple maintenance! Please note that the compressor is not our product so any issues after the 90 day period may result in engaging our suppliers. We will make every effort to address any issue that may arise with the compressor.

You can also make your own soda if you like by connecting a carbondioxide cylinder to the charger. Some drinks could benefit from a touch of carbonation as well. To bring in the carbonation, you may use carbondioxide gas, or reduce/dilute your drink with a little club soda (carbonated water). Go ahead and experiment!

If the valve mechanism gets sticky, usually a squirt of PAM or any food grade oil will lubricate the seals. Inside the NitroBrew lid (side where you see the gasket), there is a small port near the nozzle, simply add a drop or two of any food grade oil or food grade lubricant. That should make it easy to operate. Always remember to remove the excess lubricant by nitrobrewing some water.

It is possible that you have the lid in the lock position. Make sure to first have the valve in the open position. You can push on the plunger and move it right to lock/close or move it left to open/unlock. Make sure you are charging in unlock position. This mechanism is to allow you to clean the valve thoroughly when hand washing or put it in the top rack of the dishwasher. Refer to the manual for more details.
Normal Operating position for the plunger
Locked position for cleaning.