Using my CO2 setup with Nitrogen? Possible?

[lightba6]

Hi,

I make my own beer and have enjoyed playing around with recipies and coming up with something new every time I make a new batch. I have set up a homemade kegorator running off of a CO2 system. Works great. But I find that I'd like more variety, so I'd like to expand my system to handle 3 different products at any given time. I may make one of these products seltzer water, as my fiance is german and only drinks carbonated water and I'm tired of lugging bottles home from the store. Anyway, that's not a big deal--I can easily figure out running two kegs off the same CO2 tank. My question has to do with nitrongenated beers. I want to experiment with using Nitrogen with some of my beers instead of CO2, as I figure I'll end up with a creamier beer, which I like.

Let me first say that I am aware that I can simply go buy a complete Nitrogen system setup and my problem is solved. But from what I see, they aren't cheap, and as this is basically an experiment for me, I'm not really looking to drop that kind of money just for 'creamier' beer. So with the understanding that I'm quite happy to sacrifice consistancy and 'ideal situations' for lower hardware costs, my question is this: is there anyway to essentially use my existing CO2 setup hooked up to a nitrogen tank to make this work? I will probalby not always have a nitrogen beer on tap, so I would like to basically have a 3 keg setup. I will keep two of them on CO2 (again, one will probably be water, but I could make it beer if I wanted to). The other one I may swap between Nitrogen and CO2. So if I just basically replicate my CO2 system and simply swap the CO2 for a nitrogen tank, would this work? Again, I am aware that this isn't idea, as without a nitrogen mixer, I'm not going to get consistant taste. Truth be told, that's almost a plus for me, as I enjoy something different each time (hense the reason for wanting three taps running instead of one).

I'm pretty new at this stuff, so forgive me if the answers are obvious. I'm getting by on pure chance, but I enjoy my beer, which I suppose all that really matters. Just looking to take it to the next level.

thanks!

[TAPMAN]

Pre blended nitrogen/CO2,75/25 mixes are available at some gas supply houses(welding supply?),sometimes available in CO2 tanks. All you would need to do is get a new CO2 hook up for the nitro beer and use that gas. If it is only available in nitrogen tanks, there is an adaptor for the CO2 regulator to convert it to nitrogen,then undo it and put on your CO2 tank for a more carbonated beer.

[Scott Zuhse]

If you place the 25% CO2 / 75% N Blend on the beers previously using CO2, you will be able to experience flat beer. The seltzer water will be off taste as well.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[TAPMAN]

Scott, my understanding is that he will be using 2 different gas hookups,1 for beer/seltzer, the other for nitro or other beer. Tapman

[lightba6]

Tapman, you're right: I am talking about two seperate gas tanks. I guess my quesiton could be simplied by saying, is there any reason I can't just unhook my CO2 tank and replace it with a mixed gas tank to nitrongenate my beer? And I think you answer that question above. Sounds like I can probalby just go get another normal C02 tank but have the gas store fill it up with a mix and try that. If it turns out it works well and I like it, I may just basically set up a whole seperate tap system and run one keg as C02 and one as mixed gas so I can have the best of both worlds. (I think the water thing is dead since I only have room for two taps (per the fiance) and that being the case, I don't want to sacrifice one to water .

Thanks for your help!

[USMC - Retired]

As a fix for your fiance's caronated water addiction why not just get one of those seltzer bottles that charges with the small CO2 cartriges. I keep one in the home bar for use when we have guest that like that kinda thing and for mixing some drinks that use carbonated water.

Semper Fi,
The Gunns

"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin