Why breweries should switch from CO2 to N2
Both nitrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) are inert gases used to flush, purge, infuse and package beer. For many processes, CO2 can be replaced with nitrogen. In fact, nitrogen is the preferred solution, except for carbonation requirements. Some breweries prefer nitrogen over CO2 to nitrogenate their beer, as it creates a smoother texture with fine bubbles. In addition, as CO2 is highly soluble in beer, it could introduce excess carbonation.
From a business point of view, nitrogen can offer huge cost savings. It is much less expensive than CO2, and it isn't subject to CO2’s volatile pricing. In addition, CO2 tends to experience supply chain issues, leaving breweries without the inert gas they need. An on-site nitrogen generator eliminates this production roadblock.