nexAir in Beer

Confused about how you ended up on a gas supply company’s website reading an article about beer? First off, we’re so glad you are here! Secondly, it may come as a shock, but gases like nitrogen and carbon dioxide actually play a huge role in brewing companies and the beer making process. At nexAir, we are proud to be a top supplier of a constant and reliable source of nitrogen to brewing companies helping them Forge Forward in their day-to-day tasks starting with pushing beer out of kegs, through faucets and all the way to the glass. Lean onto our expert industry KnowHow and learn more about how nexAir plays a key role in the world of beer.

What gases are involved in the beer making process?

We already mentioned that nitrogen plays a pretty big role at brewing companies. But, how exactly? That’s a great question! To start, nitrogen (N2) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is the most plentiful element in the Earth’s atmosphere. Did you know that it makes up 80% of the atmospheric air that we breathe? This gas is available in liquid and gaseous forms and has a variety of uses in multiple industries, including the beer industry, of course. Nitrogen is often used in breweries to purge tanks in between uses, so that the beer inside of the tanks does not oxidize and ruin the next batch. It is also used as a pusher to deliver beer into the taps that you see at bars, or the breweries themselves and helps to create the bubbly effect in the glass. Nitro tap beer is commonly sought after due to its creamer and smoother end result, as well as luxurious feel.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is another commonly used gas in breweries. This gas can be found in natural CO2 springs, fermentation processes or limestone kilns. At nexAir, we deliver carbon dioxide in a variety of cylinders and gas mixtures to best suit your industry needs. It is commonly used in the food and beverage industry, healthcare industry and in welding and fabrication processes. As for beer, carbon dioxide is an essential component in going from flat to bubbly. It has no taste, no odor and no color and is a vital ingredient to making the frothy beer that we all love to sip on. This can be a result of a natural, or forced carbonation process. Natural carbonation is the result of the fermentation process. During this process, brewers will seal the beer in a closed container right before the fermentation process is finished, leaving just a bit of carbon dioxide trapped. Once that pressure is released the carbon dioxide rises and forms bubbles. With forced carbonation, brewers will let the full fermentation process take place and then pump the CO2 into the sealed container. It will then be absorbed in the liquid, creating a fully carbonated beverage over a short span of time.

Forge Forward with nexAir

Whether you are a brewing company, a customer or an avid beer drinker, you can rely on the gases from nexAir to ensure the best drinking experience and smoothest brewing process possible. If you are interested in learning more about nexAir in beer or how you can get started with a consistent, high-quality gas supply, please reach out – we’re here and ready to help! In the meantime, kick back, relax and raise a glass to the nexAir crew and all of the hard workers that are behind the scenes making your favorite beer crisper, tastier and downright delicious. Cheers!