Stout pour with argon

Using argon instead of nitrogen to push beer through a Guinness faucet. The beer has to be slightly carbonated with CO2 before serving it with argon.

I did this because, as a welder, I always have a bottle of argon around. After reading that argon is popular in the wine industry, I thought I'd give it a try with beer.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• diy
• beer
• homebrew
• stout
• nitro
• nitrogen
• gas
• argon

[av8or233]

It's pure argon. Argon is slightly more water soluble than nitrogen, but not by much (in comparison to carbon dioxide). I force carbonated it with a bottle of CO2 before putting it on argon.

[dovregubben78]

I was just reading on Wikipedia about argon... odorless, colorless, non-toxic, and 2.5 times more water soluble than nitrogen. Immediately I thought of trying this. A Google search for "argon stout" brought me here.

It looks as though the head separates out faster than it does with nitrogen. Is that an accurate assertion? The most important question though is how does it affect the taste?

BTW, nice bottle collection. I see Stone, Bear Republic, and Rogue. You must live on the west coast.

[av8or233]

Argon is inert and flavorless, so it has zero impact on the taste. The head dissipates just like a nitrogen pour. CO2 comprises the vast majority of the bubbles you see. Argon allows me to serve under relatively high pressure (35 psi) and still maintain the low carbonation level required for a proper stout pour.

[av8or233]

Simply because I have two bottles of argon available.

[patdel12]

ah god! the pint glass is wrong and wheres the tilt

[roryo715]

thats the most disgusting Guinness pour i have ever witnessed!!!! you make ireland cry!

[clackerz123]

Being water soluble is the problem, that why nitrogen is used, because it resists the foam dissolving back into the beer/water.

[WinkenBlinkenAndNod]

Ha, I rigged up my TIG welder to pour beer.

[EdParaloco]

Nice!

One question: is it pure argon or mixed with CO2?

You say "still maintain the low carbonation level required for a proper stout pour", how do you put the CO2 (if you use pure argon, of course)?

Regards

[Martobx]

Did you carbonate with sugar or the Argon?

[SthealthRaider]

lemme gues!! YOUR A welder?/