Beer Gas Blend Calculator
The gas blend in your draft system directly controls carbonation, mouthfeel, and pour quality. Pure CO2 works for most beers. Nitrogen blends are required for nitro pours. Long draw systems at high pressure need a specific CO2/N2 blend to prevent over-carbonation. Get the right answer for your exact setup below.
Your System
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Gas Blend
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Serving PSI Range
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Regulator Type
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CO2 / N2 Ratio
Gas Blend Reference Guide
| Application | Gas Blend | PSI Range | Regulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard beer — direct draw (under 25 ft) | 100% CO2 | 10–14 PSI | CO2 dual-gauge (CGA-320) | Most beers at 36–38°F |
| Standard beer — long draw (25–100+ ft) | 70% CO2 / 30% N2 | 14–30 PSI | Mixed gas dual-gauge (CGA-580) | Prevents over-carbonation at high pressure. BA recommended default for long draw. |
| Nitro stout / Nitro IPA | 25% CO2 / 75% N2 (Beer Gas) | 25–35 PSI | Nitrogen / mixed gas (CGA-580) | Requires stout faucet with restrictor plate. NOT for regular beer. |
| Cold brew coffee (carbonated) | 100% CO2 | 35–45 PSI | CO2 dual-gauge (CGA-320) | High PSI for cold brew on CO2 |
| Cold brew coffee (still / nitro) | Pure N2 or 70% N2/30% CO2 | 30–45 PSI | Nitrogen regulator (CGA-580) | Nitrogen is inert — adds no carbonation |
| Hard cider | 100% CO2 | 8–12 PSI | CO2 dual-gauge (CGA-320) | Lower PSI than beer; cider is sensitive to over-carbonation |
| Sparkling wine / Prosecco | 100% CO2 | 8–10 PSI | CO2 dual-gauge (CGA-320) | Use wine-specific fittings and couplers |
| Hard seltzer | 100% CO2 | 14–16 PSI | CO2 dual-gauge (CGA-320) | Higher carbonation than beer |
| WARNING: Never use 25/75 CO2/N2 (beer gas / G-mix) on standard regularly carbonated beer. It will flatten the beer within 3–5 days because CO2 partial pressure is too low to maintain carbonation. — BA Draught Beer Quality Manual, 4th Ed. | ||||
Regulator Fitting Guide: CO2 tanks use CGA-320 fittings (right-hand thread). Nitrogen and mixed gas tanks use CGA-580 fittings (left-hand thread, to prevent accidental CO2 connection). Never attempt to connect a CO2 regulator to a nitrogen or mixed gas tank.