Nitro or Cask Beer: What’s the Difference?
Nitrobrews are making beer better through science. The idea of crafting beer using nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide was first advanced by Guinness with their dark stouts giving Guinness its signature foamy head. Bottles of Guinness made using nitrogen in the process first came out in the 1960s, while cans didn’t arrive until the 1980s.
For many years, Guinness was the only nitro beer on the market, using nitrogen as a way to give its stouts their unique, creamy texture and taste. Then, Left Hand Brewing started a marketing campaign a few years ago claiming to be America’s Stout. Since then, other microbreweries have turned “nitrobrews” into a rapidly expanding category. Left Hand Brewing is even holding a Nitro Fest to highlight over 35 breweries that took inspiration from its creations.
