Nitrogen solutions for breweries
Nitrogen for a more efficient brewing process of beer
Beer brewing is craftsmanship, where every detail counts, from the ingredients to the techniques used. Every step in the brewing process contributes to the unique characteristics and flavour of the beer. Nitrogen plays an increasingly important role in the brewing process. We design and develop innovative nitrogen-based applications that help your business move forward. The application replaces CO2 (mostly) with nitrogen and therefore prevents the oxidation process: as a result, you can save up to 90% in costs. In addition, you can speed up the brewing process of the beer.
Minimising oxygen exposure across the brewing process
During brewing, lagering and bottling, a controlled environment is essential to minimise oxygen contact and prevent beer oxidation. Many breweries use CO₂ cylinders or cartridges for this purpose during the brewing process. This requires continuous monitoring of consumption and timely replacement of cylinders. Nitrogen is an attractive alternative.
Nitrogen is used to displace oxygen at various stages of the process. This helps prevent oxidation. Oxidation can negatively affect the taste and quality of beer. Especially during the filling of beer batches, nitrogen is used as a displacement gas or as a push gas to deoxygenate tanks and pump over batches.
By using nitrogen instead of CO₂, or in addition to CO₂, a brewery can maintain the desired characteristics of the beer and extend its shelf life. Employing the right equipment, such as nitrogen generators, is critical to this process. This equipment allows breweries to produce high-quality nitrogen, which is essential to the process.
Presscon has complete solutions for:
- replacing CO2 in the construction process of beer
- cleaning production vessels (where residues do not mix with the next batch)
- moving liquids from tank to tank (by means of pressure)
- expelling oxygen and carbon dioxide from vessels
- operation of pneumatic valves
- rinsing the beer kegs
Read more about our tap generator
Read more about nitrogen in the brewing process
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How does Nitrogen in the beer brewing process work?
The nitrogen generator from Presscon extracts pure nitrogen from the air: it squeezes oxygen out of your beer tank, as you do now with CO2. Nitrogen delivers the same result, but is significantly cheaper. Moreover, you do not need cartridges (as withCO2): in fact, the nitrogen is produced on site. As a result, you will never again be bothered by empty cartridges during brewing. Without compromising flavour, nitrogen can be used in multiple stages of the brewing process.
Fermentation & conditioning
During fermentation and conditioning, nitrogen is used to create an oxygen-free environment inside tanks and process lines. Tanks are pre-purged with nitrogen to remove residual oxygen and carbon dioxide before filling, reducing the risk of oxidation. Nitrogen overpressure is applied to safely empty tanks and transfer beer between vessels, while dry nitrogen is also used to operate pneumatic valves reliably without introducing moisture or oxygen into the system.
Bottling
During bottling, nitrogen is used to minimise oxygen pickup and protect beer quality during packaging. Casks, kegs and bottles are purged with nitrogen prior to filling to remove oxygen from the headspace. When filling equipment is suitable, nitrogen can also be used during the filling process to maintain an inert atmosphere, helping to keep dissolved oxygen levels low and preserve flavour stability.
Dispensing
Dispensing beer with nitrogen is an efficient solution for breweries, events and the hospitality industry. Presscon has developed a dedicated tap generator for this purpose: a compact nitrogen generator designed to fit neatly underneath the bar.
On-site generated nitrogen replaces the CO₂ that is traditionally used for beer dispensing. Using nitrogen ensures flavour preservation and offers multiple operational advantages:
- No gas inventory management
- Never run out of dispensing gas
- Cost-effective alternative to CO₂
- Increases pressure without dissolving in the beer, unlike CO₂
With the N-Gen 1.0, it is possible to produce up to 300 litres of food-grade nitrogen per hour at a purity of 99.99%, using 8 bar compressed air. At lower compressed air pressure, the N-Gen will generate a lower output volume. Both flow rate and nitrogen purity can be adjusted to meet your specific requirements.
Benefits of using nitrogen for breweries
Cost Efficiency
- Cost savings of up to 90% by replacing a large part of CO₂ usage with on-site generated nitrogen
- No inventory management or replacement of CO₂ cylinders
- Less dependence on external gas suppliers and fluctuating CO₂ prices
Operational efficiency
- Continuous availability of nitrogen, preventing downtime due to empty gas cylinders
- On-site nitrogen production with always the right purity for every application
- Reliable equipment with a long service life
- Low maintenance requirement, usually limited to annual maintenance
Safety and sustainability
- Unlike CO₂, nitrogen poses fewer risks in confined spaces when used correctly
- Reduced CO₂ footprint due to lower reliance on externally produced and transported CO₂
- No cryogenic storage required, as nitrogen is generated on site in gaseous form
- No risk of tank implosion after leach cleaning when nitrogen is used
Beer quality and flavor stability
- Maintains correct carbonation levels, as nitrogen does not dissolve into beer like CO₂
- Minimises oxygen exposure, helping to keep dissolved oxygen levels low
- Maintaining flavor stability and product consistency throughout the brewing process
Customer case: sustainability at Ter Dolen Brewery
Ter Dolen Brewery, located in Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium, is a brewery with a rich tradition and a strong focus on sustainability. The brewery has always been committed to innovation and environmental friendliness, but faced the challenge of making its beer brewing process more sustainable while saving costs. The question was simple: “How can nitrogen (N2) help us instead of CO₂?”
- Modular design
- Low energy consumption
- Long lifespan
- Multifunctional use
Discover Presscon products for breweries
The Presscon Brew N-Gen is a nitrogen generator specifically designed for brewery applications, where product quality, process reliability and energy efficiency are critical. By producing high-purity, food-grade nitrogen on site, the Brew N-Gen enables breweries to prevent oxidation, maintain flavour stability and reduce dependence on CO₂.
The Presscon Brew N-gen produces nitrogen in a highly energy-efficient manner using our patented HP-PSA technology. The separation of nitrogen and oxygen from ambient air takes place in two adsorption vessels within the Brew N-gen. These vessels contain Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS). The CMS retains oxygen molecules while allowing nitrogen molecules to pass through. By alternately pressurising and depressurising the vessels, the Brew N-gen produces gaseous nitrogen with a high purity level and significantly lower energy consumption using HP-PSA technology.
The Brew N-Gen operates as part of a complete nitrogen generation system and works in combination with a compressor and an HD buffer tank. The compressor supplies the compressed air required for nitrogen generation, while the HD buffer tank stores nitrogen and ensures stable pressure and continuous availability during peak demand.
Characteristics:
- Purity: The N-Gen can supply food-grade nitrogen with purity levels ranging from 99% up to 99.9999% (down to <1 PPM oxygen).
- High redundancy: Each generator consists of multiple units that can be individually controlled and isolated. This is particularly convenient for maintenance, as it prevents disruption of the entire production process.
- Special patented compression system: The unique filtration and compression system extends the service life of the generator and guarantees consistent production of food-grade nitrogen.
- Low energy consumption: A well-designed air distribution system within the generator results in reduced energy consumption.
- Stable compressed air demand: By starting the nitrogen generators in phases, the compressed air flow remains stable, preventing peaks and drops in energy usage.
- Stepwise capacity control: Each generator can be regulated individually, enabling modular and step-by-step control of nitrogen production capacity.
Calculate return on investment
Every brewery is different. Various aspects of the brewing process determine the required nitrogen volume and therefore the investment, which varies per brewery. Using a specially developed calculation tool, we determine the required nitrogen generator capacity to produce the correct amount of nitrogen on site. This tool also provides insight into the payback period of the investment.
Sustainability Goals
Sustainability is an integrated part of every nitrogen system we design for beer breweries. By engineering and producing all installations in our own Dutch factory, we minimize transport, reduce material waste, and maintain full control over long-term quality.
Our HP-PSA technology significantly reduces compressed air consumption, allowing growers to use less energy while still having stable, pure nitrogen. The modular design of our generators ensures that only individual components are replaced during maintenance, resulting in less waste and minimal downtime.
For breweries, this means a future-proof solution: stable processes, lower environmental impact and nitrogen systems designed for long-term efficiency.
Presscon: your partner in nitrogen for breweries
At Presscon, we understand that every brewery is unique, which is why we offer customized installations. Presscon provides customized installations, fully tailored to your needs and the layout of your premises. The purity of nitrogen can be adjusted from 95% to 99.9999%, depending on the application. For breweries, we use an ideal purity of 99.99% (100 ppm O₂), which ensures optimal process conditions. This allows DO (dissolved oxygen in batch beer) values between 0 and 30 ppb to be achieved, minimizing oxidation and maintaining beer quality.
Whether you run a small craft brewery or a large production facility, we provide the right nitrogen solution. We are a Dutch-based specialist in nitrogen generation and inerting solutions with over 25 years of experience. All systems are designed and manufactured in-house, ensuring full control over quality and the ability to deliver custom-engineered solutions for any application.
Wondering how a nitrogen generator from Presscon can make your production process in your brewery more efficient? Contact one of our experts! By choosing a customized nitrogen generator, you are assured of the best possible solution for your brewery.
Why choose Presscon?
- Custom-built systems: designed to your specifications and fully assembled in our own factory.
- Energy-efficient operation: HP-PSA technology delivers significant cost savings and sustainability benefits.
- 24/7 service: Dedicated support and fast on-site response to minimize downtime.
- Global supply capability: Serving customers worldwide, from local SMEs to multinational corporations.
Breweries that have gone before you
The breweries listed below are already allowed to supply us with our nitrogen solutions.
Questions about nitrogen solutions for breweries
Presscon specializes in the design, construction and maintenance of nitrogen generation systems, fire prevention systems and innovative solutions using compressed air and nitrogen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do breweries use nitrogen?
Yes, many breweries use nitrogen in various stages of the brewing process. Nitrogen is commonly applied to prevent oxidation, protect beer quality and improve process efficiency. Breweries use nitrogen for tank purging, liquid transfer, operating pneumatic valves, bottling and dispensing. Increasingly, breweries choose on-site nitrogen generation to reduce dependence on CO₂ cylinders, lower costs and improve operational reliability.
Can you use nitrogen instead of CO₂ for beer?
Yes, nitrogen can be used instead of CO₂, or in combination with CO₂, depending on the application. Nitrogen performs the same core function of displacing oxygen, which helps prevent oxidation and preserve beer quality. Unlike CO₂, nitrogen does not dissolve into beer, making it particularly suitable for applications such as purging, inerting, pushing beer between tanks and dispensing.
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