Beverage Carbonation

What is a brix calibration?
A brix calibration is a procedure provided by your soda supplier to fine tune the taste of your sodas and juices. This calibration procedure adjusts the ratio of water-to-syrup for each of your soda flavors. Establishments in need of a brix calibration usually suffer from “too watery” or “too sweet” taste complaints. Brix problems can affect one or all of your soda flavors.

What is a carbonator?
A soda carbonator is supplied by your soda supplier as a part of supplier’s soda system. Carbonators are where the water from your back flow preventer and CO₂ from the syrup rack regulators are combined to become soda water. 

Does Volunteer Beverage Carbonation install back flow preventers?
We do not install back flow preventers. Back flow preventers are required in all soda systems and are usually installed by a company that specializes in that service or a local plumber. As your beverage gas partner we are happy to assist you in locating a local back flow preventer installation company.

What should the proper size head on my finished beer pour be for best customer satisfaction and maximum profits?
To maximize your kegged beer profits and to provide the best customer satisfaction a 16 oz pint glass should have a 3/4″ head. The head on a pint of beer increases aroma and provides a nice mouth feel for greater customer satisfaction. The head on a pint also saves approximately 1.5 oz of beer on each pint poured. A perfect pint equals maximum profit!

What temperature should my keg cooler ideally be?
As a general rule of thumb, beer kegs should be stored at a consistent 38F. If warmer or colder beer dispense is desired, please contact one of our Beverage Dispense experts to advise you in how to accomplish this without causing flat or foamy beer. In most cases, mixed gas from Nitrogen Separators can help compensate for temperatures outside the normal range.

How often should my draught beer lines be cleaned and why should I clean them?
All recognized beer institutions agree that draught beer lines should be cleaned every two weeks. Proper beer line cleaning is essential for maintaining fresh and correct tasting draught beer. Improper cleaning frequency and/or cleaning methods can increase beer foam and will make it difficult to achieve the Perfect Pour. As your beverage gas supply partner, Volunteer Beverage Carbonation can assist you in finding reputable beer line cleaning companies in your local area.

Does it really matter what gas and pressure I use on my beer kegs?
Absolutely! The correct gas mix and gas pressures will dictate the profitability of your draught beer system. Improper gas types or mixes and incorrect gas pressures will cause undesirable outcomes including over-carbonation, foamy beer, flat beer and general customer dissatisfaction. Contact one of our Beverage Gas Experts to find out what gas and pressure is perfect for your establishment.

Is the mix of 25% CO₂/75% nitrogen right for my non-stout beers?
While 25% CO₂ is perfect for your stout creamed beers it is absolutely not acceptable for any normal ale or lager type of beer. The result will be under carbonated or flat beer.

The perfect ratio of CO₂/ nitrogen is customized for your exact draught beer system. Typically 60-80% CO₂ will be the range for most long draw beer keg systems. Each beer system has its own ideal mix ratio to deliver the perfect pint. Our Gas Experts can calculate your ideal gas mix and assist you in how to increase your draught beer system profits.

Why should I use a nitrogen separator over changing, ordering and storing cylinders?
Simple! Nitrogen Separators provide perfectly carbonated beer and wine for greater beverage profits. Separators also offer a much less carbon intensive means to deliver nitrogen for beer and wine dispense systems. Separators provide hands-free operation and customized gas blends for all types of keg dispense systems. Perfect Pints equal maximum profit!

What is kegged wine?
Kegged wine or draught wine is an environmentally friendly way to serve economically priced quality wines. Wine can be served out of a keg through beverage lines and out of a dispense faucet similar to draught beer systems.

Where can I find kegged wine options in my area?
Contact one of our Beverage Gas Experts and they will assist you in finding kegged wine options in your area. As your Beverage Gas supply partner Volunteer Beverage Carbonation is familiar with the ever increasing list of kegged wine options available.

Can my kegged wines be served out of my kegged beer cooler?
That depends on the type of wine (red or white), the keg cooler temperature and the type of gas and dispense pressure being applied to the wine keg. In most cases, a white wine can be dispensed from a kegged beer cooler when attention is paid to the parameters above. Red wines should be dispensed at a warmer temperature than kegged beer coolers will allow. Ideally a 50-58F cooler temperature is desired but often red wine kegs are stored at room temperature.

Is wine really carbonated?
Yes! There is a measurable amount of CO₂ dissolved in red and white wines. White wines contain more CO₂ than red wines. Obviously, wine contains much less dissolved CO₂ than carbonated soda or beer but the small amount of CO₂ dissolved in wine plays an equally important roll in wine flavor and shelf life. Maintaining the naturally occurring dissolved CO₂ levels in wine can extend the flavor profile of kegged wine significantly.

What is the right kind of gas to use on my kegged wines?
The important role of any gas on top of wine in a keg is to be oxygen free and secondly to act as a propellant in dispensing the wine through the draught wine system. Oxygen-free nitrogen is the oldest used gas for this purpose. Nitrogen is inert and difficult to dissolve into wine. Nitrogen is the most widely used gas for kegged wine.

Why would I want to use nitrogen and CO₂ on my kegged wine?
Recently using nitrogen in conjunction with CO₂ on kegged wine has become the preferred method. The advantage of using a nitrogen/ CO₂ blend is to preserve the wine quality even further than using nitrogen alone. When a nitrogen/ CO₂ blend is applied, given the keg pressure and cooler temperature, kegged wine will maintain its natural CO₂ content and thus keeping the same flavor profile from full keg to empty keg.

What about argon gas?
Another less favorable gas option for kegged wine dispense is using argon gas. Argon gas is actually easier to dissolve into a liquid than nitrogen and may be less economical when compared to nitrogen. Nitrogen or more recently mixed-gas (blended Nitrogen & CO₂) have become preferred due to the fact that many beer retailers already have nitrogen on site.

What types of leak detection tools are available?
CO₂ alarms are a great tool to warn of high CO₂ accumulations in a confined space. The typical CO₂ alarm installation includes a CO₂ sensing probe (installed in the confined space) and a control unit which displays the current CO₂ level (installed just outside of the confined space being monitored). An audible alarm and visual indicator will warn of high CO₂ levels from a safe place before entry into the confined space.

Other leak detection tools are available including over-run alarms on Green Air Supply Nitrogen Separators and in-line flow meters for beverage gas monitoring. As always, the active monitoring in CO₂ level alarms are far superior to the passive leak detection of balls floating inside of flow meters. If you have this type of leak detection currently (tiny floating ball inside of a plastic tube) be aware that this type of leak detection is ineffective during a busy service times. We recommend active monitoring of CO₂ levels over passive leak detection to our customers. We can advise you on the cost and supply of every leak detection option available.

What do I do if I think there is a beverage gas leak inside of my business location?
First, be aware of any possible confined spaces that may be accumulating high concentrations of CO₂ or nitrogen. CO₂ and nitrogen displace oxygen and do not support life. Keg coolers, closets, basements and enclosed rooms should be aired out thoroughly before entry. If you suspect there is any chance of an accumulation of any type of compressed gas do not enter that area ever! If you can, shut off the gas supply that feeds the leak without placing a person at risk of entering a confined space. If you can not safely shut off the gas supply to the leak and you think there is a safety concern, contact your local fire department for assistance. You should also call our support staff for further assistance and instructions: 615-394-4998.

I may have a serious safety situation involving a carbon dioxide (CO₂) leak. Who should I call first?
If you think you have a serious safety situation call 911 and request your local fire department’s assistance. You may then call our 24/ hour service number 615-394-4998 to inform us of the situation.

I may want to obtain a CO₂ alarm for safety concerns. Where can I get one at?
We will gladly assist you in purchasing a CO₂ alarm. Whether you’re planning on installing the alarm yourself or you would like our certified beverage technicians to perform the work, Volunteer Systems is your partner in providing your employees with a safer work environment.

I need to get copies of Material Safety and Data Sheets. Where can I get them?
You can download a PDF version here or you can request a hard copy be mailed out to you by calling (615) 481-2231.