INTRO TO BEER CARBONATION & WHY GETTING IT RIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT
We don't list Carbon Dioxide [CO2] as an ingredient in our beer, but one could argue that we should. The primary reason we don't, is because CO2 occurs in Beer, as a natural by-product of the brewing process. The reason that some of us feel it should be included, is because modern brewing, kegging, and packaging methods cause carbonation loss. The lost CO2 is forcibly reintroduced, during the finishing process of the beer. If the beer is served from a keg, CO2 is also introduced, again, during dispense. Finally, in the case of Nitrogenous beers such as Guinness, Boddington's, Old Speckled Hen, and numerous others, we also add Nitrogen gas, as way to lighten the mouth feel of these Low Carbonation Brews. The reason I would advocate for listing gasses as ingredients, is to also show customers that only 1 or 2 gasses are supposed to be there, and lends credibility to quality advocates. These Gasses effect flavour and pr...