Nirto set up addition - worth it ?

It seems to me that you have answered your own question as regards "worth it". Hopefully some folks can advise you on how best to proceed.

Personally I am not a fan of Nitro beers since they seem to 'dumb down' the expression of beer flavor. If seeking a non CO2 dispense method, cask conditioning is a 'better' solution. But that is just me.

Cheers!

 

Have you looked into keg conditioning and then setting CO2 at levels that are just high enough to push beer through and replace the airspace? I'm figuring this is the cheater method on this, folks with more experience with kegging may have more to say on this.

 

But what @MrOH posted above of setting the CO2 real low is functionally the same, right?

Cheers!

 

Yes, there is a visual appeal to the cascading, volcano like appearance.

But as I have mentioned above for my palate the downside of nitro is the muting of flavors. A beer served via cask (or keg) conditioning results in a more lightly carbonated product (which provides a smooth mouthfeel, for me) and yet the flavors are still notable and pleasing.

You are the head brewer of your homebrewery so you ultimately get to decide which is 'best' here.

Good luck with your mission.

Cheers!

 

As @JackHorzempa said, you're the head brewer of your homebrewery. You're also the founder, president, CEO, CFO, and director of marketing. If you want a nitro tap, get one.

 

Was investing in any of your current gear worth it? I'm guessing yes. Lowering CO2 won't give you the same mouthfeel in the beer as nitro will in my opinion. You also might find yourself brewing different styles to try on nitro. That's what's great about this hobby.

 

The bitters that I've had on nitro from brewpubs that didn't have cask set-ups were great. I could see one of those milkshake IPAs that folks were making for a while being a perfect fit, if you're into that type of thing.

 

I like my nitro set up. It wasn’t expensive. I have Intertap taps, a $6 stout nozzle with built in restrictor plate from AliExpress let’s you switch over from CO2. Cheap regulator from eBay. Not much difference in cost on the tank refills

 

You only live once man. If you like nitro beer than do it. This whole hobby is technically a waste as it’s not an investment.

 

Been a few years, but when I did the math on this one it just didn't make sense for me. I love some nitro beers, but not enough to invest in a rig and maintain it.