Your CO2 tank is running low, or a system just went down, and you need a supplier fast, not a browsing session. Denver Beverage delivers beverage gas across Colorado, from the Front Range to the Western Slope, with same-day emergency supply when a scheduled run can’t wait.
Which Beverage Gas Does Your Operation Actually Need?
Three gases cover nearly everything a Colorado restaurant or bar dispenses: CO2, nitrogen, and beer gas blends. Picking the right one comes down to what you’re pouring and how far it has to travel.
1. CO2 (carbon dioxide)
Carbonates soft drinks and beer, maintains fountain system pressure (soda systems run at 95 to 105 PSI on the primary regulator), and powers the dispensing force in most draft systems. It’s the most common gas in any restaurant or bar. Replace your tank when the pressure reads below 200 PSI.
2. Nitrogen
Used for nitro-style draft beer (stouts and porters) and cold brew coffee. Nitrogen produces smaller, finer bubbles than CO2 alone, which creates the cascading effect and creamy mouthfeel in a nitro pour. It’s also used to push product through longer draw lines without over-carbonating.
3. Beer gas blends (CO2/N₂)
A mixed cylinder of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, used where nitrogen alone won’t deliver the right carbonation level. Common ratios: 75/25 N₂/CO₂ for stouts and nitro-style pours, 60/40 for lagers on longer draw lines, and pure CO2 for most standard ales and lagers on short draw.
Confirm your blend ratio with your draft beer system installation and service technician, since the correct ratio depends on line length, serving temperature, and carbonation volume target for each style. You can also review draft systems options if you’re evaluating an upgrade, or read through our draft beer, cocktail, and wine tap installation process for a full breakdown of how a new system comes together.
For bars with an open-bottle wine program, argon works as a blanket gas to prevent oxidation and extend the shelf life of open bottles, keeping pours fresh without affecting flavor.
Beverage-Grade CO2 vs. Industrial-Grade: Why It Matters
Not all CO2 is the same. Beverage-grade carbon dioxide meets purity and contaminant limits set by the ISBT Quality Guidelines and Analytical Procedures for Carbon Dioxide, typically 99.90% or higher purity, with strict ceilings on acetaldehyde, total hydrocarbons, and moisture.
Industrial or welding-grade CO2 doesn’t meet those thresholds, and using it in a food and beverage system is a food safety issue, not just a quality preference. Denver Beverage supplies food and beverage-grade gas only. An FDA food facility registration is the compliance credential that separates a qualified beverage gas supplier from a general industrial gas source, and it’s worth confirming with any supplier you’re considering.
Tank Sizing and Colorado-Specific Considerations
Colorado’s altitude and your operation’s volume are the two variables that change how CO2 systems should be set up here.
Altitude: At Denver’s elevation (roughly 5,280 feet) and above, CO2 systems may need pressure adjustments relative to sea-level specs. Mountain establishments along the I-70 corridor feel this more acutely. A properly calibrated system performs correctly at altitude, but operators who set pressure by rote sea-level values may notice inconsistency. When first setting up, or if you’re moving equipment between elevations, a technician check is worth scheduling.
Tank sizing: High-volume bars and restaurant groups with multiple taps benefit from a cylinder exchange program that keeps a full spare on hand. A mid-service run-out doesn’t have to mean a shutdown.
CO2 Supply and Tank Refills in Colorado: How It Works
Denver Beverage delivers beverage gas statewide, covering the Front Range (Denver Metro, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo), the I-70 mountain corridor, and the Western Slope from Grand Junction to Sterling. If you’re a Colorado restaurants and bars operator, we serve your area.
Delivery options are built around your volume and schedule:
- Scheduled delivery: Weekly, twice-monthly, or monthly runs based on your usage.
- Call-in as-needed: Order when you need it, without a fixed schedule.
- Emergency and same-day delivery: Available for unplanned run-outs when you can’t wait.
- Cylinder exchange program: Keep a full spare on hand so a depleted tank doesn’t stop service.
If you ran out at 6 PM on a Friday, that last point is what you need to know. Call us.
Safe Storage of CO2 and High-Pressure Cylinders
CO2 in an enclosed or poorly ventilated space is a genuine hazard. The gas displaces oxygen and can reach dangerous concentrations in a walk-in cooler, basement, or utility closet before anyone notices. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Positioning: Store gas cylinders upright and secured against a wall or rack. Never lay them on their side.
- Ventilation: The storage area needs adequate ventilation. Don’t store large cylinders in sealed rooms where staff spend extended time.
- Detection: CO2 is colorless and odorless. A slow leak in an enclosed space won’t be obvious until it’s a problem.
- Warning signs: If a staff member feels dizzy or short of breath near cylinder storage, ventilate the area immediately and treat it as a potential CO2 issue.
- Dry ice: It’s solid CO2 and carries the same displacement risk in enclosed spaces. Don’t store it in the same confined area as your gas cylinders.
Whether you need to talk through gas supply, delivery options, or a system check for your operation, our team is ready seven days a week, with gas delivery reaching statewide and equipment service concentrated on the Front Range.
FAQ
Which gas is used in beverages?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common beverage gas, used to carbonate soft drinks, beer, and other carbonated beverages, and to maintain dispense pressure in fountain and draft systems. Nitrogen handles nitro-style beer and cold brew coffee. Beer gas blends combine the two for specific draft applications.
Where can I buy beverage-grade CO2 in Colorado?
Denver Beverage supplies and delivers beverage-grade CO2 across Colorado, including the Front Range, the I-70 mountain corridor, and the Western Slope. Scheduled delivery, call-in orders, and same-day emergency supply are all available.
What is the gas in beer called?
Most draft beer uses CO2 (carbon dioxide) as the primary dispense gas. Nitrogen or beer gas blends (CO2/N₂) handle nitro-style pours instead. The specific gas depends on the beer style, line length, and serving temperature.
How do I know when my CO2 tank needs to be replaced?
Replace your CO2 tank when the pressure gauge reads below 200 PSI. Below that threshold, there isn’t enough gas left to maintain consistent carbonation or dispense pressure.
What’s the difference between CO2 and beer gas?
CO2 is a single-gas cylinder used to carbonate and dispense most standard beers and fountain beverages. Beer gas is a pre-mixed blend of nitrogen and CO2, typically 75/25 for nitro-style pours or 60/40 for standard beer on longer draw lines, where pure CO2 would over-carbonate the product.
