‘Tis the season for Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout–our all-new seasonal beer infused with Saigon cinnamon sticks and premium Madagascar vanilla beans.

The not-so-secret magic behind this beer is the “nitro” style, which creates a velvety mouthfeel.

Keep reading for a crash course on nitro beer and some tips on enjoying it to the fullest.

What is “Nitro?”

“Nitro” is the brewing nickname for nitrogen gas. The signatures of nitro beers are a thick, long-lasting foam and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. You can find nitro beers on draft and, increasingly, in cans. Starting with Nitro Merlin Milk Stout, we developed our own process for creating an authentic nitro experience straight from the can.

How It Works

A nitro beer contains more nitrogen gas and less carbon dioxide (CO2) gas compared to a traditional beer. The foam created by nitro bubbles is thicker and lasts longer. Also, because there is less CO2 in the beer, carbonation is minimal, paving the way for a velvety smooth texture.

Master Your “Surge Pour”

To make the most of your Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout experience, you will want to master what we call the “surge pour.” Invert the can three times in your hand to shake up the beer a bit. Then, crack the can and immediately invert it one last time as you dump the beer into the glass. For the perfect tutorial, watch the surge pour video with Brewmaster Matt Brynildson below.

When a nitro stout is poured properly, there is a cascading “waterfall” effect–the dark beer temporarily whitens as the nitrogen bubbles rise to the top. Once the bubbles fully rise, the beer becomes brilliantly clear, and it is crowned with a strikingly rich head.

Now you are ready to to enjoy the mind-blowing mouthful that we call Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout.

Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout is available for purchase at our three brewery locations, and it is now rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in six pack (12-ounce can) and draft formats.