Vegan-Friendly Ipas: What's In Your Beer?

India Pale Ale (IPA) is a beer variety that is generally hoppier and has a higher alcohol content than lager-style beers. Most beer is vegan, and there are many vegan IPAs on the market. However, some IPAs may not be suitable for vegans due to the use of animal-based ingredients or processing agents. It is essential to check the ingredients and processing methods of specific brands to ensure they align with vegan standards. Barnivore is a useful resource for checking the vegan status of beers.

Barnivore is a useful resource for checking the vegan status of beers

Many beers are vegan, but it can be difficult to know for sure whether a particular beer is suitable for vegans or not. This is because brewers may include animal ingredients in their products directly, or they may use them in the processing and filtration. For example, ingredients such as dairy and honey may be included in the final recipe, and companies can use animal products like isinglass (from fish bladder), gelatin, egg whites, and sea shells to filter the drinks prior to bottling. These products grab onto impurities to make them easier to catch in the filters, although there are many animal-free alternatives in use. These ingredients are often not listed on the label, so it can be hard to know whether a beer is vegan just by reading the packaging.

In addition to Barnivore, there are some general rules of thumb that can help you to identify whether a beer is vegan or not. Most mass-market beers are vegan, although one non-vegan example to watch out for is Foster's lager. If you are looking for a premium vegan beer, there are hundreds of options brewed all over the world. Some examples of widely available vegan beers include Budweiser and Bud Light, Coors and Coors Light, Miller Lite, Heineken, and Sam Adams Boston Lager.

Guinness is vegan

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are vegan-friendly, but it's always good to check. You can use Barnivore to look up the vegan status of beers you're interested in.

Now, onto the topic at hand: Guinness is vegan!

Guinness is a dry Irish stout that has been brewed for over 260 years. It is one of the world's most popular drinks, with 10 million pints consumed daily and 1.5 billion pints enjoyed annually.

Until 2016, Guinness wasn't suitable for vegans due to its use of isinglass in the manufacturing process. Isinglass is a collagen product made from fish bladders that helps remove extra yeast from the stout during the fining process. It is used to make alcoholic beverages like beer and wine clear.

In 2015, Guinness's manufacturer, Diageo, announced it would implement a new filtration system to eliminate isinglass from the manufacturing process, making Guinness suitable for vegans. In April 2016, Diageo confirmed that all kegs of Guinness on the market were vegan-friendly and made using this new process. Finally, in 2018, Diageo confirmed that all Guinness products worldwide, including Guinness Draught, Guinness Extra Stout, and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, are now isinglass-free and suitable for vegans.

Guinness's new filtration process has not affected the taste of the drink, according to a spokesperson for Diageo. The recipe and taste remain the same as they have always been. So vegans can enjoy a delicious, vegan-friendly Guinness!

Some beers use animal products in the brewing process, such as isinglass

India Pale Ale (IPA) is vegan-friendly. However, some beers use animal products in the brewing process, such as isinglass. Isinglass is the most frequently used clarifying agent in the brewing process to make the beer clear. It is made using the swim bladders of tropical and subtropical fish and is therefore not a vegan product.

Historically, the swim bladders of sturgeon were used to make isinglass, but now it is more commonly derived from fish that are considered invasive species or pests. Isinglass is added after fermentation is complete and is regularly added directly to casks, which are left to settle in the pub cellar. In theory, all of the finings should have dropped out of the beer by the time it is served, but this is not guaranteed. In practice, the beer itself can't be considered vegan as it has required the use of an animal-derived processing aid during production.

Some breweries are looking to remove isinglass from their beers. For example, Greene King states that they are "looking to remove it from some bottles, [and] can and keg beers". However, they still use isinglass in their cask ales as it is the "best material currently for clarifying the beers".

If you want to make sure that a beer doesn't contain isinglass, look for a Vegan certification on the label. If you can't find it, then it's very likely that the beer you are about to consume is brewed using animal products.

Beers to avoid include Greene King IPA and Foster's lager

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are generally vegan-friendly. However, some beer brands are not vegan-friendly due to the use of isinglass finings, a clarifying agent derived from fish bladders, in their filtration processes.

Greene King IPA is one such beer that is not suitable for vegans. In February 2023, Greene King confirmed that they still use isinglass in all their beers, including their IPA. While they are considering removing it from some bottled, canned, and keg beers, they have no plans to stop using it in their cask ales, as it is the best material for clarifying those beers.

Another popular beer that is not vegan-friendly is Foster's lager. Foster's, an Australian-originating brewing company with a significant market presence in the UK, uses isinglass finings in their filtration process, making it unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians. This information was confirmed on the Foster's website and through a company email in September 2014.

It is important to note that beer preferences should be verified using resources like Barnivore, as brewing processes and ingredients can change over time. While IPAs are generally vegan-friendly, it is always a good idea to check the specific brand and stay informed about any changes in their ingredients or processes that might affect their vegan status.

Beers that are suitable for vegans include Budweiser, Coors, Heineken, and Saint Arnold Art Car IPA

Most beers are vegan, and it is easy to find vegan options. However, some beers are made using animal products, such as lactose from cow's milk or honey. Others may be clarified using isinglass, which is made from fish bladders. Luckily, many popular beers are vegan-friendly, including Budweiser, Coors, Heineken, and Saint Arnold Art Car IPA.

Budweiser and Bud Light, produced in the USA, are vegan-friendly and widely available. Coors and Coors Light, also American beers, are additional mass-market options for vegans. Heineken, a Dutch beer, is another common choice that happens to be vegan. These beers are all similar in taste and can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Saint Arnold Art Car IPA, crafted by the Saint Arnold Brewing Company in Texas, is also suitable for vegans. The company has confirmed that they do not use animal-derived ingredients in their beers, with the exception of occasional beer garden releases that contain lactose or honey. Their standard brewing process involves a clarifying agent derived from seaweed, and their filtration system is free from animal ingredients.

When in doubt about the vegan status of a beer, resources like Barnivore provide helpful information. It is worth noting that most beers are vegan, and with a little research, individuals can easily find options that align with their dietary preferences and ethical values.

Frequently asked questions