Vegetarian Beer: What's Allowed And What's Not?

Whether or not a beer is vegetarian depends on its ingredients and how it is processed. The basic ingredients of beer are water, a starch source (malted barley, corn, rice, wheat or sugar), a brewer’s yeast, and a flavouring (e.g. hops). These ingredients are not derived from animal sources, so beer is generally vegetarian. However, some breweries use animal products as additives or during the filtration process, which would make the beer unsuitable for vegetarians. These additives include honey, lactose, and isinglass, a form of collagen derived from the dried swim bladders of fish. Some beer brewers also use glycerol monostearate, which is an animal product that creates a foamy head on the beer. Many breweries do not reveal whether their beers contain animal products, but some vegetarian and vegan-friendly breweries include the Marble Brewery in Manchester, the Black Isle Brewery, and the Black Sheep Brewery.

Beer is usually vegan-friendly

Finings are used to clear the beer of yeast, which can give beer a cloudy appearance and a yeasty flavour. While some finings are derived from plants, such as Irish moss and pectin, others are animal-based. These include isinglass (derived from fish bladders), gelatin, egg whites and sea shells. Isinglass is the most common fining used to clear cask ale, and is not considered vegetarian.

Other animal-derived ingredients that may be used in beer include lactose (from cow's milk), honey, glycerol monostearate, and milk and cream. These ingredients are used to flavour and sweeten the beer, and to create a foam or head.

It is not always easy to tell whether a beer contains animal products, as brewers are not required to disclose ingredient lists or finings used on the label. However, there are some resources available to help identify vegan-friendly beers, such as the Barnivore database and associated mobile applications. Some breweries that have published information about their vegan beers include Samuel Smith, Heineken, Harp Lager, Anheuser-Busch, the Marble Brewery in Manchester, the Black Isle Brewery, and Black Sheep Brewery.

Some brewers add animal products

Beer is typically made from barley malt, water, hops, and yeast, and is therefore usually suitable for vegetarians. However, some brewers add animal products during the brewing process, particularly during the filtration and flavouring stages.

Brewers are not required to disclose full ingredient lists on their labels, and most do not reveal if they use animal products. This makes it difficult to know which beers are suitable for vegetarians. However, some animal products are commonly used in beer production.

One such product is isinglass, a form of collagen derived from the dried swim bladders of fish, which is used to clarify beer. Isinglass is the most common fining agent used to clear cask ale, and is therefore found in many British cask ales. Other animal-derived fining agents include gelatin, egg whites, and sea shells.

Honey is another animal product that may be added to beer for flavouring and sweetness. Honey is generally considered suitable for vegetarians but is not vegan, as it is produced by bees. Similarly, lactose, a sugar derived from milk, is sometimes added to beers like milk stouts. While lactose is usually suitable for vegetarians, it is not vegan.

Some brewers also use glycerol monostearate, an animal product that helps create a foam or head on the finished beer.

Filtration methods can use animal products

Beer is typically made from barley malt, yeast, hops, and water, which are all vegan-friendly ingredients. However, some breweries use additives and filtration methods that are derived from animal sources.

Animal-Derived Additives

Some beers, particularly milk stouts, contain lactose, a sugar derived from milk, and are thus not suitable for people who abstain from eating dairy products. Additionally, honey, which is an animal product, is sometimes added to beer for flavouring and as a sweetener.

Animal-Derived Filtration Methods

Brewers may also use animal products to filter and clarify the beer. These products are called finings and can come from both plant or animal sources. Typical animal-derived finings include isinglass (a form of collagen derived from the dried swim bladders of fish), gelatin, egg whites, and sea shells.

Isinglass is the most common fining used to clear cask ale. It is produced from the swim bladders of fish, usually sturgeon, and as it is an animal product, cask ale cleared with isinglass is not considered vegetarian.

Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Beers

Some breweries have declared that they make vegetarian and/or vegan beer, including:

• Samuel Smith
• Heineken
• Harp Lager
• Anheuser-Busch
• The Marble Brewery in Manchester
• The Black Isle Brewery
• Black Sheep Brewery
• Bartleby's Brewery
• MillerCoors
• Little Valley Brewery
• The Pitfield Brewery
• The Epic Brewing Company
• Broken Compass Brewing Company

Additionally, Guinness opened a new filtration plant in 2016 that made their beer vegan-friendly.

Vegan beers are widely available

Beer is usually vegan-friendly, but not always. Most beers are made from barley malt, yeast, hops, and water, which are all vegan ingredients. However, some brewers add extra ingredients, such as finings, to flavour or filter the beer, and these can be derived from animal sources.

Finings can be made from plants, such as Irish moss, or from animal products, such as isinglass, gelatin, glycerol monostearate, egg whites, and sea shells. Isinglass is the most common fining used to clear cask ale and is produced from the swim bladders of fish.

Honey, lactose, and even oysters can also be added to beer for flavour or sweetness, and these are all animal products.

Many beers are vegan, but most brewers do not reveal which beers contain animal products. Some vegan-friendly breweries include:

• Anderson Valley Brewing Company
• Anheuser-Busch
• Broken Compass Brewing Company
• Epic Brewing Company
• Little Valley Brewery
• Marble Brewery (Manchester, UK)
• Samuel Smith's Old Brewery
• Santa Fe Brewing
• Steam Whistle Brewing
• Yards Brewing

There are also apps and websites that can help you identify vegan beers, such as Barnivore, BevVeg, and Vegaholic.

Tools can help identify vegetarian beers

Beer is typically made from barley malt, water, hops and yeast, which are all vegan ingredients. However, some breweries use animal-derived products as additives or during the filtration process, which makes the beer unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Brewers are not required to disclose ingredient lists or the filtration methods used, so it can be difficult to identify vegetarian beers. Luckily, there are several tools that can help:

Barnivore

Barnivore is a web-based database that provides information on over 45,000 beer, wine and liquor products, including ingredients and filtering methods used. Barnivore relies on its community of users to check and double-check the accuracy of its entries.

Mobile Applications

There are several mobile applications available that use Barnivore's data to provide a more accessible way to identify vegetarian and vegan-friendly beers:

• VeggieBeers (Android)
• VegeTipple (Android)
• VeggieBeers (iOS)
• Vegaholic (iOS)
• VeganXpress (iOS)
• Green Vegan (iOS)

These tools can help you make an informed decision when choosing a beer that aligns with your dietary preferences and lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions