What Makes a Beer Vegan?

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Just because you have committed to living a healthier life by eliminating all animals products does not mean you can never have a frosty glass of beer again--in moderation of course. You are probably wondering why in the world a beer would not be vegan, isn't it made from grains like hops and barley? Most beers are made from vegan ingredients, so have no fear. There are two reasons that a beer may not be vegan: the filtering process and the flavoring ingredients.

Let's talk about the filtering process. Ever heard of isinglass? It is form of collagen obtained from the bladder of fish. It was traditionally used to filter and clarify beers so they could stabilize faster. Vegans do not use or consume any animal products or byproducts, so fish bladder extract is not okay. Nowadays most breweries do not use isinglass anymore, but a few traditional breweries in the UK still do. So sadly, vegans cannot enjoy a a pint of Guinness.  Some breweries also use gelatin, which is collagen from various animals (ever heard the phrase "Take the horse to the glue factory"?).  Once again, it is an animal byproduct and therefore not vegan.  Most breweries now use diatomaceous earth, which is crushed silca rock.

Although the basic ingredients of beer like hops, barley, and wheat are vegan, sometimes brewers add some flavoring ingredients that are not. The most common one is honey. Honey comes from bees, and although bees are insects, it is still a living organism and therefore is not vegan.

There is an easy way to find out if your beer is vegan or not. If you are at a brew pup, simply ask. Ask your server or bartender what they use to filter and what ingredients are in each beer. Most of the time they love sharing information about their beer and will answer any question you have (and will suggest a beer for you to try!)  If you are enjoying a beer at home, just research it online.

There are tons of vegan beers for you to enjoy, so do not let a few processes and ingredients deter you.