Is Beer Vegan? Exclusive Insights from a Professional Brewer

Is beer vegan-friendly? It’s a frequently asked question, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as expected. While most beers are vegan-friendly, some styles contain animal-derived ingredients like isinglass or gelatin, which are not suitable for vegans.

But what exactly is the difference between vegan and non-vegan beer? Why are these animal-derived ingredients used in the first place, and how can you tell if a beer is vegan-friendly?

In this post, we team up with Paul, head brewer at Fonthill Brewing Co., to pick his brain about the topic. As head brewer, Paul has extensive experience brewing cask and kegged beers and experimenting with different ingredients. Together, we’ll tell you ale you need to know about vegan beer!

What Makes a Product Vegan?

Before we focus on the specifics of beer, let’s take a look at the definition of what makes a product vegan-friendly:

•  A vegan product does not contain animal-derived ingredients and has not been processed using animal-derived products.

This means that for a beer to be considered vegan, no meat, dairy, eggs, honey, or other animal by-products should be present in the beer or the brewing process.

Common Vegan Ingredients in Beer

Most beers are made using four core ingredients:

• Water: The main component of beer.
• Malt (usually barley): Provides fermentable sugars.
• Hops: Adds floral bitterness and aroma.
• Yeast: Ferments the sugars to produce alcohol.

At first glance, these ingredients make it seem like all beer might be vegan-friendly. However, the brewing process can introduce complications.

Animal-Derived Clarifying Agents (Finings) Used for Making Beer

For some people, the word “beer” conjures images of a crystal-clear pint of liquid sunshine. But beer isn’t naturally this clear:

“In order to improve clarity in beer, particularly cask ale, brewers add finings at various stages of the brewing process. Finings are used to flocculate (cause it to clump together) any sediment or dead yeast suspended in the finished beer, making it ‘drop out’ and clarify the beer.”

Paul, Head Brewer at Fonthill Brewing Co.

Isinglass

“Historically, the most popular fining product used was Isinglass, a form of collagen obtained from the dried swim bladders of fish. Traditionally, this ingredient came from sturgeon, then cod, but now more commonly catfish.”

Paul

Gelatin

Another fining agent, gelatin, is made from animal bones and connective tissues. Like isinglass, it helps clarify the beer but is not vegan.

Bone Char

Bone char, made from charred animal bones, can be used in the filtration process of some beers. Although bone char isn’t often used in modern brewing, it’s still something to consider.

Chitin and Chitosan

Chitin is made from the sugary coating found on crustacean shells. It’s sometimes used as a fining agent.

Casein

Derived from milk, casein is a protein sometimes used in the food industry for its binding properties. In brewing, it’s sometimes used as a clarifying agent during the fining process.

Albumin

Albumin is a protein derived from egg whites. Like casein, albumin can be used to clarify beer by binding with impurities and causing them to settle at the bottom of the container.

Vegan Beer: Clear or Hazy

Animal-derived finings are not the only option for brewing fantastic beers. The fining process doesn’t add to the taste or quality of beer.

“In recent years and with an increasing volume of people wanting to avoid animal products, brewers have adjusted processes to get around using isinglass and other animal-derived fining agents. In some cases, this means skipping over final finings completely, hence leaving hazy beers, or in the case of kegged beers, passing the product through filtration to remove sediments.”

Paul

Crystal Clear Vegan Beer

“There is still a desire, particularly among traditional cask ale drinkers, to have a crystal clear pint, and so there are now products on the market that do the same job as traditional fining agents but are not animal derived. Another advantage to us as brewers is that non-animal derived products carry a much longer shelf life.”

Other Non-Vegan Ingredients in Beer

Unfortunately, fining agents are not the only animal-derived ingredients to watch out for when looking for vegan beer. Some non-vegan ingredients are used to enhance flavour, body, or mouthfeel.

Honey

Some beers, particularly craft and speciality brews, sometimes contain honey, making them unsuitable for vegans.

Glycerol

Glycerol, which can be derived from animal fats, is occasionally used to enhance mouthfeel in beer. If the source of glycerol isn’t specified, it could be non-vegan. Glycerol monostearate, specifically, is a foaming agent made from animal fats.

Lactose and Whey

Lactose and whey are not vegan-friendly as they are dairy products. They’re used in some beer styles, like milk stouts, to add sweetness, body, and mouthfeel.

How to Identify if a Beer is Vegan-Friendly

Given all the non-vegan ingredients that may have been used to make your beer, how can you ensure that you choose a vegan pint? Here’s what Paul says:

“Neither isinglass nor alternative products should affect the flavour of a beer (unless used in excessive quantities!), so the safest way to tell if a beer is vegan is by the badge or direct information from brewery websites.”

• Check the Badge or Label: Some breweries explicitly label their beers as vegan-friendly. Look for a vegan certification or a note indicating no animal products were used.
• Research the Brewery: Most breweries are honest about their processes and ingredients and will display these on their websites.

Vegan Beer from Fonthill Brewing Co.

As a local, small-batch brewery, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact by producing vegan-friendly, ultra-low carbon beer with next to no food miles.

“After some trials, we have now moved to a silica sol solution as a clarifying agent, making all of our beers — kegs and casks — vegan-friendly.”

Paul, Fonthill Brewing Co.

Looking for vegan-friendly beer in Kent? Sign up for the Fonthill Collective newsletter and get a coupon for a free pint of Fonthill Lager at The George or The Ragged Trousers.

Bottoms Up

Whether you’re new to adopting a vegan lifestyle or you’re just looking for new, tasty vegan beers, the good news is that many beers are vegan. That said, not all beer is vegan-friendly, so remember to check the label, and if you’re still not sure, look for information on the brewery website.

FAQs

Is all craft beer vegan?

Not all craft beer is vegan. Many craft breweries use traditional fining agents like isinglass and gelatin. Always check with the brewery for specific information.

Is beer vegan if it contains honey?

No. If beer contains honey, it’s not considered vegan because honey is an animal by-product.

Are there vegan substitutes for fining agents?

Yes! There are vegan substitutes for traditional fining agents. Many breweries now use vegan-friendly clarifying agents like Irish moss and silica sol.

Are beers with lactose or whey vegan-friendly?

Beers that contain lactose or whey, such as milk stouts, are not vegan-friendly as these ingredients are derived from milk.

Are there any vegan-friendly alternatives to glycerol and bone char?

Most glycerol (but not all) is now sourced from plants, and bone char isn’t often used in modern brewing. However, you should always check with the brewery you’re looking to buy from or look for vegan labels in case these ingredients are derived from animals.