How to Choose Vegan Beer

It can seem tricky to know for sure if a beer is vegan-friendly because many breweries use animal products such as isinglass (fish bladder) and gelatin during the “fining” stage, which is a filtering process done before bottling. In addition, some beers use honey and dairy to add flavor and texture to their beer. But have no fear! Choosing vegan-friendly beer is easy. If you’re unsure of your options, choose a mass-produced beer, and avoid beers labeled with “honey” or “milk” in their descriptions. To find out for sure if a beer is vegan-friendly check the label, look online, or contact the brewery directly.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Playing It Safe

1. Stick to a mass-produced beer to be safe. The vast majority of inexpensive, mass-produced beers are vegan-friendly simply because it’s cheaper to make, so order one of them if you’re not sure about your other options. Be wary of premium beers and especially small-batch beers or beers from micro-breweries, which may use animal products in their fining process.^[1]
   
   • A notable exception is Foster’s Beer, which does use animal products in their fining process.
2. Be careful ordering premium beers. Use more caution and try to find out if a premium beer is vegan-friendly before you order or purchase it. Premium beers are more likely to use animal products in their fining process, so search online, check the label, or ask your bartender if a premium beer is vegan-friendly before you drink it.^[2]
   
   • Premium beers often use animal products as part of their proprietary or traditional brewing recipes. But more and more breweries, such as Guinness, are making the switch to vegan-friendly brewing practices.
3. Avoid beers that are honey flavored. Check the name and label to see if it contains the word “honey” as part of its description. Generally, the name or description of the beer will include the word “honey” if it’s used as an ingredient, so you can simply avoid those beers to be safe.^[3]
   
   • Honey isn’t vegan and some brewers use it to add a sweet flavor to their beers.
   • Just because a beer is honey flavored doesn’t necessarily mean that they use real honey in their brewing process. But it’s better to be on the safe side if you aren’t sure!
4. Watch out for beers labeled as sweet, milk, or cream. Avoid stouts and porters labeled as “Milk Porters” or “Milk Stouts” which are likely to use dairy products in their brewing process. Additionally, be wary of beers with the descriptors “sweet” or “cream” which may contain milk protein, whey, or other dairy products.^[4]
   
   • Look out for “Sweet Lagers” or “Cream Ales.” Although many are vegan-friendly, if you aren’t sure, it’s best to avoid them.

[Edit]Finding out If a Beer Is Vegan-Friendly

1. Check the label to see if the beer is vegan-friendly. Look for the letter “V” inside of a circle, which is the symbol for vegan. If the bottle or packaging has the vegan symbol, then the beer is vegan-friendly. The label may also simply state something like “Vegan-Friendly” or “This product was not made using any animal products.”^[5]
   
   • Many modern brewers know that their customers care about what goes into making their beers, so they’ll often state that their beer is vegan-friendly right on the label.
2. Look up the brewery online to find out if they’re vegan-friendly. Check the brewery’s website to see if they state whether or not their beers are vegan-friendly. You can also search websites designed to help people identify vegan-friendly foods and drinks, such as www.barnivore.com. If all else fails, Google the beer to find out if it’s vegan.^[6]
   
   • Check the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of a brewery’s website to see if they list their ingredients or state that they’re vegan-friendly.
3. Ask the bartender if they know which beers are vegan-friendly. Find the bartender and politely ask them whether or not they have vegan-friendly beer options. Many beer companies and distributors send representatives to bars that educate the staff about their products. Your bartender may know which beers are vegan-friendly, and which aren’t.
   
   • Don’t feel awkward or embarrassed asking. Bartenders are often happy to help you decide what you want to drink.^[7]
   • Try asking something direct and straightforward like, “Excuse me, do you have any vegan-friendly beers?”
4. Contact the brewery and ask if their beer is vegan-friendly. Check the brewery’s website for their contact information. Call their customer assistance line and ask them if their beers are vegan-friendly. You could also send an email to their customer service or quality assurance department asking whether or not they use animal products in their beer-making process.^[8]
   
   • Check the “Contact Us” or “About Us” section of the brewery’s website for their contact information.

[Edit]Choosing Different Types of Beers

1. Go with a lager or pilsner for a lighter tasting beer. Lager and pilsner style beers have a lighter flavor and a lower alcohol content than other styles of beers, which makes them great options to choose if you plan on drinking them outdoors or somewhere warm. Some of the most popular, mass-produced beers are lager and pilsner styles, so they’re easy to find, they’re cheap, and they’re vegan!^[9]
   
   • Well-known examples of lagers include Sapporo, Kirin, Sam Adams Boston Lager, and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
   • Popular pilsners include Labatt Blue, Modelo Especial, and Stella Artois.
2. Grab a pale ale if you like hoppy tasting beers. Pale ales are a great beer to choose if you enjoy a strong tasting beer and one with a higher alcohol content. Pale ales and Indian pale ales, also known as IPAs, can sometimes use animal products in their fining process, so make sure you choose one that is vegan-friendly.^[10]
   
   • Vegan-friendly pale ales include Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas IPA, and Harpoon IPA.
   • Look for the vegan symbol or check online to make sure a pale ale is vegan-friendly if you aren’t sure.
3. Try a stout or porter if you like dark beer. Stouts and porters are dark and heavy-tasting beers, and generally contain more alcohol than other types of beer. However, some stouts and porters use dairy products to create a creamy consistency, so before you drink one, make sure it’s vegan-friendly. Look up the beer online or check the label to see if it is.^[11]
   
   • Plenty of stouts and porters are vegan-friendly but better safe than sorry!
   • Avoid stouts or porter with “milk” or “cream” in the name if you’re unsure.
4. Select a Belgian ale for a balance of flavor. Belgian style ales have a wide range of diverse flavor profiles to choose from, but they’re not as heavy as a stout or as bitter as a pale ale. Some Belgian ales use animal products in their fining process, but most do not. Choose a Belgian ale for a distinctive taste that won’t overwhelm you or weigh you down.^[12]
   
   • Some Belgian style breweries are located at monasteries and may have the word “abbey” on their label.
   • Belgian style ales can be strong, but there are also fruitier tasting varieties known as Iambics that have a lower alcohol content.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.vegan.com/beer/
2. ↑ https://www.vegan.com/beer/
3. ↑ http://www.knoxvegan.com/blog/is-beer-vegan
4. ↑ https://010beerblog.com/2018/04/22/how-to-know-if-your-beer-is-vegetarian-or-vegan/
5. ↑ https://010beerblog.com/2018/04/22/how-to-know-if-your-beer-is-vegetarian-or-vegan/
6. ↑ http://www.knoxvegan.com/blog/is-beer-vegan
7. ↑ https://010beerblog.com/2018/04/22/how-to-know-if-your-beer-is-vegetarian-or-vegan/
8. ↑ http://www.knoxvegan.com/blog/is-beer-vegan
9. ↑ https://www.vegan.com/beer/
10. ↑ https://www.vegan.com/beer/
11. ↑ https://www.vegan.com/beer/
12. ↑ https://www.vegan.com/beer/