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Home/Blogs/Is Beer Vegan? What Makes A Beer Vegan-Friendly?
You may be asking yourself: can beer be vegan? Which beer is vegan? What makes a beer vegan? And many more questions besides.
Now, while the main ingredients- water, malted grains, hops and yeast, are usually vegan-friendly, it is in the brewing and clarification process that can involve animal-derived products, making the total package not vegan-friendly.
In this guide, we’ll explain why some beers aren’t vegan, what fining agents are and how to choose vegan beer.
At its most basic roots, vegan beer is a beer that has been made without any animal or animal-derived products. The most traditional building blocks of beer include water, malted grains, hops and yeast. None of these ingredients presents an issue for those enjoying a vegan diet.
But for a truly vegan-friendly beer, one must look at the whole process. There are many brewers who use processing aids, particularly when clarifying beer, that add some animal-derived element. Although not a primary part of the process, the inclusion of such products makes certain drinks not vegan-friendly.
On paper, beer can often look completely plant-based as far as ingredients are concerned. But it is in the brewing process itself that animal-based products can be used. The two common elements to be aware of are animal-derived fining agents or non-vegan ingredients that form part of the drink itself.
It is also important to remember that these products are not in every beer, so it is crucial to check each drink on a case-by-case basis.
Fining is the process of removing suspended particles from beer to improve its clarity. The most popular product used is isinglass. This is a collagen product that is derived from dried swim bladders of fish and helps yeast and other particles in the beer settle. Vegan-friendly beer brewing will typically avoid these agents altogether.
Then there are some drinks and beers that contain animal-derived or other non-vegan ingredients not just during processing. Common examples of this is in lactose from the milk used in most stouts or honey that is used for sweetness or flavour in drinks like mead. Recipes vary from brand to brand and across different types of beverages.
When working out whether or not a beer is vegan, you should be sure to check the product in question rather than the brand, style or ingredients alone. For instance, saying something like “all lagers from [insert brand here] are vegan” may not actually be the case.
To find out which beer is vegan, you should start by checking the label or the website of the brewery itself, as many brands are supporting vegan drinkers by clearly stating their processes. Whenever the ingredients or brewing process is unclear, however, you can always contact the brewery for further guidance.
If you have any questions about the range of drinks and what beers are vegan here at Birmingham Brewing Company, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Here at Birmingham Brewing Company, creating vegan-friendly beers has been a brewing goal right from the start. We wanted to do something different from using isinglass as a clarifying agent, so after research and extensive experimentation, our brewing experts found a natural enzyme we could use instead. This lets us create our refreshing beverages without relying on animal-derived products, for a tasty range of vegan beers.
Which beer is vegan, you may ask? Here at our Stirchley brewery, every beer in our range is vegan-friendly. Fancy trying one yourself? Whether you adhere to a vegan diet or not, explore our vegan beer range today and find the perfect choice for your next tipple.
Choosing vegan beer doesn’t mean limiting your options. Whether you prefer pale ales, IPAs, lagers, stouts or an alcohol-free beer, there are vegan choices available. Always check the individual product’s vegan status rather than relying on its style.
At Birmingham Brewing Company, explore our fully vegan range and online beer shop to find something you’ll enjoy, with free delivery on orders over £40.
Not necessarily. A beer’s flavour is shaped mainly by its malt, hops, yeast, other ingredients and brewing process. Vegan production alone does not create a particular taste or mean the beer will taste noticeably different, but this can vary.
Alcohol-free and vegan beers are very different things. Yes, an alcohol-free beer can be vegan, but the absence of alcohol doesn’t make a drink vegan-friendly. Regardless of confidence levels, if you are enjoying a strict vegan diet, you should check every product prior to consumption.
Vegan status tells you about the ingredients and production methods used, not the beer’s nutritional profile. Other factors such as alcohol content and ingredients still vary between products, so no, a vegan beer isn’t necessarily healthier than a regular beer, nor is it an unhealthy option.
Yes. Vegan does not mean allergen-free. Beer may still contain ingredients that affect people with allergies or intolerances, so always check the individual product information rather than relying on its vegan status alone.
No. A beer can be made without animal-derived ingredients or processing aids without carrying formal vegan certification. If the labelling is unclear, check the brewery’s product information or contact them directly for confirmation.
Now you know what vegan beer is and what makes it vegan; there is only one step left: ordering the one you want most. Our fully vegan range covers various different beer styles so you don’t have to be limited to one flavour, strength or drinking experience.
Explore our range of vegan beers today or the full Birmingham Brewing Company range, with free delivery available on orders over £40.
