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Home/Blogs/Is Beer Vegan Friendly? A Buyer’s Guide
Whether you’re vegan or are simply trying to make more conscious choices about what you eat and drink, you may have found yourself asking, is beer vegan? It’s a good question, and one we’ll be exploring in full in this blog post. Perhaps surprisingly, not all beers are suitable for vegans, despite the four main ingredients all being plant-based.
With some very happy customers and a decade of brewing experience behind us, in this guide, our award-winning team will explain why some beers are vegan friendly while others aren’t, including details on some of the animal-derived products that can still make their way into the brewing and filtering process. We’ll also talk about how you can identify vegan-friendly beer when browsing and shopping, and highlight some of the most popular vegan beer styles available today. And just before we jump in, we’ll also point out that every single one of our beers at Birmingham Brewing Company is vegan and gluten-free!
Despite the main ingredients used to brew beer, such as water, hops, yeast and malted grains, all being naturally vegan, not all beer is vegan-friendly. This is mainly because some breweries still use animal-derived ingredients during the brewing, filtering and clarification processes.
While not essential to the beer, these ingredients are often still used to remove yeast and sediment, improve clarity or change the flavour and texture. In many cases, they are not always listed clearly on packaging either, which can make things even more confusing. We’ll have a closer look at some of them shortly.
Thankfully, more breweries are now moving towards vegan-friendly brewing methods, making it easier than ever to find completely vegan beers. Ours have been vegan (and gluten-free) from the start.
So, the reason some beers are not vegan generally comes down to secondary ingredients used during production (such as animal-derived products during brewing, filtering or clarification) rather than core ingredients of the beer itself.
One of the most common examples is the use of what are known as ‘fining agents’, which are added during the brewing process to help remove yeast, proteins and sediment to create a clearer end pint. Many traditional fining agents are animal-derived, including ingredients taken from fish or animal collagen.
There are also cases where additional ingredients are used to refine the taste, texture and overall mouthfeel of the beer that can make it unsuitable for vegans. For example, certain speciality beers may contain honey, lactose, whey, egg whites or milk proteins to create sweeter or creamier flavours.
Importantly, consumers need to be aware that because these ingredients are sometimes used during production rather than as main ingredients, they may not always appear clearly on labels.
Isinglass is one of the most well-known non-vegan ingredients used in brewing, but it remains relatively obscure outside brewing circles. It is made from the dried swim bladders of fish and is traditionally used in some beers, particularly cask ales. Its role is to attract and remove yeast and other particles from the beer, helping to create a clearer appearance before serving. Instead, we use an enzyme with the dual benefit of helping clear the beer while also removing gluten.
Gelatine is another ingredient sometimes used during the beer clarification process. Made from animal collagen, it helps remove unwanted particles and sediment from the beer as it is brewing. It is less common today than it once was, but some breweries still use gelatine during production, making certain beers unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Casein is a milk protein that can occasionally be used during brewing or filtration. It makes up about 80% of the protein in cow’s milk. More commonly associated with dairy products, it may still appear in some speciality beers or during clarification. Because it comes directly from milk, any beer using casein would not be vegan friendly.
Some speciality beers use honey or lactose to improve the flavour and texture. Honey can be added to create a sweeter character and can also help with fermentation. Lactose, a sugar derived from milk, is commonly used in milk stouts and cream beers to create a smoother, creamier taste. However, beers containing them are clearly not vegan friendly.
We briefly mentioned fining agents, so let’s look at them in a little more detail. Essentially, fining is a process during brewing that helps clarify beer by introducing agents to reduce yeast, proteins and other tiny particles that remain after fermentation. This helps create a clearer, cleaner-looking pint.
Traditionally, some breweries used animal-derived fining agents such as isinglass or gelatine to help remove yeast and sediment from their beers. Even though these ingredients are mainly used during production, and can ‘settle out’ during the process, beers made using them are not considered suitable for vegans.
Thankfully, brewing methods have evolved significantly in recent years, and many breweries now use vegan-friendly alternatives. Here at Birmingham Brewing Company, we’ve always done this. Every beer we produce is completely vegan and gluten-free, while still delivering clear, flavourful beer to enjoy.
Most breweries want to shout about their beer being vegan. One of the easiest ways to find vegan-friendly beer is to look for a recognised vegan certification on the can or packaging. Logos from organisations such as The Vegan Society can provide instant reassurance that the beer does not use animal-derived ingredients or processing methods at any point during production.
A brewery’s website is often the best place to learn more about how its beer is made. We’ve gone to great lengths ourselves to ensure anybody visiting our website is aware just what goes into our beers and how they are made. You can even take a tour and speak to us in person. Many breweries now clearly state whether their beers are vegan friendly and explain the ingredients or brewing methods they use. If there’s any doubt or non-committal language around this, it may be best to steer clear.
Reading descriptions closely can help you spot beers that may contain animal-derived ingredients. Look out for ‘milk stout’, ‘cream stout’, ‘honey ale’ or ‘oyster stout’, as they immediately tell you the beer is not vegan friendly. If you are unsure, it is always worth checking directly with the brewery before buying.
Choice is not an issue with vegan beer, as there is now a huge range of vegan-friendly styles available. Vegan lager remains popular for its crisp, refreshing character, while vegan IPAs offer a more noticeable hop flavour and bitterness. Those who prefer darker beers can also enjoy vegan stout, known for its rich roasted flavours. You can even find vegan craft beers and alcohol-free vegan beer options, giving consumers more choice than ever before.
There are many benefits to choosing a vegan-friendly beer. While it can often come down to the ethical considerations of avoiding animal-derived products, many are also drawn to the environmental benefits associated with more sustainable brewing methods. There is also growing demand for more transparency in how beer is made and labelled.
Perhaps most importantly, the quality and availability of vegan beer has improved massively in recent years, meaning beer-lovers no longer have to compromise on either flavour or choice when it comes to finding the perfect brew.
We hope this article has answered your questions regarding whether beer is vegan. At Birmingham Brewing Company, all of our beers are proudly vegan and gluten-free, brewed right here in Stirchley using 100% renewable energy. From crisp lagers and easy-drinking pale ales to richer stouts, we craft modern beers for all to enjoy.
If you’re looking for quality vegan beer with plenty of flavour and character, explore our full range of vegan beers today. You can order online with free delivery on orders over £40, visit our Birmingham taproom or get in touch with our team if you’d like to learn more about how we brew.
