Is Beer Vegetarian?

How to Find a Brew That is Vegan Friendly

Oct 8, 2008 Angie Rayfield

At first glance, it may seem like a silly question. Of course beer is vegetarian! Or is it?

Even non-brewers are familiar with the basic ingredients of their favorite brew - a grain such as barley or wheat, hops, yeast, water. If the beer of choice is a home brew, there will probably be little more than that, and of course a home brewer has total control of the ingredients. Commercial beers may be another matter entirely.

Animal Products That May Be Used In Beer

Drinkers of commercial brews, however, might be surprised at what could be in the bottle.

• Albumin - made from eggs or dried blood
• Casein / caseinate - from milk
• Charcoal - may be made from bone
• Colorings - sometimes from insects
• Glyceryl monostearate - an anti-foaming agent and sometimes an animal derivative
• Isinglass - made from the swim bladders of fish
• Lactose - milk sugar
• gelatin - derived from bones, skins and tendons
• Pepsin - a heading agent that is sometimes made from pork

Most of the ingredients listed are clearing agents, and not all breweries use all of them. Many of the breweries that use them also use a process of sterile filtration. Depending on the micron size of the filter, this process theoretically can remove all traces of these substances.

Labeling Requirements On Beer

Many consumers, especially in the United States, have become accustomed to the idea of checking product labels. Unfortunately, labels on alcoholic beverages aren't terribly helpful for people trying to identify a vegetarian or vegan beer.

In the U.S., for instance, the only disclosures required on alcoholic beverages is the use of FD&C yellow no. 5, saccharin, sulfites, or aspartame. There are also regulations regarding the use of the term "low carbohydrate." Nations in the European Union see requirements to identify potentially allergenic substances, but not much more.

In Canada, nutrition fact labeling is not required for products containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume, unless a claim is made regarding nutritional or energy benefits. Australia has recently added new requirements for listing potential allergens. Among the substances that must be disclosed are additives or processing aids containing eggs or egg products, casein, milk or milk products, fish or fish products, and nuts.

How To Find A Vegetarian or Vegan Beer

Generally speaking, animal products aren't widely used in brewing in the U.S. Many traditionally brewed British or British-style beers, however, do use animal products, most notably isinglass for clarifying.

German beers by law must comply with the Reinheitsgebot established in the 16th century. It actually forbids the use of any ingredients other than water, grain, hops, and yeast. Belgian beers are generally made in much the same way as German beers.

There are also a number of on-line communities that are helpful in searching out vegan-friendly beers. For instance, Britain's Vegetarian Society maintains a website which includes a list of approved products, mostly from British brewers, while Barnivore features a searchable alcohol database.

It's not always easy to know if a beer is vegan, but these resources help make the research easier.

The copyright of the article Is Beer Vegetarian? in Beer, Cocktails & Beverages is owned by Angie Rayfield. Permission to republish Is Beer Vegetarian? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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