It’s not safe to say your favorite beer or wine brand is vegan, as American labels are not required to alert consumers to whether animal products are used in a drink. Wine Spectator reports everything from gelatin and egg whites, to milk protein and isinglass derived from fish bladders, are used in the fining process to clarify beer and wine.
Other brewskie makers, distillers and winemakers may add animal products like honey, bacon or dairy to the drink to improve its flavor, but a drinker might never know. Now, with nearly 3.5 percent of Americans only eating vegetarian meals, according to a 2015 Harris Poll survey commissioned by The Vegetarian Resource Group, big-name brands are evolving their fining technology and offering vegan-friendly options to consumers.
Guinness Moving Away from Isinglass
After more than 250 years in production, Ireland-based Guinness is a notable brand making big waves with new vegan processes it is introducing for the first time, reports The Times. Guinness has used isinglass to clarify its beers since at least the 19th century, but by the end of 2016, the company will only use a vegan-friendly fining process to make its offerings, including the new nitro IPA as well as the old, classic stout.
The company will build a new filtration plant using innovative technology to eliminate the need for isinglass. While details about how the new plant will work are currently undisclosed, vegan substances that are used to remove compounds such as copper ions and sulfides include Irish moss, bentonite and carrageenan. The fining substances are removed from the liquid before it reaches drinkers, but trace amounts may still be present, which is why vegans and vegetarians have petitioned for Guinness to stop using isinglass and guarantee no animal products are left in their products.
More Benefits for Vegan Beer & Wine Lovers
For vegans looking to only drink beer products that are animal-free, in addition to enjoying Guinness and vegan brands listed on PETA’s website, they can search for non-U.S.-based beers from Europe and beyond and check labels to see if they’re marked “vegan.” While The Telegraph reports many United Kingdom-based beers have traditionally used isinglass, many companies based there are now completely vegan-friendly, with some even making unrefined beer products to retain the beer’s integrity through a yeasty flavor.
In Germany and Belgium, most beers are vegan because of the influence of Germany’s “beer purity law” that originated in 1516, proclaiming breweries could only use water, grain, hops and yeast in their beers. While the law no longer stands, the tradition is still embraced by German brewmasters, making beers from these countries appealing to vegans.
For wine and champagne aficionados, Wine Spectator reports vegan champagne and wine creation is gaining momentum, as many makers are forgoing the fining process and letting their products settle over time in the vat or barrel. Besides allowing the product to be appealing to a wider audience, forgoing fining also gives the drinks finer bubbles and a smoother finish.
Proud vegan-friendly American beer and wine brands are starting to label their products as “vegan” to help consumers make educated purchases. While labeling is still optional in the U.S., vegans and vegetarians may research brands’ ingredients on their websites to check for animal products, or contact brewers and vintners for recommendations. There are also smartphone applications, such as the Vegaholic app, which allow drinkers to instantly search brands to confirm they’re vegan.
