Is beer vegan? Sure, you might think, but it’s not that simple. We explain what you need to know about beer as a vegan.
Beer consists mainly of water, hops and barley. So it’s purely plant-based and therefore vegan, right?
Unfortunately it’s not that easy. Because many drinks, including some types of beer, contain flavorings or colorings that are of animal origin. For example, they are obtained from scale insects. Some beverages, such as wine, are also clarified with gelatin and casein.
During clarification or fining, clarification agents from beer and wine are used to bind suspended matter that can cloud the liquid and filter it out. The problem here is that clarifying agents are regarded as auxiliary agents and therefore do not have to be on the label. So there is no clear indication of whether the drink is vegan or not.
German beer is mostly vegan
Vegans in Germany can drink local beer with peace of mind, because it does not contain any animal substances. The reason for this is the Purity Law, which stipulates that beer may only be brewed from water, hops, malt and yeast. Yeast is vegan because this unicellular microorganism has no central nervous system and therefore does not feel pain. Therefore, yeast is not assigned to the animal kingdom.
With German beers, you are also on the safe side with the clarification agent: the beers are clarified with kieselguhr and not with animal products. This substance consists mainly of fossil diatoms. Incidentally, naturally cloudy beers or cellar beers are not filtered at all. You can also read about it on the website of the German Brewers’ Association. Only the labels on the bottle may have been attached using glue of animal origin. Then theoretically, depending on the type, not every bottled beer would be vegan.
As a vegan, you can be sure that German beer is vegan, with the exception of the label. However, the situation is different with mixed beer drinks or types of beer from abroad.
Is beer vegan? exceptions
The Purity Law does not apply to beer that is not brewed in Germany. Depending on the manufacturer, these may contain ingredients of animal origin. For example, some beers contain honey to create a more aromatic taste, or they are clarified with the help of animal products. However, a rethink is slowly taking place here as well. For example, Guinness from Ireland no longer uses animal products.
With beer mix drinks like Radler, it always depends on what else is mixed with it. Because lemonades or fruit juices are often clarified with gelatine, they are therefore not vegan. Check with the manufacturer if you’re unsure if your beer is vegan.
Whether vegan beer or not: Enjoy it in moderation. Because even a little alcohol shortens life expectancy.
