Ultimate Vegan Guide to Alcoholic Beverages

Did you know that not all alcohol is vegan-friendly? As vegans we can indulge in lots of different types of alcoholic beverages without sacrificing our beliefs, but not every brand and type is safe. Alcohol is generally plant-based, but the processing methods and additives used to clarify it may not be. So how do you know if your favorite wine, beer, or cocktail is produced in alignment with your compassionate beliefs? Here are a few tips.

Unflavored or naturally clear spirits such as gin, vodka, whiskey, and rum are usually vegan. The flavored ones may have honey, cream, or milk, though, so pay attention to their labels. Beers or wines are another story. Many go through a fining process, which may affect their vegan status.

The Process of Fining Alcoholic Beverages

The process of clarifying and stabilizing alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer is called fining. Producers introduce fining agents, which bond with unwanted elements that affect the flavor and appearance, allowing them to easily be flushed out and removing astringency, bitterness, and haziness. The fining agents will not be in the final product because they are filtered out along with the undesirable molecules.

Here is the problem with fining, however. Producers have a range of fining agents to choose from, but unfortunately, some are animal-based. Though these additives do not remain in the final product, their use technically renders the beverage non-vegan.

These non-vegan fining agents include:

• Isinglass (from fish bladders)
• Gelatin (from animal bones)
• Casein (milk protein)
• Albumin (Egg whites)
• Seashells

Vegan-friendly fining agents include:

• Bentonite – volcanic ash
• Activated Carbon
• Carrageenan (from red seaweed)
• Alginate (from brown seaweed)
• Diatomaceous earth
• Pectinase
• Pectolyase
• Copper sulfate

If your beverage was processed with one of the vegan-friendly fining agents, you are good to go. Some winemakers even choose to preserve the natural flavor and texture of their wine by skipping the fining process altogether. This is ideal for those searching for a humanely produced beverage.

What Vegans Should Look for When Purchasing Alcoholic Beverages

Fining agents are not usually listed on the labels because alcohol is not held to the same labeling standards as other food products. In addition, labeling the product vegan is voluntary, not required. When reading labels, look for these things:

Vegan Trademark from the Vegan Society: If the label carries the Vegan trademark, it is certified vegan by the Vegan Society. You can rest assured that no animal ingredients were used in its production.

The terms “unfined” or “unfiltered”: These indicate that the product has not undergone the fining process and therefore has not been exposed to non-vegan fining agents.

Non-Vegan Additives

Be sure your beverage does not contain any other non-vegan additives.

Common additions include honey, cream, carmine (a red dye derived from crushed insects), and egg whites.

If the label does not carry the vegan trademark or state that the product is unfined or unfiltered, try this resource:

Barnivore.com – Barnivore.com is an extensive online database that verifies the vegan status of beer, wine, and liquor based on responses from the manufacturer. This is a quick and easy way to check the status of the product you are interested in. Just type in the name for a quick answer.

Finally, if neither the label nor Barnivore provides the information you need, contact the producer directly.

Quick List of Vegan-Friendly Alcoholic Beverages

There are plenty of alcoholic beverages that are known to be vegan.  Here is a small sample of popular brands.

Vegan-Friendly Beers

• Budweiser, Bud Light
• Coors, Coors Light
• Miller Lite, High Life, Genuine Draft
• Pabst Blue Ribbon
• Yuengling
• Most West Coast IPAs
• Belgian Abbey Ales
• Abita: Amber, Golden, Jockamo IPA, Light, Purple Haze, Restoration Pale Ale, Turbodog

Vegan-Friendly Ciders

• Bold Rock Cidery
• Schilling Cider
• Stongbow
• Woodchuck Cidery

Vegan-Friendly Wines

• Frey Vineyards
• Red Truck Wines
• Sutter Home Family Vineyards
• Most Stella Rosa flavors (NOT Red Apple or San Antonio Stella Rosa Red)
• Brewery Lindemans, Belgium flavors (NOT Lindemans, Australia)

Vegan-Friendly Liquors

• Most Bourbons
• Most Canadian Whisky
• Most Gins
• Irish Whiskey
• Most Rums
• Schnapps (NOT Cardinal Honey Schnapps)
• Most Scotch Whisky
• Most Tequilas
• Most Vodkas

Enjoy Plant-Based Vegan-Friendly Alcoholic Beverages Responsibly

When shopping for vegan alcoholic beverages, it is always good to do your research. Check the labels for the vegan trademark. Select wines that say unfined or unfiltered. Do a quick search on Barnivore. When all else fails, contact the producer. There are plenty of vegan-friendly options out there.

Always remember that moderation is key with alcohol. While it is nice to enjoy the occasional drink, none of them are particularly good for your health. Alcohol can contribute to numerous health problems, lead to addiction, or cause potentially deadly accidents. Know your limits and drink responsibly.