Are Any Alcohols Not Vegetarian? A Deep Dive into Animal Products in Drinks

November 13, 2025 •

4 min read

While most people assume alcohol is naturally plant-based, a surprising number of beers and wines use animal products in their production. The short answer to 'are any alcohols not vegetarian?' is yes, mainly due to non-obvious ingredients used during clarification.

Quick Summary

Many alcoholic drinks, including some beers and wines, are not vegetarian due to the use of animal-derived fining agents during clarification. Other beverages contain non-vegetarian ingredients like dairy, honey, and insect-derived dyes.

Key Points

Fining is the main issue: The clarification process in many beers and wines often uses animal products like isinglass (fish bladder) and gelatin.
Not all alcohol is affected: Distilled spirits are generally vegetarian, but flavored liqueurs and cream-based drinks can contain animal products.
Watch for cocktails: Certain mixed drinks like whiskey sours (egg white) and Bloody Marys (Worcestershire sauce with anchovies) are not vegetarian.
Labeling can be unreliable: Since fining agents are often processed out, they may not be listed on the label, so explicit 'vegan' labeling or using resources like Barnivore is crucial.
Plenty of alternatives exist: Many modern brewers and winemakers use vegan fining agents like bentonite clay or skip fining entirely, especially in trendy hazy beers.

The Surprising Truth Behind Alcohol Production

Many consumers on a vegetarian or vegan diet assume that beverages like beer and wine, being fermented from plant-based sources like grains and grapes, are automatically safe to drink. However, this is not always the case. The truth lies not in the core fermenting ingredients, but in the less visible processing aids and additives.

What Makes an Alcohol Not Vegetarian?

The primary reason many alcohols are not vegetarian is a process called 'fining.' Fining is used to clarify the drink, removing tiny particles like yeast, proteins, and tannins that make the liquid hazy. Fining agents are added to bind to these impurities, causing them to clump together and settle at the bottom, from where they can be filtered out. Many traditional fining agents are derived from animals. Additionally, some drinks contain animal products as direct ingredients for flavoring or texture.

Beer and Wine: The Biggest Culprits

The fining process is most common in beer and wine production, making these the most likely candidates to contain hidden animal products.

Non-Vegetarian Ingredients Used in Beer

Isinglass: A classic fining agent made from the dried swim bladders of fish. It is often used to clarify cask ales and traditional bitters. While the isinglass is filtered out, its use means the beer is not vegetarian. Many modern brewers, including major brands like Guinness, have switched to vegan alternatives.
Gelatin: Derived from animal collagen, gelatin is another traditional fining agent used to clarify beer.
Lactose and Whey: These dairy products are sometimes added for sweetness and body, most notably in 'milk stouts' and certain craft beers.
Honey: Used as a fermentable sugar or flavor additive in some beers, disqualifying them for vegetarians.

Non-Vegetarian Ingredients in Wine Production

Casein: A milk protein, often used to fine white wines.
Albumin: Derived from egg whites, this is a traditional fining agent for red wines.
Gelatin: As with beer, it can be used for fining during winemaking.
Isinglass: Also used to clarify some wines, particularly whites.

The Status of Spirits and Cocktails

Are Spirits Vegetarian?

Unflavored, distilled spirits like vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey are generally vegetarian and vegan. The distillation process naturally removes impurities without needing animal-derived fining agents. However, exceptions exist with flavored versions and liqueurs. These include:

Cream-Based Liqueurs: Products like Baileys and similar Irish cream variants contain dairy.
Honey-Flavored Spirits: Any liqueur or spirit with honey is not vegetarian.
Carmine: A red dye from cochineal insects that may be used in certain colored spirits and liqueurs.

Watch Out for Non-Vegetarian Cocktails

Ordering a cocktail can be a minefield for vegetarians. Some drinks explicitly call for animal products as ingredients.

Egg Whites: Used to create a foamy texture in cocktails like a whiskey sour or pisco sour.
Worcestershire Sauce: Traditionally contains anchovies and is an ingredient in a classic Bloody Mary. Vegetarian-friendly versions of the sauce do exist, but it is important to confirm with the bar.

Vegan Alternatives and Labeling

Fortunately, it's easier than ever to find vegetarian and vegan-friendly alcohol. Many brewers and winemakers now use non-animal fining agents or skip the process altogether.

How to Identify Vegetarian and Vegan Alcohol

Look for Labels: The easiest method is to find products explicitly labeled as 'vegan' or carrying a certification from a vegan organization.
Choose Unfined/Unfiltered: Wines and beers marked as 'unfined' or 'unfiltered' are naturally clarified without the use of fining agents. This often results in a hazier appearance.
Check Online Resources: Websites like Barnivore maintain large, searchable databases of vegetarian and vegan status for various brands and products.
Contact the Manufacturer: When in doubt, contacting the company directly is the most definitive way to confirm their production methods and ingredients.

Comparison of Fining Agents

Here is a quick reference table comparing common fining agents:


Fining Agent	Source	Used In	Status	Notes
Isinglass	Fish swim bladders	Beer, Wine	Not Vegetarian/Vegan	Causes animal product residue
Gelatin	Animal collagen	Beer, Wine	Not Vegetarian/Vegan	Also from animal body parts
Casein	Milk protein	Wine	Vegetarian, Not Vegan	Dairy product
Albumin	Egg whites	Wine, Cocktails	Vegetarian, Not Vegan	Egg product
Bentonite	Clay	Beer, Wine	Vegetarian/Vegan	Naturally sourced, mineral-based
Irish Moss	Seaweed	Beer	Vegetarian/Vegan	Plant-based, used during boiling
Silica Gel	Synthetic	Beer, Wine	Vegetarian/Vegan	Synthetic, non-animal

The Rise of the Hazy Beer

In recent years, the popularity of hazy and unfiltered beers has grown, particularly in the craft beer scene. Many of these beers are naturally vegan, as they bypass the clarification process entirely. For vegetarians, this trend offers a simple way to choose a beer without worrying about animal-derived fining agents.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict

While alcohol is not inherently non-vegetarian, the production and ingredients of many specific brands and types can make them unsuitable for vegetarians. The key is to be aware of the fining process and scrutinize ingredients, especially in wines, cask ales, and cocktails. Fortunately, growing consumer demand has led to better labeling and more readily available vegetarian and vegan options, making it easier than ever to make an informed choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all wine is vegetarian. Many traditional winemakers use animal-derived fining agents such as casein (a milk protein), albumin (egg whites), or gelatin to clarify the wine, which makes them unsuitable for strict vegetarians or vegans.

Some beers use animal products, most commonly isinglass (fish swim bladders) or gelatin, as 'fining agents' to remove cloudiness and sediment, resulting in a clearer, brighter final product.

Yes, unflavored, distilled spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey are almost always vegetarian and vegan because the distillation process is animal-free and no fining agents are needed.

You can check for a 'vegan' label on the bottle, or look up the product on websites like Barnivore.com. Some producers also list their methods on their websites. Contacting the company directly is also an option.

Isinglass is a type of collagen derived from the dried swim bladders of fish. In traditional brewing and winemaking, it is used as a fining agent to help yeast and other particles settle more quickly, clarifying the liquid.

Yes, many modern producers use vegetarian and vegan fining agents such as bentonite clay, silica gel, or Irish moss (a type of seaweed). The growing market for unfiltered 'hazy' beers also avoids the need for fining.

No. Many classic cocktails use non-vegetarian ingredients like egg whites for foam (e.g., whiskey sour) or contain sauces with animal products, such as the anchovy-based Worcestershire sauce in a Bloody Mary. Always confirm ingredients when ordering.