Do Vegans Drink Guinness? The Surprising Truth

December 21, 2025 •

3 min read

For centuries, Guinness was off-limits to vegans, but a significant change in its brewing process has reversed this long-standing exclusion. As of 2018, all Guinness products worldwide are officially vegan-friendly, thanks to the removal of a fish-derived clarifying agent.

Quick Summary

Historically, Guinness was not suitable for vegans due to the use of isinglass, a fish bladder derivative, during filtration. All Guinness products, including draught, bottles, and cans, have been made vegan-friendly since 2018 after the company implemented a new, modern filtration process that eliminates isinglass.

Key Points

Yes, Guinness is now vegan: All Guinness products worldwide, including draught, bottles, and cans, have been vegan-friendly since 2018.
Isinglass was the non-vegan ingredient: Historically, Guinness used isinglass, a gelatin from fish bladders, to clarify the stout.
New filtration system: In 2015, Guinness announced it would implement a modern, isinglass-free filtration system.
Full transition by 2018: While kegs became vegan earlier, the process was completed across all products by 2018.
The taste remains the same: The recipe itself did not change, only the filtration method, so the flavor is unaffected.

From Fish to Plant: The Brewing Shift at St. James's Gate

For generations, the dark, creamy-headed stout known as Guinness was brewed using a traditional method that included isinglass, a clarifying agent derived from fish bladders. This made the iconic Irish beverage unsuitable for a plant-based diet. However, in response to growing consumer demand and advancing technology, the company implemented a major change to its brewing process.

Beginning in 2015, parent company Diageo announced its plan to remove isinglass from its production. This required significant investment in a new, state-of-the-art filtration system at its historic St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin. The transition occurred in phases, starting with kegs in 2016 and extending to bottles and cans by early 2018, ensuring a completely vegan product line. This shift marked a new era for the 250-year-old brewery, welcoming a whole new segment of drinkers to enjoy their famed stout.

The Role of Isinglass in Traditional Brewing

Isinglass is a type of collagen derived from the dried swim bladders of fish, typically sturgeon, cod, or hake. It acts as a fining agent to clarify beverages. In brewing, isinglass accelerates the settling of yeast and other suspended particles, causing them to clump and sink. This allows brewers to remove the clarified liquid, resulting in a clearer beer. Although only minute quantities might remain, its animal origin made the product non-vegan.

Today, Guinness uses modern filtration methods to achieve clarity without animal products.

Vegan Guinness vs. Traditional Guinness: A Comparison


Feature	Vegan-Friendly Guinness (Post-2018)	Traditional Guinness (Pre-2018)
Filtration Method	State-of-the-art filtration system	Isinglass (fish bladders)
Vegan Status	Yes, 100% vegan	No, contains trace animal products
Key Ingredients	Water, roasted barley, malted barley, hops, yeast	Water, roasted barley, malted barley, hops, yeast
Taste Profile	No change reported	The original, unchanged recipe
Clarity	Clear and visually appealing	Clear due to fining agent
Availability	All current products worldwide	Older stock only (rarely found)

How to Confirm a Beer's Vegan Status

With increasing interest in veganism, many breweries are adopting vegan-friendly practices. However, confirming a beer's status is still important as some may use fining agents like isinglass or gelatin. To check if a beer is plant-based:

Check the Brand's Website: Many companies, including Guinness, provide information about their vegan status on their official FAQ pages.
Consult Vegan Databases: Websites like Barnivore offer lists of vegan-friendly alcoholic beverages based on company information.
Look for Vegan Logos: Some products feature official vegan certification logos on their packaging.
Review Ingredients: While not always comprehensive regarding fining agents, some craft brewers list ingredients transparently.

What This Change Means for Vegans

Guinness's transition to being fully vegan was a significant positive step for the plant-based community. It showed that large, historic brands can evolve to meet modern ethical considerations without compromising quality. This change made a beloved, well-known drink accessible to millions of vegans and vegetarians and encouraged other breweries to evaluate their use of animal-based fining agents. This reflects a broader shift towards more ethical and inclusive production in the industry.

Conclusion: A Toast to Change

So, do vegans drink Guinness? Yes, and they can enjoy it confidently. Since completing its new, isinglass-free filtration process by 2018, Guinness is entirely vegan-friendly. The stout, available in kegs, bottles, and cans, is made only with water, barley, hops, and yeast, demonstrating that traditional brewing can adapt to modern ethical standards while keeping its distinctive taste. For vegans who once couldn't partake, Guinness is now a welcoming option.

For additional details on Guinness's brewing process and products, you can visit their official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Guinness Draught is now vegan-friendly. The company phased out the use of isinglass in kegs, completing the transition for all draught Guinness by 2016.

Guinness officially became fully vegan in 2018, when its new filtration process was rolled out to all its products, including bottled and canned versions.

Before 2018, Guinness used isinglass, a product made from fish bladders, as a fining agent to clarify the beer and remove residual yeast.

No, a spokesperson for Diageo confirmed that the recipe for Guinness did not change, and the flavor profile was successfully maintained with the new filtration process.

Isinglass is a type of gelatin derived from the swim bladders of fish. In brewing, it is used as a 'fining agent' to help yeast and other particles settle, clarifying the beer.

No, not all dark stouts are vegan. While Guinness has made the change, it's essential for vegans to check each individual brand, as some brewers still use animal-based fining agents.

You can check the brand's official website, use a resource like Barnivore, or look for specific vegan certification logos on the label to determine if a beverage is plant-based.