Why is beer not vegetarian? Exploring hidden animal ingredients

December 2, 2025 •

5 min read

While the core ingredients of beer—water, malt, hops, and yeast—are plant-based, a significant percentage of beer is not vegetarian due to animal products used during the brewing and filtering processes. These animal-derived additives, known as finings, are used to clarify the beer and give it a brighter, clearer appearance that many consumers have come to expect.

Quick Summary

Some beers contain animal byproducts used for clarification or flavor. Common non-vegetarian additives include isinglass (fish bladder), gelatin, and lactose. Knowing the brewing process helps determine if a specific beer is suitable for a vegetarian diet.

Key Points

Fining Agents: The primary reason some beers are not vegetarian is the use of animal-derived fining agents, like isinglass from fish bladders and gelatin from animal bones, to clarify the beer.
Hidden Ingredients: Because fining agents are often considered processing aids and removed from the final product, they may not be listed on the label, making research necessary.
Flavor Additions: Some beers, particularly specialty styles like milk stouts, are not vegetarian due to the intentional addition of animal-derived products like lactose (milk sugar) for flavor and texture.
Vegan Alternatives: Many modern brewers use vegetarian-friendly alternatives, such as Irish moss (seaweed) or bentonite (clay), or use mechanical processes like centrifugation for clarification.
Check Online Resources: Websites like Barnivore.com and specific brewery information pages are excellent resources for checking the vegetarian or vegan status of a particular beer.
Hazy vs. Clear: As a general rule, intentionally hazy beer styles, like many wheat beers and NEIPAs, are less likely to contain animal-based finings because they are unfiltered.

Unexpected animal products in beer

Many assume that all beer is inherently vegetarian and vegan-friendly, but this is a common misconception. The key lies in the ingredients added beyond the fundamental components of water, yeast, hops, and grain. The primary reasons a beer might not be vegetarian relate to fining agents and specific flavor additions. Fining is the process used by brewers to remove impurities, such as yeast and proteins, that cause a hazy or cloudy appearance in the final product.

The role of fining agents

Historically, and still today in many traditional brewing methods, animal-derived fining agents are employed for clarification. These substances attract and bind to the suspended particles in the beer, causing them to clump together and settle at the bottom of the fermentation tank. The beer is then drawn off the top, leaving the sediment behind. The most notorious of these agents is isinglass, a gelatinous substance derived from the dried swim bladders of fish. While the fining agent is intended to be filtered out of the final product, trace amounts may remain, making the beer unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Other animal-based fining agents include:

Gelatin: This protein is made by boiling animal skin, bones, and connective tissues. It functions similarly to isinglass by binding to yeast and other particulates.
Chitin/Chitosan: Derived from the exoskeletons of shellfish like crabs and shrimp, this fining agent also helps clarify beer.
Casein: This milk protein is occasionally used for clarification.
Dried Albumin: Obtained from egg whites, this can also be used as a fining agent.

Non-vegetarian flavorings and additives

Some beer styles intentionally incorporate animal-derived ingredients for flavor, body, or texture. Lactose, a sugar found in milk, is a common addition to create the creamy mouthfeel and sweetness characteristic of milk stouts and some milkshake IPAs. Other less common, but still relevant, examples include honey, which is used in certain specialty ales, and even less conventional ingredients like oyster extracts in oyster stouts or animal-derived flavor enhancers. Carmine, a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects, can be found in some red-hued beers and is another non-vegetarian additive.

Comparison of beer types and fining agents

The choice of fining agent, or lack thereof, significantly impacts whether a beer is vegetarian. This comparison table highlights common methods and their vegetarian status.


Type of Finings/Process	Animal-Derived?	Vegetarian Status	Appearance	Example Beer Types
Isinglass	Yes (Fish)	No	Crystal clear	Many traditional British cask ales
Gelatin	Yes (Collagen)	No	Crystal clear	Some homebrews and commercial beers
Irish Moss (Carrageenan)	No (Seaweed)	Yes	Clear to slightly hazy	Many modern craft beers
Biofine (Silicic Acid)	No (Mineral-based)	Yes	Crystal clear	Many modern craft beers
Centrifuge/Filtration	No (Mechanical)	Yes	Very clear	Large-scale production and modern craft beers
No Finings	No	Yes	Hazy or cloudy	Hazy IPAs, Weissbiers, bottle-conditioned ales

How to identify vegetarian-friendly beer

For those who adhere to a vegetarian diet, navigating the beer aisle can be challenging since ingredients and fining agents are not always listed on the label. Fortunately, several strategies can help you make an informed choice. The most reliable method is to look for explicit labeling or certifications, such as a vegan or vegetarian-friendly logo. Increasingly, many craft breweries and even some larger brands are choosing to label their products to meet consumer demand.

Another option is to consult online resources. Databases like Barnivore.com maintain a comprehensive, user-submitted list of vegan and vegetarian-friendly alcoholic beverages, including beer. This can be particularly useful for researching new or lesser-known brands. When in doubt, you can also contact the brewery directly. Many breweries are transparent about their ingredients and processes and will be happy to provide the information you need. Hazy beer styles, like New England IPAs and traditional German wheat beers, are often a safe bet as they are intentionally unfiltered, negating the need for animal-based finings. A beer made exclusively from the four core ingredients—water, malt, hops, and yeast—will always be vegetarian. The challenge is identifying when and where additional, non-vegetarian ingredients have been used.

Conclusion: Making informed choices

In conclusion, the seemingly simple list of ingredients for beer can be misleading. While many beers are indeed vegetarian, the presence of animal-derived fining agents like isinglass and gelatin, or flavorings such as lactose, makes many others unsuitable for those following a plant-based diet. With growing consumer awareness, more breweries are adopting animal-free clarification methods and being more transparent with their labeling. By utilizing available resources like vegan certification marks and online databases, and by understanding which brewing processes to question, vegetarians can confidently select beers that align with their dietary principles. For more information on vegan alcoholic beverages, check out the extensive database at Barnivore.com.

What to look for on beer labels

Check for certified vegan or vegetarian symbols, which some brands voluntarily include.
Look for descriptions that indicate the beer is unfiltered or bottle-conditioned, as this avoids fining agents.
Be wary of styles like milk stouts, cream stouts, or honey ales, which often contain non-vegetarian ingredients.
Consider hazy beers, as their cloudy appearance is a strong indicator that no fining agents were used.
If in doubt, consult a vegan alcohol database or contact the brewery directly for clarification.
Remember that legal labeling requirements for alcohol ingredients are often less strict than for food.
Be aware that fining agents can change; a beer that was previously vegan might not be anymore and vice versa, so research is key.

Navigating the brewery choices

Large breweries: Many mass-market lagers from large breweries use modern, non-animal filtration systems like diatomaceous earth or centrifuges, making them vegan. However, regional variations can occur, so it's best to verify.
Traditional cask ales: In the UK, many traditional cask ales still rely on isinglass for clearing. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, these are likely not vegetarian.
Modern craft breweries: The craft beer scene is a mix, with many brewers opting for vegan-friendly methods, while some traditionalists might still use older techniques. Always check or ask.

What to know about additives

Artificial colors: Some colored beers may use non-vegetarian dyes like carmine.
Foaming agents: Certain additives used for head retention may be animal-derived, though plant-based alternatives are widely available.
Adjuncts: Specialty beers can include a wide variety of non-standard ingredients, so knowing the style or checking with the brewer is important.

Vegetarian beer isn't rare

The majority of beer is vegan-friendly, but the exceptions are important to know about.
The market for vegetarian and vegan beer is growing, leading to more labeled products.
By staying informed, you can easily find delicious beers that fit your dietary needs.

Global differences in brewing

Brewing traditions vary by country, affecting the likelihood of animal product use. For example, traditional British cask ales are more likely to contain isinglass than German lagers, which adhere to strict purity laws.
Export versions of a beer can sometimes differ from the domestic version in terms of ingredients and fining agents.
Global brand changes, like Guinness eliminating isinglass in 2016, have made certain beers suitable for vegetarians that weren't in the past.

Frequently Asked Questions

Isinglass is a substance made from the dried swim bladders of fish, primarily sturgeon, and is used as a fining agent in beer production. It helps clarify the beer by causing suspended yeast and proteins to settle out of the liquid, resulting in a clearer product.

Guinness is now suitable for vegetarians and vegans. In 2016, the company stopped using isinglass as a fining agent in its production process, a change that was expanded to all Guinness varieties.

A vegetarian beer contains no meat or fish, but may contain other animal products like dairy or honey. A vegan beer contains no animal-derived ingredients whatsoever. Since fining agents like isinglass are animal-derived, beer that uses them is not vegetarian, but a beer with lactose is vegetarian but not vegan.

Brewing regulations often consider fining agents as 'processing aids' rather than ingredients, meaning they are not required to be listed on the label, even if trace amounts remain in the final product. This lack of transparency requires consumers to do their own research.

The most reliable way is to check the brewer's website, look for vegan certification logos on the label, or consult online databases like Barnivore.com, which track the vegetarian and vegan status of many alcoholic beverages.

No, the yeast used in fermentation is not an animal product and the process itself is naturally plant-based. The vegetarian status of beer is affected by other ingredients or fining agents added during the brewing process.

Yes, hazy beers like many wheat beers and New England IPAs are intentionally unfiltered to achieve their cloudy appearance. Because no fining agents are used for clarification, they are a generally safe choice for vegetarians, although it is always good to check for other additives.