The Spirit World

Not THAT one. We mean the world of wines and spirits that make one merry, celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year – Wines & Beer- Vegan style! Betcha didn’t know there was any such thing, did you? What is a vegan wine or beer anyway? Well, for the wine, what determines whether it’s vegan or not is in the way it’s filtered.

What gives it that clear, glassy, colorful look? Fining agents. They are traditionally made from animal by-products and  are added to the wine to trap unwanted particles and dissolved substances. Some of the more outrageous-sounding fining agents like dried bull’s blood  haven’t been used for years, but egg whites and isinglass (fish air bladders) are still used throughout the winemaking world.

However, there are those who use non animal fining agents like activated charcoal or bentonite clay.

So, how do you know if the wine you want to purchase is vegan? RESEARCH!  Contact the wineries you’re interested in to find out about their fining agents and establish relationships with local wine shop employees who can help you in your quest. You can also seek out importers known for dealing in vegan wine like Jenny & François Selections and Louis Dressner Selections.

Last, but not least, check the wine label. Many winemakers are labeling their “vegan” wines. Ask for what you want. The more demand there is for clearly labeled vegan wine, the more winemakers will respond.

Now for the beer. Vegan beer is the one that doesn’t use any animal products in its ingredients or manufacture process. While beer is often made from barley malt, water, hops and yeast (all vegan), some brewers add animal-derived additives to clarify it like isinglass and gelatin. As with wine, modern technology has come up with countless new filtering techniques to clear up cloudy beer without the need for animal products. Most newly established craft breweries use their modern machinery instead of additives to refine their product. So how do you know which beers are vegan?

If you’re new to the world of vegan beer, it’s always worth asking bar staff about vegan options, especially if a bar prides itself on its organic products or craft beer. However, if you’re uncomfortable asking bar staff about vegan beer in a packed pub, there are great places to look online.

Barnivore is one such site with over 36,000 beers in its database so next time you’re unsure about a beer, chances are you’ll find it on there.

Here are some of the world’s bestselling beers, all of which are vegan:

• Beck’s (Germany) – Get On Amazon
• Budweiser and Bud Light (USA)
• Coors and Coors Light (USA)
• Corona (Mexico)
• Harbin (China)
• Heineken (Netherlands)
• Lite beer from Miller (USA)
• Miller Original and Genuine Draft (USA)
• Pacifico (Mexico)
• Skol (Brazil)
• Snow (China)
• Tsingtao (China)

**** Tip ****

There are at least two vegan beer festivals held annually in the United States. The Vegan Beer and Food Festival takes place at Rose Bowl Stadium, around Memorial Day Weekend. Visitors can enjoy, “Unlimited pours of over 200 beers, wines, kombuchas & more.” Not far away, in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, the Veg Out! Vegan Beer & Food Festival offers a “compilation of vegan food and drink vendors, speakers and vegan-friendly gear including clothing, skincare, and artwork.”

Fortunately, breweries around the world are abandoning the practice of using animal byproducts for fining. As vegan diets continue to increase in popularity, the demand for vegan beers also grows and it becomes bad for business for brewers to not stay on top of the market.