Drink

Is Isinglass in beer vegan?

Depends on the brand

Depends — some cask beers are clarified with isinglass from fish swim bladders.

Also listed as: fish bladder finings

Why

Isinglass, gelatin and egg albumen are used as fining agents to clear beer and wine. Most modern craft and canned beers are unfined or use silica and PVPP instead.

What to check on the label

  • "Suitable for vegans" on the can
  • Barnivore.com listings
  • Unfined / naturally hazy beers

Swap it for

Unfined beersVegan-certified winesBeers labelled vegan-friendly

Questions people ask

How do I know if a beer is vegan?

Check the label first, then Barnivore, which lists tens of thousands of drinks by brand and product.

Is Guinness vegan now?

Yes. Guinness Draught stopped using isinglass in 2017 and is labelled vegan-friendly.

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