Is Alcohol Vegan?
by Alice Shopland, founder of Angel Food
Alcohol can be vegan, but not all alcoholic beverages are. If you’re vegan or hosting someone who is vegan, I hope this information will be helpful.
Why Isn’t Some Alcohol Vegan?
Many wines, beers, and even spirits undergo a process called fining or clarification. This step removes suspended particles that can make a drink look cloudy, such as dead yeast cells, tannins and grape fragments. While these particles would eventually settle naturally, clarifying speeds up the process, ensuring the drink is clear and visually appealing to consumers.
Traditionally, this process has used animal-derived ingredients, such as:
- Egg whites (albumin)
- Casein, a protein from milk
- Gelatine, derived from animal bones and skin
- Isinglass, a substance extracted from fish swim bladders
These fining agents bind to the unwanted particles, which can then be filtered out. While they don’t remain in the final product, their use makes the beverage non-vegan.
Marcus Wright, chief winemaker at Lawson’s Dry Hills, is increasingly using vegan clarifying agents and he says the end product is superior. He also explains the benefits of the process: “Fining takes away those more astringent elements known as ‘phenolics’, giving the wine a softer mouth feel, improved aroma and a cleaner, brighter appearance in the glass.”
If you’re a spirit drinker, note that some spirits may use ethanol derived from the dairy industry, rendering them non-vegan.
Vegan Alternatives for Clarification
The good news is that more winemakers and brewers are shifting to plant-based or synthetic alternatives for fining, driven by increasing demand from vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies. Common vegan-friendly clarifiers include:
- Bentonite clay
- Activated charcoal
- Plant proteins, such as pea or potato protein
These alternatives work just as effectively without compromising the drink’s quality or flavour.
Industry Shifts Toward Vegan Practices
The move toward vegan-friendly practices has gained momentum in recent years. For example, Guinness—a household name in beer—made headlines in 2018 when it officially stopped using isinglass and adopted an improved filtration process. Today, every pint of Guinness is vegan.
Winemakers around the globe are following suit, recognising the growing demand for vegan options. Some vineyards prominently label their wines as vegan, making it easier for conscious consumers to choose. Additionally, as awareness of allergens like milk and eggs increases, many producers are opting for vegan fining agents to cater to a broader audience. One Aotearoa vineyard whose wines are all vegan is Wrights in Gisborne.
In New Zealand, there’s an added layer of transparency. If egg or milk products are used as fining agents, they must be declared on the label because they are common allergens. However, this requirement does not extend to isinglass, which is derived from fish.
Tips for Finding Vegan Alcohol
1. Look for Labels: Many brands now label their products as vegan, making it easier to identify suitable options.
2. Check Online Resources: Websites like www.barnivore.com provide comprehensive databases of vegan-friendly wines, beers, and spirits.
3. Ask the Producer: If in doubt, contacting the producer can clarify whether animal-derived ingredients were used.
