What Do You Call an Alcoholic Fish?
A Cannibal! Not laughing? Neither am I, or many other vegans for that matter.
It turns out that many wines and beers are NOT vegan. Chris, over at Hops Report, recently looked into the matter and concluded that isinglass - “fish bladder goo” - is used to clarify beers and other alcoholic beverages. However, Chris also found out for those concerned with animal product intake who still want an occasional brew, that there are options, that not all brewers use animal products.
Vegans are used to reading labels; however, your average bottle is not going to give the full list of ingredients and conditioning methods used. Unless it is labeled vegan (rare), you cannot be 100 percent sure, unless you do your reseach ahead of time.
Know what ingredients are what and where they come from. Look up your favorite brands online. Google “vegan beer.” Call breweries, restaurants, and companies and ask questions. Peruse lists of vegan beers and vegan wines.
Here are some ingredients, in addition to the isinglass that Chris found for us, to look out for during your search:
*Gelatins - bones
*Casein and Potassium Caseinate - milk proteins
*Albumin - egg and/or dried blood powder
*Honey
*Lactose
*Caramel
*Colorings, Flavorings, and Preservatives may also come from animals
Seeing as how waiters can’t always tell you whether an entree is vegetarian or not, and often misguide you (e.g. French onion soup is almost always made from beef stock), I doubt many bartenders will be much help lighting your path to vegan intoxication. Thus, as I could probably end every topic, I leave you with this: Your best bet is to do you own research!
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June 25th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I’m researching, I’m researching as much as my liver can take …
Vegans have a tougher time of it, but there are an awful lot of good beers on the various vegetarian lists. Good news for me if I were to ever go in that direction.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Wow, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing the info!