Which Beer Is Vegan?

Written by Fasting Planet in Fasting

Beer Vegan

Last Updated on April 12, 2024 by Fasting Planet

To cap off the start of the weekend, relax after a long day, or to celebrate a special occasion, a cold beer really sets the mood. Yet the problem with many beer brands is they use an animal byproduct called isinglass, which comes from fish bladders. It’s not always easy to determine which beer brands add isinglass and which don’t, so how can you be sure which beer is vegan?

Here are some beer companies that are considered vegan-friendly:

  • Swashbuckler Brewing Company
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
  • Rock Art Brewery
  • Pennsylvania Brewing Company
  • North Coast Brewing Company
  • Maplewood Farms Restaurant & Brewery
  • Goose Island Beer Company
  • Elliott Bay Brewing Company
  • Capital Brewery
  • Anheuser-Busch

Keep reading for the full list of which PETA-approved beer companies are suitable for vegans as well as which beers specifically are free of animal byproducts.

These Breweries Produce Vegan-Friendly Beer

Willimantic Brewing Company

Named after the city it was born in, Connecticut’s Willimantic Brewing Company is also a café in the rural northeastern part of the state. Their vegan beers include:

  • Willi Whamer Barleywine
  • Valentine Mail India Dark Ale
  • W.A.K. Stout
  • Rural Route Red Ale
  • Rail Mail Rye Pale Ale
  • Mail Order Raisin Old Ale
  • International Mail IPA
  • Certified Gold Ale
  • Boater’s Mailbox Brown Oatmeal Porter
  • Address Unknown IPA
  • 1st Class Festive Ale

Weeping Radish Restaurant and Brewery

Calling themselves the oldest microbrewery in North Carolina, Weeping Radish was founded by Uli Bennewitz of Bavaria, who started the brewery to have a piece of home in the United States. Weeping Radish also has a sizable farm on its property, 14 acres, where its staff grow biodynamic and organic vegetables.

Try these vegan beers from the brewery:

  • Maibock Spring
  • Hefe Weizen
  • Fest Amber Lager
  • Corolla Gold Helles Lager
  • Christmas Double Bock
  • Black Radish Dunkel Beer

Swashbuckler Brewing Company

In Manheim, Pennsylvania, Swashbuckler Brewing Company is known among state residents, as its beers are the official choice for Pennsylvania’s Renaissance Faire. They’re also a member of the Certified Independent Craft Brewers Association.

You can only drink a few beers from Swashbuckler as a vegan:

  • Swashbuckler’s Gold
  • Rajah’s Sword Pale Ale
  • Old Peg Leg Stout
  • Lady Amber Ale

Sprecher Brewing Company

Milwaukee’s Sprecher Brewing Company produces more than just beer, but craft soda and flavored sparkling water as well!

Here are their vegan beers:

  • Winter Brew
  • Special Amber
  • Pub Ale
  • Pale Lager
  • Oktoberfest
  • Mai Bock
  • India Pale Ale
  • Imperial Stout
  • Hefe Weiss
  • Dopple Bock
  • Black Bavarian
  • Abbey Triple

Sonora Brewing Company

The Sonora, California Sonora Brewing Company is a beautiful beachside brewery and restaurant with a family atmosphere. Kick back and unwind with one of Sonora’s vegan beers:

  • Top Down Ale
  • Old Saguaro Barley-Wine Ale
  • Inebriator Stout
  • Hefe Weizen
  • Festivus
  • Desert Amber
  • Burning Bird Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Another California brewery, this time in Chico, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company got its start in 1980 when founders Paul Camusi and Ken Grossman took their home-brewing operation to the big stage.

These Sierra Nevada beers are appropriate for vegans:

  • Sierra Nevada Summerfest
  • Sierra Nevada Stout
  • Sierra Nevada Porter
  • Sierra Nevada Pale Bock
  • Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
  • Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

Yes, you guessed it, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing is based in picturesque Santa Cruz, California. If you ever get a chance to visit, their microbrewery features a garden and a taproom that allows dogs!

Here’s what’s brewing for vegans:

  • Wilder Wheat
  • People’s Porter
  • Pale Ale
  • IPA
  • Dread Brown Ale
  • Devout Stout
  • Amber Ale

Rock Art Brewery

Over in Morrisville, Vermont is Rock Art Brewery, which offers tours and has a tasting room. Windows throughout the building let you get a glimpse into how Rock Art’s tasty beers are made.

Plenty of those beers are vegan-safe, such as:

  • Whitetail
  • Vermonster
  • Sunny & 75
  • Stump Jumper
  • Stowe Mountain Lodge Hourglass Ale
  • Stock Ale
  • Ridge Runner
  • Riddler
  • Midnight Madness
  • Magnumus ete Tomhawkus
  • Jasmine Pale Ale
  • IPA
  • Infusco
  • Hells Bock
  • Double Porter
  • Double IPA
  • Belvedere IPA
  • American Red

Poplar Head Brewery

Dothan, Alabama’s Poplar Head Brewery is a pub and grill that has but a handful of vegan beers:

  • Pale Moon Light
  • Golden Beer
  • Downtown Brown

Pittsburgh Brewing Company

A Pennsylvania staple since 1861, Pittsburgh Brewing Company in Pittsburgh produces low-calorie spirits. These Pittsburgh Brewing Company beers are fine for vegans to enjoy:

  • Old German
  • Iron City Light
  • Iron City
  • Augustiner Lager
  • American Light
  • American

Pennsylvania Brewing Company

A second beloved Pittsburgh brewery is Pennsylvania Brewing Company. This microbrewery is a lot newer, founded in 1986. Their ethnic Pennsylvania restaurant serves sandwiches, goulash, pierogi, schnitzel, and wurst.

You won’t mind passing on the meat when you can drink vegan beers like:

  • Nikolaus Bock
  • Penn Weizen
  • Penn Pilsner
  • Penn Oktoberfest
  • Penn Marzen
  • Penn Gold
  • Penn Dark
  • Crew Lager

Paradise Creek Brewery

The St. Pullman, Washington establishment Paradise Creek Brewery will make you feel like you’re in paradise when you sample these vegan beers:

  • Scottish Stovepipe
  • Resilience IPA
  • Postal Porter
  • Pokerface Blonde
  • Palouse Wit
  • Over the Hop IPA
  • Kugar Kolsch
  • J-Dub’s Northwest Pale Ale
  • Huckleberry Pucker Shandy
  • Huckleberry Pucker
  • Arc Flash IPA
  • The Arbiter IPA
  • After Dark

Otter Creek/Wolavers Brewing, Inc.

Grab some lunch and then drink some vegan beers at Otter Creek/Wolaver Brewing. Inc. in Vermont. They’re very sustainably focused too, which any vegan can appreciate.

These beers are fine for vegans to have:

  • Wolavers Organic Pale Ale
  • Wolavers Organic Oatmeal Stout
  • Wolavers Organic IPA
  • Wolavers Organic Brown Ale
  • Otter Creek Vermont Lager
  • Otter Creek Summer Wheat
  • Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter
  • Otter Creek Pale Ale
  • Otter Creek Oktoberfest
  • Otter Creek Mud Bock
  • Otter Creek Copper Ale
  • Otter Creek Alpine Ale

The Olde Burnside Brewing Company

East Hartford, Connecticut’s own, The Old Burnside Brewing Company is a microbrewery that branched off The Burnside Ice Co. That business has been around since 1911, so the Burnside brand runs deep here.

A few of Burnside’s beers are vegan, such as:

  • Ten Penny Ale
  • Andrew’s Summer Ale
  • Highland Piper Tartan Ale
  • Highland Fling Spring Ale
  • Highland Ale
  • Father Christmas
  • Dirty Penny Ale

Odell Brewing Company

Take in live music, sample food trucks onsite, and drink beer at Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. Their tours are also much renowned.

These beers are free of animal byproducts:

  • Riley’s Red
  • Northwest Pale Ale
  • Levity Golden Amber
  • Isolation Ale
  • Easy Street Wheat
  • Cutthroat Porter
  • Cutthroat Pale Ale
  • Bobby
  • 90 Shilling

Oaken Barrel Brewing Company

A restaurant and brewery in one, Oaken Barrel Brewing Company in Greenwood, Indiana specializes in American food that pairs well with vegan beers like:

  • Snake Pit Porter
  • Razz-Wheat
  • Meridian St. Lager
  • King Rudi Hefe-Weissbier
  • Indiana Amber
  • Gnaw Bone Pale Ale

North Coast Brewing Company

Sine 1988, North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California has served up brews. By 2018, they landed amongst the 50 biggest craft beer brewers in the country.

These North Coast beers are vegan:

  • Scrimshaw Beer
  • Red Seal Ale
  • Pranqster
  • Old Stock Ale
  • Old Rasputin
  • Old No. 38
  • Blue Star Wheat Beer
  • Acme Pale Ale
  • Acme IPA
  • Acme Brown Ale

New Belgium Brewery

With distribution all over the US, New Belgium Brewery is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Some of their beers include La Folie Sour Brown Ale, Voodoo Ranger IPA, and Fat Tire Amber Ale.

As a vegan, you can drink these beers from New Belgium:

  • Trippel Ale Brewed with Coriander
  • Sunshine Wheat Beer
  • Spring Blonde Belgian Style Ale
  • Shift Pale Lager
  • Ranger India Pale Ale
  • Rampant Imperial India Pale Ale
  • Fat Tire Amber Ale
  • California Route Organic Lager
  • Blue Paddle Pilsner
  • Accumulation White IPA
  • Abbey Belgian Style Dubbel Ale
  • 1554 Black Lager

Nelson Brewing Company

Every beer produced by Nelson Brewing Company in Canada is organic. Their small brewery, founded in 1991, has won awards for quality.

These beers are vegan-friendly:

  • Paddywhack IPA
  • Old Brewery Pale Ale
  • Nelson After Dark
  • Faceplant Winter Ale
  • Centennial Special Bitter
  • Blackheart Oatmeal Stout

The Merchant Ale House

The brewpub and restaurant Merchant Ale House in Canada was founded by a group of friends in 1998. Four of their beers are house originals: Extra Special Bitter, Drunken Monkey Oatmeal Stout, Blonde Bombshell, and Old Time Hockey Ale.

Your options are a bit limited here as a vegan, so try these beers:

  • Extra Special Bitter
  • Drunken Monkey Oatmeal Stout
  • Anniversary Mild Ale

Market Cross Pub & Brewery

In St. Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Market Cross Pub & Brewery serves English-inspired foods as well as beers from around the world. Sample these vegan beers while you’re there:

  • Pub Porter
  • Old Yeller IPA
  • Market Cross Red Ale

Maplewood Farms Restaurant & Brewery

The Amherst, Massachusetts establishment Maplewood Farms Restaurant & Brewery has its own onsite organic farm, which is the basis of its menu.

Vegans can drink the following beers here:

  • Puffers Pilsner
  • My Favorite Marzen
  • Minuteman Gold
  • Island Ginger Beer
  • Imperialist Pig
  • Hop Brook IPA
  • Fort River Pale Ale
  • Fat Dog Stout
  • Dante’s Hells
  • Creamery Lane Amber
  • Bobo’s Brown
  • Amethyst Porter
  • Achilles Ale

Mad River Brewing Company

In that same vein is Mad River Brewing Company. Based in the very green (environmentally, we mean) Blue Lake, California, Mad River has been a sustainable staple there since 1989.

These beers are all okay for vegans to have:

  • West Indies IPA
  • Steelhead Scotch Porter
  • Steelhead Extra Stout
  • Steelhead Extra Pale Ale
  • John Barleycorn Barley Wine
  • Jamaica Red

Lost Coast Brewery

Once known as Table Bluff Brewing, Inc., Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, California has some year-round favorites as well as seasonal beers on tap, so there’s always a reason to visit.

Here are some Lost Coast beers­–both seasonal and nonseasonal–that vegans can safely try:

  • Winterbraun
  • Raspberry Brown
  • Lost Coast Pale Ale
  • Lost Coast Harvest Moon
  • Lost Coast Apricot Wheat
  • Indica IPA
  • Great White
  • Eight-Ball Stout
  • Downtown Brown
  • Alleycat Amber

Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

Lakefront Brewery, Inc. in Milwaukee is known for their impressive beers, such as gluten-free and organic offerings. No wonder beers like the following are vegan:

  • Riverwest Stein Beer
  • Pumpkin Lager
  • Organic ESB
  • Lakefront White
  • Lakefront Oktoberfest
  • Lakefront Holiday Spice
  • Lakefront Big Easy
  • Klisch Pilsner
  • Foel Café Coffee Stout
  • East Side Dark
  • Cream City Pale Ale
  • Cattail Ale

Lagunitas Brewing Company

A Heineken subsidiary, Lagunitas Brewing Company had its shares bought by that beer giant in 2015. This California brewing company has been around since 1993.

These Lagunitas Brewing Company beers are all a-okay for vegans:

  • Pale Equinox
  • Old Ale
  • Octoberfest Amber
  • Maximus
  • IPA #10
  • Imperial Stout
  • Hairy Eyeball
  • Brown Sugga

Hal & Mal’s

With retro stylings even described as funky, Hal & Mal’s in Jackson, Missouri is a large venue with music, beer, and plenty of regional flavors to explore on their menu.

Enjoy these vegan beers:

  • Zita Vienna Lager
  • Trophy Buck Stout
  • Pilsner Prospere
  • Pearl River Pale Ale
  • Mundt’s Scottish Ale
  • Half Moon Light
  • Bandit Amber

Goose Island Beer Company

A premiere Chicago brewery, Goose Island Beer Company got its name through an island near the city’s Lincoln Park. They have a second location in Wrigleyville, which opened in 1999.

You don’t have to miss out on the Goose Island legacy when you can try these vegan-friendly beers:

  • Goose Island Pilsner
  • Goose Island Octoberfest
  • Goose Island Oatmeal Stout
  • Goose Island Kilgubbin Red Ale
  • Goose Island India Pale Ale
  • Goose Island Honkers Ale
  • Goose Island Hex Nut Brown Ale
  • Goose Island Christmas Ale
  • Goose Island Blonde Ale
  • Goose Island American Wheat

Golden Road Brewing

When Tony Yanow and Meg Gill started Golden Road Brewing in 2011, they did so with the intention of making beer more sustainable. Under the Anheuser-Busch umbrella, Golden Road Brewing is a beloved Los Angeles institution.

Here are some beers you can sip with your vegan buddies:

  • Valentin
  • Schwartz Stout
  • Rye on the Palate
  • Point the Way IPA
  • Lost Its Way IPA
  • Hudson Porter
  • Golden Road Hefeweizen
  • Get Up Offa That Brown
  • Either Side of the Hill
  • Burning Bush Smoked IPA

Fish Brewing Company

Fish Tale Brewpub, owned by Fish Brewing Company, is where all the magic happens. This Olympia, Washington restaurant and pub serves tacos, burgers, salads, ribs, wraps, and cheesecake.

Once you find some vegan eats at Fish Tale Brewpub, drink these Fish Brewing vegan beers too:

  • Whistling Pig Wheat Ale
  • Springing Bock Lager
  • Snowblind Winter Warmer
  • Oktoberfest Bier
  • Nosferatu Red Ale
  • Ingall’s ESB
  • Hodgson’s IPA
  • Friesian Pilsener
  • Fish Tale Organic IPA
  • Fish Tale Organic Amber Ale
  • Blind Pig Dunkel Weizen Ale

Fat Cat Brewery Ltd.

All the way in the UK is Fat Cat Brewery Ltd. The brewery first opened in 2005 thanks to the efforts of local beer lover Roger Protz.

A few of Fat Cat’s beers are vegan, including:

  • Pompous Pompadour Porter
  • Original Bohemian Pilsner
  • Fat Head IPA
  • Bunny’s Black & Tan

Elliott Bay Brewing Company

With its passion for handcrafted, organic ales and great food, Elliott Bay Brewing Company in Seattle has a list of specialty beers a mile wide. Many of them are vegan too, including:

  • Rye Ask Rye Bock
  • Rockin’ Organic Rye
  • No Doubt Stout
  • Noale Holiday Ale
  • Luna Weizen
  • Klondike Gold
  • El Nino Fallfest Ale
  • Elliott Bay IPA
  • Demolition Strong Ale
  • Dark Star Porter
  • Blacktop Brown
  • Alembic Pale

Dunedin Brewery

In Dunedin, Florida, Dunedin Brewery has made quite a splash. The craft brewery regularly hosts live music and has an assortment of pub food and great drinks.

Vegans won’t feel left out when drinking here when these beers are on the menu:

  • Redhead Pale Ale
  • Pipers Pale Ale
  • Oktoberfest Ale
  • Leonard Croon’s Old Mean Stout
  • Christmas Farm Ale
  • Celtic God Ale
  • Beach Tale Brown Ale

Diamond Bear Brewing Company

Although it’s based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Diamond Bear Brewing Company has a more European flair. This microbrewery opened in 2000 and offers tours.

If you go on one, make sure you stick to these beers only:

  • Ultra Blonde
  • Southern Blonde
  • Pale Ale
  • Irish Red

Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company

A family-operated brewery in San Carlos, California, Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company brews specialty beers, seasonal drinks, and year-round staples. They even make their own root beer, which is all-natural!

These beers are vegan-friendly:

  • Thomas Morgan Amber Ale
  • Silicon Blonde Ale
  • Red Sky Rye Ale
  • Lager Diabla
  • Full Boar Scotch Ale

City Steam Brewery Café

City Steam Brewery Café in Hartford, Connecticut was founded in 1877. In the many years since, they’ve evolved to host comedy shows, serve pub grub food, and whip up more and more creative beers.

Here are some brews that vegans can drink at City Steam:

  • Wolf Den Brew
  • White Rabbit
  • Russian Imperial Stout
  • The Naughty Nurse Pale Ale
  • My Funny Ballantine
  • Joan of Arc
  • Colt Light Lager
  • City Steam Mild Ale
  • Blonde Export Lager
  • Belle Dock #4

Capitol City Brewing Company

In the heart of Washington, DC is the brewpub Capitol City Brewing Company. Their best-known beer is the Capital Kolsch, which is safe for vegans. So too are these beers:

  • Adrian’s Ale
  • Prohibition Porter
  • Pale Rider Ale
  • Nut Brown Ale
  • Bull Run Bitter
  • Amber Waves Ale

Capital Brewery

With decades of history and many awards to go along with it, Capital Brewery in Middleton, Wisconsin is a must-see, as they have an onsite beer garden.

Sit outside on a nice day and have one of their many vegan beers:

  • Wisconsin Amber
  • Winter Skal
  • Weizen Doppelbock
  • Special Pilsner
  • Oktoberfest
  • Munich Dark
  • Maibock
  • Kloster Weizen
  • Fest
  • Dark Doppelbock
  • Capital 1900
  • Brown Ale
  • Blonde Doppelbock
  • Bavarian Lager
  • Autumnal Fire

California Cider Company

The makers of Ace Cider, California Cider Company in Sebastopol is a family-owned brewery. Their tasting room always has something interesting on tap, including these vegan beers:

  • Wexford Irish Cream Ale
  • Welsh ESB
  • Vintage Ale
  • Olde Suffolk
  • Golden Promise Organic Ale
  • Ace Pear Cider
  • Ace Organic Cider
  • Ace Berry Cider
  • Ace Apple Cider

Bristol Brewing Company

Ivywild School in Colorado Springs, Colorado is the home of Bristol Brewing Company. Their craft beers include these vegan favorites:

  • Winter Warnock Oatmeal Stout
  • Red Rocket Pale Ale
  • Mass Transit Ale
  • Laughing Lab Ale
  • India Pale Ale

The Brewery at Lake Tahoe, Inc.

Inspired by the sights of Lake Tahoe, California’s The Brewery at Lake Tahoe, Inc. is both a restaurant and a brewery. Although you have to skip their best-selling pizzas, you can still drink plenty of great vegan beer here.

These are some examples:

  • Washoe Wheat Ale
  • Prince of Pales
  • Paramount Porter
  • Needle Peak Ale
  • Indian Pale Ale
  • Bad Ass Ale
  • Alpine Amber

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Brewpub

The Canadian brewery Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Brewpub in Montreal was founded in 1991. The craft brewery has a ginormous list of vegan beers, so you can come back again and again and have a new experience.

Prepare your palate for these beers:

  • Winter Solstice Barley Wine
  • Sunday Morning Mass German Ale
  • Summer Solstice Berlin Sour Wheat
  • Spring Equinox Maple Scotch Ale
  • September Belgian Witt
  • The Resurrection Porter
  • Poppycock Hemp Beer
  • Paradis Witt
  • The Pagan Blonde Ale
  • Nativity Dunkel Weizen German Wheat
  • The Key to Freedom Spicy Belgian Ale
  • Goddess of the Night Stout
  • Gaelique Irish Cream Ale
  • The Fog Drifter ESB
  • Dream Ship IPA
  • The Coal Vendor Rauchbier Smoked Ale
  • Brown Rigor Mortis Abbey Double
  • Blond Rigor Mortis Abbey Triple
  • Blond Nativity Weizen German Wheat
  • Bagpipes Scotch Ale

Brass Castle Brewery

The UK’s Brass Castle Brewery only produces vegan and gluten-free craft beers. Their list of beers is growing all the time, but for now includes only:

  • Cliffhanger
  • Best Bitter
  • Bad Kitty

Bayhawk Ales

The Orange County brewery Bayhawk Ales changed its name to Evans Brewing Company a few years back. It’s a small change for what is still the oldest brewery in the area.

Take a sip of history with these vegan beers:

  • Tommy Bahama Brew
  • Tommy Bahama Blonde
  • Primo Hefe Weizen
  • Claim Jumper Hefe Weizen
  • Bayhawk Stout
  • Bayhawk O.C. Lager
  • Bayhawk Hefe Weizen
  • Bayhawk California Pale Ale
  • Bayhawk Beach Blonde
  • Bayhawk Amber Ale

Anheuser-Busch

A brand like Anheuser-Busch needs no introduction, as they’re one of the biggest beer companies on the planet. An astonishing amount of their beers are vegan, which is great!

Here’s a list:

  • O’Doul’s Premium Non-Alcoholic Brew
  • Natural Pilsner
  • Natural Light
  • Mich Golden Draft
  • Michelob Light
  • Michelob Dry
  • Michelob Classic Dark
  • Michelob
  • King Cobra Premium Malt Liquor
  • Ice Draft Light
  • Elephant
  • Cold Filtered Budweiser Ice Draft
  • Carlsberg Light
  • Carlsberg
  • Busch Light
  • Busch
  • Budweiser
  • Bud Light
  • Bud Dry

Anderson Valley Brewing Company

The last brewery on our list is Andersen Valley Brewing Company in Boonville, California. Founded in 1987 and family-owned by the McGee family, Anderson Valley produces 45,000 barrels of beer a year as of 2012 numbers. Very impressive!

Those barrels are likely filled with these vegan beers:

  • Winter Solstice – Select Ale
  • Poleeko Gold Pale Ale
  • Horn of the Beer Barley Wine
  • Hop Ottin’ IPA
  • High Rollers Wheat Beer
  • Deep Enders Dark Porter
  • Brother David’s Triple
  • Brother David’s Double
  • Boont Amber Ale
  • Belk’s Extra Special Bitter
  • Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Conclusion

You have absolutely no shortage of vegan beer options if you know where to look. Across the globe, breweries produce craft beers that are gluten-free, organic, and made without animal byproducts such as isinglass. Drink away!

 

Recent Content