The key ingredient that determines whether a beer is vegetarian/vegan or not is finings. Finings are used to clarify beer, by pulling yeast sediment to the bottom of the cask. These are usually made from isinglass, an extract from the swim bladder of the sturgeon fish. Although the finings drop to the bottom of the cask with the yeast and are not consumed, the use of an animal product to produce the beer is objected to by strict vegetarians and vegans.
Some brewers don't fine their beer, but this means the beer needs longer to settle before serving in the pub and still turns out hazy or even cloudy in the glass. Others use finings made from seaweed, but this is mostly confined to bottled beer usage.
Even brewers producing bottle-conditioned beers often fine the beer at the brewery before adding in fresh yeast prior to bottling. However, several brewers bottle without fining the beer and their bottle-conditioned beers can be considered to be vegetarian/vegan. Not all the beers have official vegetarian/vegan accreditation, but the brewers assure us that no animal products are used in their production. Note that honey beers may be vegetarian but are not considered vegan as they contain an animal product - honey!
Black Isle, Munlochy, Ross-shire, Scotland
Tel. 01463 811871
www.blackislebrewery.com
Vegan Beers: Black Isle Organic, Blonde (wheat beer)
Hop Back, Downton, Wiltshire
Tel. 01725 510986
www.hopback.co.uk
Vegan Beers: Entire Stout
Marble Brewery, Manchester
Tel. 0161 832 5914
Vegan Beers: Northern Quarter, Cloudy Marble, Uncut Amber, Old Lag, Chocolate Heavy, Ginger Beer
Pitfield Brewery, Hoxley, Essex
Tel. 0845 833 1492
www.pitfieldshop.co.uk
Vegan Beers: Pitfield Original Bitter, Shoreditch Stout, East Kent Goldings, Eco Warrior, Hoxton Best Bitter, Black Eagle, 1850 Porter, plus special brews
Burton Bridge Brewery, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire
Tel. 01283 510573
www.burtonbridgebrewery.co.uk
Vegan Beers: Burton Porter, Bramble Stout, Empire Pale Ale, Tickle Brain
Cropton Brewery, Cropton, N. Yorkshire
Tel. 01751 417310
www.croptonbrewery.co.uk
Vegan Beers: King Billy, Two Pints Bitter, Scoresby Stout, Uncle Sams Bitter, Rudolph's Revenge, Backwoods Bitter, Monkman's Slaughter
Vegetarian Beers: Honey Farm Bitter
Durham Brewery, Bowburn, Durham
Tel. 0191 377 1991
www.durham-brewery.co.uk
Vegan Beers: St Cuthbert, Sanctuary, Black Bishop, Bede's Chalice, Cloister
Freeminer Brewery, Cinderford, Gloucestershire
Tel. 01594 827989
www.freeminer.com
Vegan Beers: Shakemantle Ginger Ale
Hanby Ales, Wem, Shropshire
Tel. 01939 232432
www.hanbyales.co.uk
Vegan Beers: Shropshire Stout, Hanby Premium, Cherry Bomb
Pilgrim Brewery, Reigate, Surrey
Tel. 01737 222651
www.pilgrim.co.uk
Vegan Beers: Springbock, Pudding
Pitfield Brewery, Hoxley, Essex
Tel. 0845 833 1492
www.pitfieldbeershop.co.uk
Vegan Beers: Pitfield Original Bitter, Shoreditch Stout, East Kent Goldings, Eco Warrior, Hoxton Best Bitter, Black Eagle, 1850 Porter, plus special brews
Dorset Brewery, Weymouth, Dorset
Tel. 01305 777515
www.dbcales.com
Vegan Beers: Weymouth Organic Gold