Are you taking part in Veganuary this month? Maybe you’ve stopped to wonder, ‘Is beer vegan friendly?’ Many people are surprised to learn that a lot of beer on the market isn’t actually vegan or vegetarian.
We know more and more people are looking for plant-based alternatives whether it’s for ethical or health-based reasons, and this extends to beer as well as food. You may have seen an increase in your favourite restaurants and takeaways offering more vegan and vegetarian options. According to bighospitality.co.uk, Deliveroo has reported another huge increase in demand for vegan food in the last twelve months, with orders of plant-based dishes up 117% on the previous year.
Sure, beer is basically water, barley, hops, and yeast but sometimes non-vegetarian isinglass finings are used to clarify beer of yeast particles. Whilst we never use isinglass finings in our beer here at Brew York (all our beers are vegetarian), we sometimes use lactose to help build body and add a creamy mouthfeel to our beers.
So if you’ve accepted the Veganuary challenge this year or if you’re a proud lifelong vegan and you’re looking for a quality Brew York brew to enjoy then here’s our top twelve vegan beers list…
Rodney, You Tonka!
He who dares, wins and this collaboration with Lakes Brew Co. is simply lovely jubbly! For Rodney, You Tonka we took fragrant tonka beans and used them to make a sour which created a marzipan-like character. The addition of cherries further accentuates the delicious almond notes while lemons add an additional tang for the perfect amount of pucker. Find it in our shop here.
Origami Black Belt
This time next beer Rodney! Our second collaboration with Lakes Brew Co. and this time we’ve taken the tonka bean and complimented it with maple and ginger to create an indulgent vegan imperial stout with warming hints of spice and smokiness. The end result is sensationally more smashing than an antique chandelier. Find it in our shop here.
Born Under Peaches
Fancy a cup of Rosie Lee? Born Under Peaches is our peach iced tea sour. This refreshing vegan sour is brewed with Philly Sour yeast and “Emperor’s Seven Treasures” tea which combines Sri Lankan black tea and Sencha leaves with rose blossom, sunflower blossom, and sweet peach. Find it in our shop here.
Nefarious Ninja No. 9
If it’s a sensually seductive vegan stout you’re after, then our Nefarious Ninja No. 9 certainly supplies an element of surprise. Brewed with molasses and a variety of roasted grains, when you sip this assertive double espresso assassin, you won’t know what hit you. Find it in our shop here.
Twisted Transistor
Hang on you twisted transistor – This vegan sour IPA may have a Korn-y name but you’d be ‘Blind’ if you weren’t aware of our love for puns and nu-metal. This crisply tart sour contains a ‘Twist’ of fruit forward aromas including citrus, grapefruit, lime, tropical fruits and orange while the oats and flaked wheat provides enhanced body to compliment the sour notes. Find it in our shop here.
Big Eagle
A Big Eagle that’s big on flavour. Our OG vegan friendly West Coast IPA returned in a big way after a three-year hiatus with even more hops and west coast flavour. It quickly became a favourite of brewers and drinkers alike and even took the Gold as best UK-produced IPA at the SIBA Awards 2020. Find it in our shop here.
Calmer Chameleon
Our Calmer Chameleon is a vegan American pale ale featuring hyper juicy and resinous Columbus, Mosaic, Simcoe and Idaho 7 hops to come together into a super smashable brew. Find it in our shop here.
Golden Eagle
Prefer a vegan pilsner? Golden Eagle is a classic Czech style pilsner brewed with the noble Saaz hops known for their distinctive and classic aroma. You’ll enjoy a refreshing and crisp finish with just a hint of spice. Find it in our shop here.
Haze of Thunder
Racers – start your engines! This smooth and juicy modern hazy pale ale features a delightful fruit character that will slingshot you to the head of the field. Brewed with Columbus, Mosaic, Simcoe and Loral – Haze of Thunder makes for a super smashable vegan pale ale. Find it in our shop here.
Lupu Lion
We take great pride in our Lupu Lion. This hip-cat is a juicy golden vegan pale ale features the lion’s share of quality hops for roaring citrus notes with a totally paw-some resinous pine finish. Not only is it vegan but it’s also gluten free! Find it in our shop here.
Time Traveling Taxi
Time will certainly fly when you enjoy our Time Traveling Taxi DDH. This double dry hopped vegan beer showcases the Citra hop for a well-balanced beer that is delicate in body with a slight bitterness in the finish. Find it in our shop here.
X-Panda
One of our more popular seasonal beers featured in our vegan beer range, X-Panda is a session IPA whose brew is tailored according to seasonality and current tastes. 2021’s version featured a classic combination of Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic hops giving X-Panda a traditional bitter backbone. We also added a subtle tropical hop-forward edge with a touch of Sabro. Find it in our shop here.
Veganuary 4-Pack and 12-Pack
Whether you’re going vegan for the month, or you’ve dedicated your life to a vegan lifestyle our Veganuary 4-Pack makes a great introduction to our range, or enjoy more options with our Veganuary 12-pack. It comes complete with our vegan cream of the crop so you can enjoy some of our completely plant-based craft beers which pack a powerful punch. Shop 4 or 12 packs here.
This is only a short list of our vegan beer range. We’re always bringing in seasonal beers, collaborations and specials so be sure to check out the rest of our vegan beer collection for more options.