You might be surprised to learn that many alcoholic drinks aren’t vegan or even vegetarian.
When wine and beer are brewed, there is a lot of cloudy sediment left which has to
be cleared. The traditional way of doing this is to leave the liquid in a cellar
for a few months to allow the sediment to fall to the bottom. However, in modern
brewing practices this takes too long and so a variety of substances are added to
stick to the sediment to make it clear more quickly. These substances include isinglass
(taken from the swim bladders of fish), egg, gelatine (ground up animal skin and
bones) and clay. Some also involve animal ingredients such as beer made from honey
and Harvey’s Bristol Cream, which of course is made from milk.
This means that many wines and beers (especially real ales) aren’t suitable for vegans.
However, the excellent website Barnivore.com has a comprehensive list of those drinks
which are vegan. In addition, the Co-Op supermarket labels its own-brand vegan drinks
and its range includes many vegan wines and even vegan bitters, such as their Best
Bitter (in cans) and Premium Ale (in bottles).
I can also recommend Banana Bread Beer, brewed by Wells, which is available in some
supermarkets and which tastes as delicious and strange as it sounds!
When choosing drinks to buy, the Animal Free Shopper is, as ever, invaluable.
If you wish to buy wine as a gift, there are several mail-order wine companies who
can supply vegan cases.
Vegan Wines Online have a range of around 100 wines which can be purchased in mixed
cases. Viva have a wide range of wines, with profits going to animal welfare campaigns.
Vinceremos are a long-established company selling a wide range of wines, the majority
of which are vegan. Vintage Roots sell organic wine and have hundreds of vegan products.
Smithfield wine is another merchant with an extensive vegan selection. Vegan Italy
are a small scale producer of organic, vegan, low-sulphur wines with a UK mail-order
distributor. Cases of wine are also available from the Animal Aid online shop.
If you want to make mulled wine, you will need a mulled wine kit and some vegan red
wine from one of the suppliers above.
