What makes beer vegan (or not)?

This January some of us will have made New Year’s Resolutions. Put down the Quality Street. Pick up the dumbbells. Spend more time with the in-laws..? Maybe not!

And many of us have signed up to Veganuary – a promise to cut down or cut out animal-based products from our diet & lifestyle. But why?

Switching to a vegan diet (or plant-based if you prefer) comes with many benefits (not just the opportunity to gloat 😉). According to the Vegan Society (Why go vegan? | The Vegan Society), veganism is kinder to animals, to people, and to our planet’s future. So by making the switch you are making a stand against animal exploitation and reducing impact on the environment, whilst also improving your own health along the way.

But veganism is for life, not just for New Year! So whether you’re going the whole hog (pardon the pun!), or just wanting to make small changes to make a big difference, look no further than Freedom Brewery!

Unlike some other breweries (not naming names), EVERY ONE of our craft beers are vegan, and certified by The Vegan Society. But what makes beer vegan?

There are 4 main ingredients in beer – water, malted barley, hops and yeast. Yes we know, these are all plant based! However, it’s the filtering process that determines whether the finished product is vegan or not. So here’s where the sciencey bit comes in…

Traditional beers often add isinglass finings (otherwise known as fish bladders – yuck!) to create a clear drink. But not at Freedom. After the yeast is added, the beer is left to ferment under pressure, releasing natural CO2 back into the liquid, which results in smaller, softer bubbles. It’s then left to mature for four weeks or a minimum of 28 days (a step many brewers skip nowadays) to allow the beer to ‘lager’ (in the traditional German meaning of the word ‘to store’), delivering soft rounded layers of flavour. It’s then sterile filtered to create the crisp, clear, complex layers of lager taste, with none of the nasties! Meaning our beer is as good to the earth as it is to your tastebuds!

So if you’re looking for a great tasting, natural, vegan lager, look no further…