Vegan beer?

[trigger]

So, last night I had some beer at a party and there were a couple of part-time vegans there. I warned them that I had fined the beers with gelatin, and they were ok with that. I got to thinking about something I heard at the LHBS about vegans not drinking unfiltered beer because the yeast isn't part of a vegan diet. Has anyone else heard of this? I asked one of them and he said no way, yeast is a fungus and vegans eat mushrooms. So what's the deal?

This came about because apparently HUB filters their beer in order to maintain vegan status. Pro/con vegan views aside, why wouldn't beer be vegan, even if it did have yeast?

 

[Yooper]

The only reason I can think of that beer wouldn't be vegan is the finings. Gelatin is a huge no-no, and since I have vegetarian friends (not vegans, though), I never use gelatin or isinglass or anything like that.

If your friends were ok with gelatin, they certainly weren't vegetarians or vegans!

Since my beer is malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, it's fine for vegans.

 

[trigger]

They're most of the time vegans apparently, for health reasons, not ethics. Every once in a while they'll have some meat and dairy. It was a BBQ and they were having the grilled chicken, so no, they aren't *real* vegans.

That aside, I would still like to know why HUB needs to filter their beer tomake it vegan. If the yeast really is at issue, isn't it a form of exploitation by using them to ferment the beer? I'm honestly curious.

Also, from a phylogenetic perspective fungi are more closely related to animals than humans, but they aren't animals. So why would fungi be non-vegan?

 

[Yooper]

They're most of the time vegans apparently, for health reasons, not ethics. Every once in a while they'll have some meat and dairy. It was a BBQ and they were having the grilled chicken, so no, they aren't *real* vegans.

That aside, I would still like to know why HUB needs to filter their beer tomake it vegan. If the yeast really is at issue, isn't it a form of exploitation by using them to ferment the beer? I'm honestly curious.

Also, from a phylogenetic perspective fungi are more closely related to animals than humans, but they aren't animals. So why would fungi be non-vegan?

I think that the store is nuts. Filtering it won't make it "more" vegan, unless they have some vegans who won't eat yeast products. I think it's a matter of degrees. Some vegetarians eat dairy and eggs. Some do not. Some vegans probably eat fungi. Most will not eat ANY animal derived products, though, and fungi may fall into that category in a strict sense.

I'm not a vegan, so I don't know what they would allow. My understanding is that they would eat only non-animal (plant) products, though.

 

[MalFet]

Fungi are no more animals than plants are. The three belong to separate taxonomic kingdoms. I can certainly imagine your friends having a particular reason to not like yeast (allergies, taste, etc.), but it shouldn't be because they are vegans.

 

[Erroneous]

A quick google reveals that yeast is vegan. Google also defined vegan as no animals or animal products (gelatin, eggs, fish, milk). Not sure what filtering would do, maybe something with kosher (idk) but since yeast is vegan doesn't make sense.

 

[Teromous]

A quick google reveals that yeast is vegan. Google also defined vegan as no animals or animal products (gelatin, eggs, fish, milk). Not sure what filtering would do, maybe something with kosher (idk) but since yeast is vegan doesn't make sense.

Milk is a byproduct of cows, and beer is a byproduct of yeast. Filtering beer does not make it right...we're still exploiting them. More people should understand the plight of yeast and stand up for their rights. Beets too. When I cut them open it looks like blood.

 

[rrmiller]

Milk is a byproduct of cows, and beer is a byproduct of yeast. Filtering beer does not make it right...we're still exploiting them. More people should understand the plight of yeast and stand up for their rights. Beets too. When I cut them open it looks like blood.

Save the yeast! Stop their suffering! Every year TRILLIONS or even BAZILLIONS die..........BEER IS MURDER!!

I think I'll have another....

 

[osagedr]

I once BBQd a vegan. Nice and tender.

 

[Nightbiker]

beat me to the punch! I second that -if yeast weren't "allowed" then the product MADE with the yeast wouldn't be 'allowed'. -if it were allowed only because it was filtered, then the isinglass shouldn't make a difference since IT falls out of suspension in the final phase of the process as well.
I'm an omnivore -I'm "allowed" to eat anything that can't escape, and I can have whatever drink I can get my hands on -if I really want to, that is. Personally I always just ask for a beer. It goes with everything (grin).

 

[JefeTheVol]

I believe that a lot of vegan diets contain yeast because of the B12 content.

 

[rycov]

I'm an omnivore -I'm "allowed" to eat anything that can't escape

awesome. check sig

 

[remilard]

I think the HUB thing is this simple.

1. They want to serve clear beer.
2. Most finings are not vegan.
3. They filter instead of fining.

So it is the absence of fining and not the presence of filtering that makes the beer vegan, but they must do one or the other.

Some vegans are painfully strict from a purity POV, so it should be pointed out that an argument could be made that DE filtering is not vegan. However HUB probably is not using a DE filter as I think most smaller operations do not.

 

[Qhrumphf]

I've got many vegan friends, many who are quite strict about it. And they're all fine with yeast. Worth noting that some vegans will not consume honey, as many folks use in their brews. There's a separate class of folks who will not consume anything that kills a live plant- they'll only eat what falls off of or can be picked from a plant without harvesting it (fruits and such). But considering that an apple that falls off a tree has natural yeast in it (wild fermented cider would be impossible without it) I don't think even THEY would have a problem with yeast. However, the other ingredients in beer wouldn't be ok.

 

[edecambra]

Yeah, if they don't eat yeast, they wouldn't eat mushrooms either!

 

[trigger]

I think the HUB thing is this simple.

1. They want to serve clear beer.
2. Most finings are not vegan.
3. They filter instead of fining.

So it is the absence of fining and not the presence of filtering that makes the beer vegan, but they must do one or the other.

Some vegans are painfully strict from a purity POV, so it should be pointed out that an argument could be made that DE filtering is not vegan. However HUB probably is not using a DE filter as I think most smaller operations do not.

That's what I thought, but from the mouth of a brewer they have to filter the beer to meet their vegan standards. I even asked about cellulose and the answer I got was that they use a DE filter. Not really an explanation.

I have a feeling that they have a DE filter and don't want to fine their beer for dietary considerations. Somewhere along the lines this got blurred into they must remove the yeast to have vegan beer.

 

[Nightbiker]

man this is starting to make my head hurt. I'm just glad I don't share their beliefs! Seems like an awful lot of trouble to me -and flat takes the fun out of living. I mean, I not only love brewing (and consuming the product) but I LOVE to cook as well -not just meats (fish, pork, beef, venison or dove (did I forget chicken and turkey?) I enjoy preparing vegetables and well, pretty much everything. I love good food -no two ways about that. Its one of the things that makes life so full of pleasure!
I don't have a problem with those who observe these other beliefs and restrictions, but I do feel sorry for them. But hey, its their choice and I respect that.
Well, I'll be going home from work in about a half hour or so, grab a pint and get to bed. Y'all have a safe day out there!

 

[dfc]

Vegans are some of the most self righteous people on the planet. Eff them. Make your beer the way you want to and if they won't drink it the loss falls squarely on them.

 

[Nightbiker]

Vegans are some of the most self righteous people on the planet. Eff them. Make your beer the way you want to and if they won't drink it the loss falls squarely on them.

true enough for some of 'em, but at least in my experience not all of them are like that. But that said, I don't jump through hoops for anyone. The spread I put out is what >I< enjoy.

 

[dfc]

true enough for some of 'em, but at least in my experience not all of them are like that. But that said, I don't jump through hoops for anyone. The spread I put out is what >I< enjoy.

You can't really ever say all of one type of people are a certain way. With that being said, I have plenty of vegan friends. Most of them are really cool about it, but some are definitely self righteous. They look down on others if they aren't hardcore vegan. I'm sorry, but milk is good on my cereal and steak is amazing from my grill. Just because you have qualms about eating animals or animal products doesn't make you a better person than I am.

/Rant.

 

[Northcalais40]

Vegans are some of the most self righteous people on the planet. Eff them. Make your beer the way you want to and if they won't drink it the loss falls squarely on them.

I think you must mean self referential, right (eous)?

 

[rico567]

It's amazing how fast anything relating to vegetarianism / veganism bores the #### out of me. Now are we having brats or burgers for supper?

 

[peregrinebio]

I guess dry hogging is out of the question

http://www.byo.com/component/resource/article/2060-breakfast-beers-bacon-beer

I've been there and had it. Meh.

 

[bbrim]

I'm not vegan but I am vegetarian. That said I drink plenty of unfiltered beer and will not use gelatin or isinglass in my beers. I do worry sometimes that commercial beers may use gelatin.

 

[ChandlerBang]

Vegans are some of the most self righteous people on the planet. Eff them. Make your beer the way you want to and if they won't drink it the loss falls squarely on them.

^^^ ha ha this guy, I like this guy.

I had an ethics class in college. Animal Sciences 597 I think.... Anyway, half the class was hardcore vegans. Not the kind that are that way for dietary reasons. And the other half were farmers. It was an awesome class. They brought in members from ALF to speak on behalf of PETA one day. The cops had to escort them out. It was great.

 

[Zamial]

The real question will be...Since being a vegetarian is a choice in diet, will the vegetarians eat whatever food they can find or starve once the zombie apocalypse begins?

 

[Nightbiker]

I'm not vegan but I am vegetarian. That said I drink plenty of unfiltered beer and will not use gelatin or isinglass in my beers. I do worry sometimes that commercial beers may use gelatin.

I'd expect they would be more likely to use a forced filtration system than they would an additive -but? I mean, they are going to use whatever allows them to do the fastest turnaround for the least amount of money. Maybe they use both? After all, Coors is 'cold filtered' (or was that ice-house? Corona? -no, that stuff was strained through a rotting cactus... Kind of an, OPEN CONDITIONING if you will....)

In any case, I only use fining agents for light colored beers -no real point in the dark ones (least not for me).

My dads' stepdaughter (one of 'em, anyway) brought 'tofurkey' to the Thanksgiving dinner one year -she tried (in vain) to get everyone to try it -stating that it "tastes just like turkey" -to which I replied, then why not just eat the real thing? It REALLY tastes just like turkey! MY family grew up farming -so needless to say, we didn't use phoney meats.
When the chips are tallied up at the end of your life, will you have been satisfied, or disappointed in how you experienced life?

 

[rycov]

i've had tofurky. it doesn't taste "just like turkey." its not bad, but its not a substitute in my opinion. the name is sweet though.

 

[MalFet]

I'd expect they would be more likely to use a forced filtration system than they would an additive -but? I mean, they are going to use whatever allows them to do the fastest turnaround for the least amount of money. Maybe they use both? After all, Coors is 'cold filtered' (or was that ice-house? Corona? -no, that stuff was strained through a rotting cactus... Kind of an, OPEN CONDITIONING if you will....)

In any case, I only use fining agents for light colored beers -no real point in the dark ones (least not for me).

My dads' stepdaughter (one of 'em, anyway) brought 'tofurkey' to the Thanksgiving dinner one year -she tried (in vain) to get everyone to try it -stating that it "tastes just like turkey" -to which I replied, then why not just eat the real thing? It REALLY tastes just like turkey! MY family grew up farming -so needless to say, we didn't use phoney meats.
When the chips are tallied up at the end of your life, will you have been satisfied, or disappointed in how you experienced life?

Wat? Why shouldn't she be satisfied with how she experienced life? Is eating turkey, specifically, where you derive the bulk of your life's joy? For all this talk about uppity vegans, I tend to run into just as many non-vegans who get mighty uppity about veganism. Who cares what she eats and doesn't?

(For the record, I love cheeseburgers.)

 

[dancness]

I have some strict vegan friends and they consume nutritional yeast all the time.

Similarly, any beer that is made from regular ingredients with no animal products added (gelatin, milk products, etc) falls within the definition of a vegan diet.

Only foods originating from animals are off limits for vegans. If they call themselves vegans but they eat eggs, cheese, chicken, etc sometimes, they are not really vegan and should not refer to themselves as such.

Maybe the proper term term for that lifestyle is "health food conscious."