Is Guinness Vegan?

Yes, you can order a pint of Guinness. For a long time vegans couldn't, and plenty of people still think that's the case, so it's worth explaining what changed and when.

Why Guinness wasn't vegan

Guinness never had fish as an ingredient. The problem was isinglass, a form of collagen made from dried fish swim bladders. Brewers add it to finished beer to help yeast and other particles settle out, so the beer pours clear. Most of it sinks with the sediment, but traces can stay in the beer, so vegans and vegetarians avoid beer cleared with it.

Guinness had used isinglass since at least the 19th century, roughly 200 years. In November 2015 the brewery said it had "been looking for an alternative solution for some time" and would switch to a new filtration system. It's the same reason a lot of beer and wine still isn't vegan today.

When Guinness went vegan

Any pre-2018 bottle is long gone from shop shelves, so whatever you buy today is the new process.

Which Guinness beers are vegan?

These statuses come from Guinness's own replies collected by Barnivore, the vegan drinks database, last double-checked in October 2025. Guinness says its beers are made without animal products but doesn't market or certify them as vegan.

The ingredients themselves are simple: water, barley (malted and roasted), hops and yeast. Nothing there comes from an animal.

Guinness in Ireland, the UK and the US

Guinness has been brewed at St James's Gate in Dublin since 1759, and if you're visiting, the pint at the Storehouse is as vegan as the one in your local. The isinglass change covered Guinness Draught worldwide, so a can in a Boston supermarket, a pint in Belfast and a pint in Cork all count.

A few practical notes:

• Irish and UK pubs. Guinness on draught is vegan. The things to check are on the menu, not the tap: Guinness beef stew is obviously out, and Guinness brown bread is often made with buttermilk and served with butter. Ask before you order.
• The other Irish stouts. Murphy's and Beamish, both from Cork and now owned by Heineken Ireland, used isinglass for years. In 2026 the company told Barnivore that both stouts no longer use it and are suitable for vegans. Older replies said the opposite, so this is a genuine recent change.
• Smithwick's and Kilkenny. Barnivore's records for these are older and mixed, with one undated reply saying isinglass is used. Treat them as "check first."
• The US. The US range, including Guinness Draught cans and Guinness Blonde, is listed as vegan. US alcohol labels don't list fining agents, so Barnivore is the quickest check.

How to check any stout or ale

1. Search Barnivore. It publishes the brewer's own replies with dates, which is the best evidence you'll get.
2. Be wary of cask ale. In Irish and UK pubs, traditional cask (hand-pulled) ale is more likely to be cleared with isinglass than keg beer.
3. Watch for milk and honey. Milk stouts and sweet stouts often contain lactose, a milk sugar. Some ales add honey.
4. Look for a vegan mark. Some breweries use the Vegan Society trademark or say "vegan friendly" on the can or pump clip.

Our full beer guide goes into finings in more detail.

Guinness in mixed drinks and cooking

Guinness itself is fine, but what it's mixed with might not be.

If you're cooking with Guinness at home, it works just as well in a mushroom and lentil stew as it does in the beef version. The beer brings the same roasted, slightly bitter depth either way.

Allergy notes

Guinness contains barley, so it's not gluten-free, and that includes Guinness 0.0. There are no milk, egg or nut ingredients in the core stouts.

Alternatives

Want a stout that's certified vegan, rather than just made without animal products? Look for craft stouts carrying a vegan trademark, or check Barnivore for your local brewery. For a non-beer option, our vegan drinks guide covers cider, wine, soft drinks and more.

The bottom line

Guinness is vegan, and has been since 2017 for kegs and late 2017 for bottles and cans. Draught, Extra Stout, Foreign Extra Stout and Guinness 0.0 are all fine. The only things to watch are rare limited specials and what's on the pub menu alongside your pint. Sláinte.