Is Budweiser Vegan and Cruelty Free? (April, 2024)

Figuring out whether Budweiser is vegan can be a bit complicated.

Many beer brands contain fining agents or ingredients that may be of animal origins, such as isinglass or gelatin.

To make sure you are only eating food and drinking beverages that align with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Budweiser beer.

Here’s what I found.

Is Budweiser Vegan?

Yes! Budweiser beer is suitable for vegans. The main ingredients in Budweiser beer are water, barley, rice, yeast, and hops. No animal products are used in the beer’s brewing process.

Most beer use isinglass, which is a type of fish bladder, to clarify their products. However, Budweiser does not use isinglass in its filtration process.

Most Budweiser varieties of beer are vegan, with the exception of Budweiser Chelada, which contains clam extract. Clam extract is exactly what it sounds like—a seasoning made from dried, powdered, or boiled clams.

The remaining Budweiser varieties are vegan because they do not contain and use any animal-derived products during the brewing process.

Is Budweiser Cruelty Free?

Yes, Budweiser can be considered cruelty-free. The company does not test its products on animals, and it does not use any ingredients that are tested on animals.

Animal testing is a cruel and inhumane practice that many companies still use. The practice often leaves animals disfigured, injured, or dead.

What Are “Fining Agents”?

Fining agents are used to remove impurities from beer during the brewing process.

They are usually made of animal-derived ingredients, such as casein (a milk protein), albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal skin and bones), isinglass (fish bladder protein), and chitin (fiber from crustacean shells).

Isinglass is the most common fining agent used in the brewing industry. Budweiser doesn’t use isinglass in any of its beers according to their response to barnivore.com’s inquiry.

What Is Budweiser Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Budweiser:

Barley malt
Hops
Cereal grains (rice, corn, or sorghum)
Water
Yeast

Let’s break down each ingredient of Budweiser:

Barley malt

Barley malt is a type of grain that has been germinated and then kiln-dried. It is the main ingredient in beer, and it gives beer its characteristic flavor and color. Barley is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Hops

Hops are the female flowers of the hop plant. They are used to add bitterness, flavor, and aroma to beer. Hops are a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Rice, corn, or sorghum

These ingredients are used to lighten the body and color of beer. They also add sweetness and flavor to beer. Rice, corn and sorghum are all vegan-friendly ingredients.

Water

Water is a key ingredient in beer. It makes up the majority of the beer’s volume and helps to dissolve the other ingredients. The type of water used in brewing beer can have a significant impact on the final flavor and quality of the beer. Water is, of course, a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Yeast

Yeast is a microorganism that ferments the sugars in beer to create alcohol. There are many different types of yeast, and each type imparts a different flavor to beer. Yeast is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Why Is Budweiser Vegan?

As you can see, these crisp American lagers use only vegan ingredients and do not use any animal-derived ingredients. Budweiser confirmed that they don’t use isinglass, which is a common fining agent used in the brewing industry.

So, if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly beer, Budweiser is a good option. Just steer clear of Budweiser Chelada, which contains clam extract.

Is Budweiser Select 55 Vegan?

Yes! Budweiser Select 55 is vegan. All the ingredients and fining agents used in the brewing process are vegan friendly.