Is Root Beer Vegan?
Most root beer is considered vegan-friendly. Unlike beer, it’s not traditionally refined with isinglass (fish bladder) or gelatin, and it does not usually contain any animal derivatives. Typical root beer ingredients include roots/herbs, plant-based foaming agents, yummy spices like nutmeg and star anise, and a vegan-friendly sweetener. However, sometimes ingredients like lactose or honey are added.
The good news is, the most popular root beer brands, like A&W, Barq’s, Abita, Bundaberg, and Mug are totally vegan-friendly! However, you may be wondering about their sweeteners, since refined sugar is sometimes processed using animal bone char. In that case, you can rest assured knowing that all of these brands—with the exception of Mug Root Beer, which does contain sugar—are sweetened with either cane sugar (vegan-friendly) or high fructose corn syrup. While these are not the healthiest choices, they are not produced at the expense of our animal friends, meaning they are OK for vegans to consume, ideally in moderation!
That said, the root beer from brands like Sprecher, Dominion, Pitchfork, Coney Island, Smirnoff, Joe’s, and Red Monkeys, or any root beers containing the word ‘Honey’ in their name or ingredients list are not suitable for vegans, as they contain either dairy products, honey, or both.
Thanks for double-checking to make sure your root beer is cruelty-free—bottoms up!