Is it vegan? Ingredients

Is isinglass vegan?

Not vegan

Quick answer: No. Isinglass is a form of collagen made from fish swim bladders and is used to clarify some beers and wines.

Also called: fish gelatin, fish bladder finings, finings

Why it isn’t vegan

PETA describes isinglass as a form of gelatin prepared from the internal membranes of fish bladders. Brewers — especially of traditional British cask ale — and some winemakers use it as a fining agent to make drinks clear; most of it settles out, but the drink is not considered vegan.

Because fining agents are processing aids, isinglass usually does not have to appear on labels. Some brewers have dropped it: in 2017 PETA reported Guinness’s statement that keg Guinness Draught brewed at St James’s Gate was being made without isinglass.

What to look for on the label

  • Usually not labelled — look for a vegan logo or ask the producer
  • “fined with isinglass”
  • cask ale (often fined)

Where it’s found

  • Cask (real) ales
  • Some bottled beers, wines and ciders

Vegan alternatives

  • Vegan-labelled beers and wines
  • Unfined or filtered beers
  • Drinks fined with bentonite, silica or pea protein

Frequently asked questions

Is isinglass vegan?

No. Isinglass is a form of collagen made from fish swim bladders and is used to clarify some beers and wines.

Sources

  1. Animal-Derived Ingredients List — PETA
  2. My goodness, my Guinness goes vegan — PETA
  3. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 579/2012 (labelling of egg and milk fining agents in wine) — EUR-Lex

Checked on 31 October 2026. Ingredients and recipes change, and the same product can differ between countries — always check the current label. This page is general information, not allergy or medical advice.

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