26 November 2015 - Best Beer HQ

Are these the best vegan beers in the UK?

**British newspaper The Guardian has compiled a list of the best beers for vegans…**

Now, I’m not a vegan myself, but I like to think that Best Beer HQ – and beer drinking in general – is all inclusive. Provided you like beer, of course; otherwise you can go away right now and never come back. Go on, get out of here!

I haven’t tried any of these beers, so I can’t comment on their quality. However, I was pleased to note that The Guardian quoted Natasha Wolf of Weird Beard brewery (which made the list) as saying “too many people think that ‘vegan’ means the beer is missing something. That sort of negative connotation needs to be dismissed”.

I, too, always assumed that vegan beers would be lacking in some way, so I’m pleased to read that they’re not.

UK readers, have you tried these vegan brews? If so, let us know what you think in the comments section at the bottom of this article.

These are the beers that made the list:

Old Ford Export Stout, Redchurch Brewery

ABV: 7.5%

According to the Redchurch Brewery’s website, this black stout has a complex malt base, providing an aroma of burnt chocolate, coffee and molasses. That does sound nice, doesn’t it? Flavour wise, punchy bitterness meets earthy spice, and the complex malts are balanced by the warmth of the alcohol.

Decadence Stout, Weird Beard

ABV: 5.5%

Another stout – this time by London-based Weird Beard Brew Co. According to its website, this one is a thick and full-bodied beer with an opulent mouthfeel and a rich, coffee-roasted flavour. It sounds very luxurious indeed.

Return of the Empire, Moor Brewery

ABV: 5.7%

The entire range of beers by the Bristol-based Moor Brewery is vegan-friendly, but The Guardian recommends this light IPA over them all. This fruity, hazy English IPA makes use of a variety of hop called ‘jester’. It seems the joke was on me if I thought vegan’s couldn’t drink interesting beers.

Green Gold, Mikkeller

ABV: 6.9%

An American-style India Pale Ale brewed at De Proefbrouwerij in Copenhagen, Denmark. This beer is rich and nutty, with plenty of sweet mango, balanced with tonnes of zesty grapefruit and lime. A gluten-free variation of this beer is also available.

London Sour, The Kernel

This vegan-friendly beer is a Berliner Weisse beer by The Kernel, a brewery based in Bermondsey, London. It comes very highly rated on beer reviews site RateBeer, with some reviewers praising its zingyness and others loving its fruity aroma. One thing is for sure: this beer certainly does sound like a goody.

Craft Beer best beer / United Kingdom /