Getting Into the Holiday Spirits: Wine, Beer, And Liquor Producers Move Toward Plant-Based And OrganicForward-thinking beverage producers are nixing animal byproducts and additives, and implementing more eco-friendly and humane practices.

Everyone knows wine is made from grapes and beer is made from hops, yeast, and grain. Right?

Well, mostly.

Like most processed food and drink today, various other ingredients are added to wine and beer for flavor, preservation, clarification, and other purposes. Because alcohol, unlike other food and drink products, doesn't need to list all ingredients on the label, it's really easy to simply not know what's in our drinks. And whether or not you're a vegetarian or vegan, you might be surprised out to learn that some of those additives aren't always plant-based.

假期对我们的台阶,我们中的许多人甲型肝炎e celebrations on the horizon (even if they will be over Zoom this year). In many cases, that means wine, beer, and spirits are going to be many folks' beverages of choice, and few would disagree that consumers today want to know what's in their glass. Here's a rundown of what to look for (and avoid) in your drinks this season, and some brands you can trust for cruelty-free sips.

What's not vegan about alcohol?

Some styles of beer include lactose — that sugar that about65% of the population不能消化完全或——味道。牛奶圣outs, as the name would suggest, typically include milk sugar to add a creamy sweetness, and some other styles, like pastry stouts or fruited sours, will use it on occasion too.

It's also worth noting that some beers use honey for flavor, as well. If you're ahoney-avoidant veganor simply trying to cut down on the sticky stuff, you may want to be careful, as this sneaky ingredient isn't always made apparent from a beer's name or description.

Related:Plant-Based Eating Isn't Just Salads And Beans. The Vegan Dessert ...

But it gets a little gnarlier. Beer and wine are sometimes clarified (where solids are removed to give a clear liquid) withgelatin, egg whites, or isinglass— a derivative of fish bladders. The use of isinglass or gelatin means some beer and wine isn't even vegetarian-friendly. Not to mention...fish bladders? In wine? Doesn't exactly sound appealing.

Most wine, beer, and spirits are fine for vegans

The good news, though, is twofold: Lots of wine and beer are made without any animal additives whatsoever, and there's a major resource to help you figure out what's vegan-friendly. Experienced vegans who imbibe probably already know aboutBarnivore, an expansive database of the veg-friendly status of wine, beer, and spirits. The information is sourced by checking directly with the drink producers, often multiple times, so it's a reliable resource. And it currently covers over 50,000 different products, so whether you're picking up a store-brand two buck chuck or a niche craft beer from a microbrewery, chances are they have some intel.

If you're a true wine person, you'll be glad to know that some wine producers are mostly, or completely, vegan. You might recognize the brandLayer Cake, perhaps known best for their reds but also producers of white and rosés as well — their entire portfolio is vegan. This is also true of popular wine brandBread and Butter, a California maker that includes reds as well as white and rosé. And of course, small, independent producers are always a good bet. Oregon'sLumos Winemakes not only vegan but organic wines, andFrey Vineyardsin California is vegan friendly and organic as well as biodynamic and free of sulfites.

Some breweries, too, avoid animal additives entirely. Those includeSierra Nevada, of course, widely considered the original better-for-the-planet brewery.Sixpoint, the trend-leading Brooklyn brewery that regularly has hipsters lining up for special releases, eventuallyphased outthe use of animal additives so their brews are a safe bet. The upstate New York breweryOmmegang, known for their Belgian farmhouse styles, is also reliably vegan. Southern California breweryModern Timesis also, quite famously, entirely vegan on account of one of the owners being a longtime vegan. Their taproom locations in Los Angeles and San Diego offer killer menus of plant-based food.

Related:In Times of Uncertainty, Shelf-Stable, Vegan Foods Make ...

If you're more of a spirits drinker, you'll be relieved to know that the vast majority of distilled beverages are vegan-friendly (but just to be sure, Barnivore covers those, too). There are a few exceptions, though, like cream-based liqueurs such as Bailey's. The good news for Irish coffee fans, though, is that Bailey's also makes analmond milk-basedvariety. Happy St. Patrick's Day, indeed.

Beyond cruelty-free: organic and biodynamic bevs

Also worth noting is the rise of organic beverages. If you're a person who thinks carefully about your food and drink choices, either for the sake of your personal health, the environment, or the welfare of animals (or a combination of the three), it may interest you to know that lots of drinks are being made from organic ingredients. An organic beer, for example, uses at least 95% organically grown ingredients — that is, no GMOs, synthetic fertilizers, or pesticides, according toFood Republic. While there aren't many breweries that are exclusively organic (though some, like Peak Organics, do exist), lots of craft breweries are moving in that direction with organic options. Jai Ho'sMidnight IPA, Sierra Nevada'sEstate Ale, Samuel Smith'sOrganic Cherry Ale, and evenMichelob's Ultra Pure Gold Premium Light Lagerare all organic.

With the world of craft beverages becoming thoughtful and competitive all the time, it isn't much of a surprise to see more organic and plant-based options becoming available. People are caring more and more about what they put in their bodies, and makers are being more and more careful about what goes into their prized products. Drinking better for our bodies, other animals, and the environment this holiday season? I'll raise a glass to that.

Related:Plant-Based in a Pinch: The Frozen Food Aisle Is Turning Vegan ...