Guinness goes vegan by dropping fish product

Guinness have announced that they will be removing the fish extract isinglass from their filtration system in 2016, so that the beverage will be suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Isinglass is made from the swim bladders of fish and has been used by Guinness to purify their drinks since the company was created.

“Isinglass has been used widely within the brewing industry as a means of filtration for decades”, said Guinness in a statement.

“However, because of its use we could not label Guinness as suitable for vegetarians and have been looking for an alternative solution for some time. We are now pleased to have identified a new process through investment in a state-of-the-art filtration system at St James’s Gate which, once in place, will remove the use of isinglass in the brewing process.”

Guinness have assured consumers that the change won’t affect the drink itself:

“The recipe for Guinness will not be changing and will still remain the same great pint of Guinness that it has always been, loved by millions of people around the world.”

Liberties green grocer Jack Roche told us that “theoretically it is good” for his business that Guinness are erasing fish from their filtration system.

Jack Roche (Photo Liam McInerney)

However, according to Mr Roche, veganism isn’t a common diet among the people of the Liberties and therefore Guinness’s alteration won’t influence the area.

“We do have customers here who don’t eat meat; but very few of them. Vegans come but certainly in the Liberties you would rarely find people who are vegan.

Mr Roche went on to give his thoughts on the diet:

“My opinion is that if you want to go vegan, go vegan. But I like my bit of steak, chicken and fish, so at 71 years of age I’m not going vegan and I don’t drink so I won’t be drinking fish entrails from pints of Guinness anyway,” he said.

“Has veganism scientifically proved that if you don’t eat meat or fish you’re going to be like Albert Einstein or live to 150?” joked Mr Roche.  

Louisa Moss from the Vegetarian Society of Ireland told The Liberty she was “delighted” with the decision

“We feel that this is consumer driven, reflecting the changing tastes of people and the desire of Guinness to keep up with those changes. On a scale of one to ten, Guinness gets a ten from the Vegetarian Society for this gutsy decision. We are all looking forward to enjoying a pint of Guinness in the New Year,” she added.