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On the general question of the Kosher status of beers, let’s begin by making this statement. The OU’s position is that all domestic and Canadian beers - except for the small ‘specialty brews’ beer companies - brew their beer in the same traditional manner.  This implies that they are not adding any other problematic ingredients. As such, the OU feels that under current brewing practices, such commercial beers seemingly do not present any Kosher problems.

We’ve heard reports that some of the ‘dark’ beers brewed overseas may have grape extract added to their brew (is the word Mish or Mash?). We cannot confirm this one way or the other, thus the OU does not include non-domestic brews in their recommendation of beers.

Additionally, the new products coming in the market place, which are basically flavored beers with more alcohol content, are considered to be in a different category than regular beers. All of these products contain flavors. We needn’t remind you that flavorings require a reliable Kosher certification.

We wish to make this point: Obviously, the OU did not investigate every brewery in the world, not even every brewery in the USA.  Our information was derived by meeting with many of the top brew masters and brew mavens in the USA and visiting a number of the large breweries in the USA.  In speaking with these brew masters, we were able to learn much of what goes on during the brewery production. At the same time, these brew masters did not claim that they were knowledgeable about European breweries.

The following beer products are certified Kosher Parve when bearing the OU symbol:

Label Name Brand Name Label Comp
Beer Aspen Edge Coors Brewing Company
Beer Bartels The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Beer Coors Coors Brewing Company
Beer Coors Light Coors Brewing Company
Beer Coors Original Coors Brewing Company
Beer Esslinger The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Beer Extra Gold Coors Brewing Company
Beer Extra Gold Coors Brewing Company
Beer Gibbons The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Beer Keystone Coors Brewing Company
Beer Keystone Light Coors Brewing Company
Beer Killians Irish Red Coors Brewing Company
Beer Killians Irish Red Coors Brewing Company
Beer Lionshead The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Beer Winterfest Coors Brewing Company
Blue Moon Beer Belgian White Coors Brewing Company
Deluxe Pilsner Beer Lionshead The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Gold Medal Beer Stegmaier The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Light Beer Coors Coors Brewing Company
Light Beer Coors Light Coors Brewing Company
Light Beer Stegmaier The Lion Brewery, Inc.
Low Carb Cold-Filtered Light Beer Coors Edge Coors Brewing Company
Pumpkin Ale Beer Blue Moon Coors Brewing Company
Root Beer Schnapps Leroux Jim Beam Brands
Wit Beer Redhook Redhook Ale Brewery

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