Change in Beer Policy from the OU (November 17, 2025):
"We are writing to inform you about an upcoming policy change regarding acceptability of beer. Historically, unflavored beers were generally assumed to be Kosher due to their simple ingredients (water, hops, barley, yeast). However, the rise of craft brewing and new production methods has led to a proliferation of flavored beers, diverse additives, and shared equipment that can compromise the Kosher status of even seemingly straightforward brews. After much research as well as consultation with other leading Kashrus agencies including the Star-k and OK, it has been collectively determined that these developments necessitate a more stringent approach to ensure our strict Kosher standards will consistently be met.
" As such, beginning January 1, 2026 all beer served in OU establishments or at certified functions or events will only be allowed with reliable kosher certification. We are attaching a partial list of current Kosher certified breweries, which contains almost 1000 beers that are already kosher certified. Note that many national brand beers already have kosher oversight and will therefore remain acceptable even without a symbol on the label. All craft brews would be required to have a kosher symbol or letter indicating Kashrus.
"We would encourage and reinforce that you contact us in advance of any event being planned to review the beer (and all alcohol) selections to ensure they will be compliant with this updated policy. As this does reflect a significant change in policy, we are committed to working with you to ensure as smooth of a transition as possible. Please feel free to reach to myself or your Kashrus Administrator with any questions or concerns.
"We are joined with the OK and Star-K , along with a number of local supervisions that will be joining us in adopting this policy.
"Thank you in advance for your partnership with OU Kosher and your commitment to ensuring the highest standards of Kosher.
KASHRUS ALERT: Starting Jan. 1, '26, the OU will require all beer served in OU-certified establishments or events to have reliable kosher certification, due to new brewing methods and additives. Many national brands remain acceptable, but all craft beers will now need a hechsher.
Lists of acceptable beers:
Needs kosher certification
November 3, 2020 OU now certifying Vizzy Hard Setzer
February 7, 2019 - The following information is from the cRc:
The following is a list of recent changes to the cRc Liquor List.
Please note that products listed as Certified are preferable to those listed as Approved.
| Beer | Dettling | Vieille Kirsch | OU logo required |
| Beer | Jailbreak Brewing | Check Liquor List | Star-K logo required |
| Beer | Kirkland Signature | Check Liquor List | KCOR certified |
| Liqueur | Righteous Road | Righteous Seven Liqueur | OU logo required |
| Scotch | Tomintoul | Tlath | OU logo required |
| Irish Whiskey | Teeling | Small Batch |
| Irish Whiskey | West Cork | 10 Year Old Single Malt |
| Scotch | Glen Moray | 12 Year Old American Cask |
| Scotch | Glen Moray | 18 Year Old |
| Scotch | Glenfiddich | Fire & Cane |
| Scotch | Glenlivet | 12 Year Old First Fill (Only "First Fill" is approved.) |
| Scotch | Glenlivet | Founder's Reserve |
| Scotch | Glenmorangie | 19 Year |
| Scotch | Glenmorangie | Allta |
| Scotch | Glenmorangie | Spìos |
| Scotch | Highland Park | Full Volume Single Malt |
| American Whiskey | Blackened | Whiskey |
| American Whiskey | Clyde Mays | Alabama Style Whiskey |
| Beer | 16 Mile Brewing Co | All Varieties |
| Beer | AleWerks Brewing Co | All Varieties |
| Beer | Great Lakes Brewing Company | All Varieties |
| Bourbon | High West | A Midwinter Nights Dram |
| Bourbon | Jim Beam | Legent |
| Bourbon | Noble Oak | Bourbon |
| Brandy | Clear Creek | All Varieties |
| Irish Whiskey | Jameson | Signature Reserve |
| Liqueur | Chase Liqueur | All Varieties |
| Other | Ginger Tipple | All Varieties |
| Rye | Angel's Envy | Rye |
| Scotch | Glendronach | Revival 15 Year |
| Scotch | Glenfiddich | 18 Year Old |
| Scotch | Glengoyne | 18 Year Old |
| Scotch | Glengoyne | 21 Year Old |
| Scotch | Glenlivet | Cipher |
| Scotch | Glenmorangie | Signet |
| Scotch | Highland Park | Magnus |
| Scotch | Johnnie Walker | Wine Cask Blend |
| Scotch | Lagavulin | Distillers Edition |
| Tequila | Qui | Platinum Extra Añejo Tequila |
| Vodka | Rain | All Varieties |
February 15, 2018 - The following information is from the cRc:
Newly Certified: BEER: Angel City, Assorted Varieties (Star-K logo required), Cobra, King, Premium, Zebra (KLBD logo required), McKenzie River, Assorted Varieties (OU logo required), Traveler Beer Co., Assorted Varieties (Star-K logo required). BRANDY: Boukha Bokobsa, Fig Alcohol (OU-P logo required). GIN: Dripping Springs, Gin (HKA certified), Empress, 1908 (Kosher Check logo required). OTHER: Ginger Tipple, Assorted Varieties (OK-P logo required), Truly Spiked & Sparkling, Assorted Varieties (OK-P logo required). RUM: Richard Distilling, Assorted Varieties (AKC logo required), Cruzan, Black Strap Rum- Dairy (OU-D certified). SAKE: G Sake, Assorted Varieties (Oregon-K logo required), Momokawa, Assorted Varieties (Oregon -K logo required), Moonstone, Assorted Varieties (Oregon -K logo required). SCOTCH: Bowmore, No.1 (KLBD logo required). TEQUILA: Cava, White Tequila (OU-P logo required). VODKA: Dripping Springs, Vodka (HKA certified), 3 Kilos, Vodka (OU-P logo required), David’s Harp Vodka, Citron Lemon Flavored (OU-P logo required), Peacock, Vodka (OU-P logo required), The Metropolitan Martini Co., Vodka Martini (OU-P logo required), Zachlawi, Assorted Varieties (OU-P logo required), Barton Naturals, Vodka, (cRc logo required), Rodrigues Markland Cottage, Sedna Vodka (COR logo required).
Newly Recommended (Not Certified): Beer: Goose Island, Four Star Pils, Ommegang, Art of Darkness, BPA, Gnomegang, Hop House, Soothsayer. IRISH WHISKEY: Bushmills, Red Bush. SCOTCH: Ancoc, 16 Year Old, Balvenie, Peat Week 14 Year 2002 Vintage, Kilchoman, 2006 Vintage (5 Year), 2007 Vintage (6 Year), 2008 Vintage (7 Year), Old Pulteney, 12 Year Old, Noss Head, Speyburn, Bradan Orach.
Newly Non-Recommended: AMERICAN WHISKEY: Clyde Mays, Whiskey, Slaughter House, American Whiskey. BEER: Mackeson, XXX Triple Stout Milk Beer, Sweetwater Brewing, All Varieties, Branchline Brewing Co., All Varieties, Summit Brewing, All Varieties, Veil Brewing Co. , All Varieties. BOURBON: Angel's Envy, Bourbon, Jim Beam, Distiller’s Masterpiece, Kelsey Creek, Unflavored (Only acceptable if purchased before Pesach 1992/5752), Rock Hill Farms, Unflavored (Only acceptable if purchased before Pesach 1992/5752), Straight Edge, Bourbon, Trader Joe's, Kentucky Bourbon Straight Whiskey, Zackariah Harris, Unflavored (Only acceptable if purchased before Pesach 1992/5752), CANADIAN WHISKY, All Varieties (Reliable Hechsher Required). IRISH WHISKEY: Bushmills, Black Bush, Kilbeggan, Single Grain Irish Whiskey. RYE: Basil Hayden's, Dark Rye. SCOTCH: Glengoyne, 21 Year Old, Glenlivet, 25 Year Old, Ardbeg, An Oa, Auchentoshan, 12 Year, Bowmore, 10 Year Old, Bruichladdich, 16 Year, First Growth Series, CUVÉE "C", Buchanan’s, 18 Year Special Reserve, Glenfarclas, 21 Year Old, 25 Year Old, Glenfiddich, Project XX, Winter Storm, Glenlivet, 21 Year Old, Highland Park, Magnus, Jura, 10, Kilchoman, 2009 Vintage (8 Year), Speyburn, 10 Year Old.
May 7, 2017: From the London Beth Din:
Please note the following changes to our guidelines for Irish whiskey and new advice regarding whiskey produced in other countries, as printed in The Really Jewish Food Guide 2017. Our guidelines for Scotch whisky remain unchanged.
All Irish Whiskey is now approved. As a direct result of the work of the KLBD with the distillers, Irish legislation has been changed and it is no longer permitted to add flavour enhancers (including those which are wine based) to Irish whiskey. This applies to all whiskey bottled in Ireland since mid 2009.
Other whiskies produced overseas (American, Japanese, Norwegian etc) are not necessarily subject to the above mentioned controls and only those kosher certified or approved can be recommended.
February 16, 2017- from the the Atlanta Kashruth Commission:
2015 Recanati Wine does not have OU certification (shmita concern). The AKC does not recommend purchasing this product, and has asked local stores to remove it from the kosher sections.
February 16, 2017- from the the Atlanta Kashruth Commission:
Richland Dark Aged Rum is now AKC approved, even without the AKC logo.
May 25, 2016 from the Atlanta Kashruth Commission:
We are proud to announce that Monday Night Brewery is now AKC certified! Any of their year round beers including: Slap Fight, Nerd Alert, Blind Pirate, Fu Manbrew, Drafty Kilt and Eye Patch Ale are now Kosher Certified whether in a bottle, can, or by draft! The beer is Kosher even when not bearing an AKC symbol.
Although regular beer does not require a hechsher, beers produced in microbreweries or that have flavors added, do. Feel free to show Monday Night Brewery that it was worth going Kosher, and that they are appreciated by the community, by buying their beer. These beers can be purchased at Kroger, Publix, and many other locations.
February 23, 2016: From the London Beth Din: Thunder Toffee Vodka now certified KLBD Parev only when bearing the KLBD logo. Currently sold at Kosher Kingdom, BKosher, Mendy's and Sussers.
February 11, 2016: From the OK Kosher Certification Twitter Feed: Bushmills Distillery (Ireland) is now OK kosher certified. They produce Irish whiskey.
From the Beth Din of Johannesburg on January 15, 2016: Please be aware, that we have received correspondence from the Federation of Synagogues in London (KF), whom used to certify "Tanqueray Gin", letting us know that this product is no longer certified and therefore is no longer an approved kosher product for consumption in South Africa.
from the Chicago Rabbinical Council on January 26, 2016: Based on the findings of a recent AKO Liquor Committee Meeting, the cRc has decided to update the following liquor policies, as follows:
From the OK Kosher Certification on January 20, 2015: Baltika Brewery, St. Petersburg, Russia: Please be advised that Baltika Beer is no longer certified by OK Kosher Certification.
From the cRc on January 4, 2016 with additional information on January 7, 2016:
Effective immediately, all products from Minhas Craft Brewery, Monroe, WI, are no longer certified by the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc).
Additional information from the cRc in response to the editor's questions: These products did not bear a cRc. The cRc did not certify any tequila, distilled products, or flavored beer.
From KMD Mexico on October 23, 2015: Hortinos 100% Pro Agave Tequila Las siguientes Bebidas Alcohólicas de la marca Hornitos están autorizadas como Mehadrin Parve
Translation from Google translate: The following Liquor mark the Hornitos are authorized as Mehadrin Parve
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