Since many beers are not Kosher-certified, people still rely on a list of recommended and not-recommended ones. Below are some recent issues and policies on beer from cRc and Star-K.

All plain beers without additives are permissible, even without a Kosher certificate. This applies to US and imported beers, light beer, dark beer and non-alcoholic beer.

Beers with additives, including those containing flavorings, botanical extracts and fruit, are not recommended.

The following are exceptions:

1) Many breweries produce specialty-brewed beers containing additives. Please check the label and do not assume all varieties are acceptable.

2) Beers produced by small breweries, bars and craft breweries require a Kosher certificate.

3) All beers containing ingredients such as lactose or milk require a Kosher certificate.

4) Beer imported from Israel requires a Kosher certificate.

Star-K

Star-K informs that two large Baltimore beer distribution companies and surrounding areas are Jewish-owned. Usually, many beers sold in Baltimore should be chometz she'avar alav haPesach, but this is not a suitable time to purchase them. A list of the affected beers can be found at http://tinyurl.com/hj3f8v6. These companies are the exclusive suppliers of these brands in the regions on the list.

The distributors have informed Star-K that their existing beer inventory will not be consumed by Passover, until July. A more precise time will be published online, when consumers can check Star-K's website for the updated date. Until then, do not purchase these beers. If you have already purchased the above beers, please contact a rabbi for guidance.

Star-K considers other brands of beer not on this list to be free of problems. In addition, any beer (including the brands mentioned above) can be purchased at the Kosher store located at 6309 Reisterstown Rd.

This information applies only to the Maryland counties specified on the list. Star-K has no information outside the Maryland region.

For cRc's lists of recommended and not-recommended beers, check the cRc website. The recommended list has hundreds of beers, including those with and without Kosher certification. To get information on all beers and spirits using meat-derived ingredients, please visit www.barnivore.com.

FAQ

Can beers without Kosher certification be consumed?
All plain beers without additives are permissible to eat even without a Kosher certificate, applying to US and imported beers, light beer, dark beer and non-alcoholic beer. But beers with additives (flavorings, botanical extracts, fruit) are not recommended; beers from small breweries/bars/craft breweries, beers containing lactose or milk, and beers imported from Israel all require a Kosher certificate.
What references are available to confirm whether a beer is Kosher?
Since many beers are not Kosher-certified, people rely on recommended/not-recommended lists published by bodies such as cRc and Star-K - cRc's recommended list has hundreds of beers (both certified and uncertified). To check beers and spirits using meat-derived ingredients, refer to barnivore.com; specific Passover-related beer inventory policies can be checked on the respective bodies' websites.