OU Announces Major Policy Shift: All Beer Will Require Hashgachah Beginning January 2026

The Orthodox Union (OU) has announced a major policy change regarding the kashrus status of beer beginning January 1, 2026. For decades, unflavored beer was widely assumed to be inherently kosher. The classic brewing process—built on simple ingredients such as water, hops, barley, and yeast—was traditionally viewed as straightforward and unlikely to involve non-kosher additives. | Read More in Virtual Jerusalem