The 35 Best Low-Calorie Beers (So You Can Drink Without The Guilt)
Who says enjoying a cold brewski has to add more inches to your waist?
With the current wellness and dieting trends discouraging the use of high-carb diets, there's a long list of foods we may have to remove from our daily menus. This can also be the case with some of our favorite beverages as well, like beer.
Given this is a fan favorite for many, there must be a way to comprising drinking a cold beer while staying within our carbohydrates macros. Thankfully, there is!
Did you know that many breweries release low-carb and low-calorie beer options that are available for sale?
But before choosing the perfect beer for you without feeling guilty, it's important to remember that not all beer is created equal.
Which beer has the least amount of calories?
Any beer that's under 100 calories is a good choice for a low-calorie beer. Michelob Ultra has only 95 calories and 4.2 percent ABV, so if you're looking for a beverage that's low in calories but high in flavor, consider this option.
Another choice is Budweiser Select 55, which, like its name suggests, only has 55 calories, 1.9g carbs, and 2.4 percent ABV.
What beer has the lowest calories and carbs?
Overall, Budweiser Select 55 has the least amount of calories and carbs. However, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold and Corona Premier are also low in both. Michelob Ultra Pure Gold has 85 calories and 2.5g carbs, while Corona Premier has 90 calories and 2.6g carbs.
What is the best beer to drink when on a diet?
If you're on a diet and really want to shed pounds, you might want to consider staying away from alcohol altogether. But part of a successful diet is not denying yourself the things you enjoy most!
For thos wanting to imbibe, there are a few options you can choose from, including Corona Light, Miller Lite, Amstel Lite, and Busch Lite.
Is low-calorie beer good for you?
Low-calorie beer, as well as a low-alcohol percentage, is always better for you than high-calorie and carb beer. Look for options that are low in carbs and calories, as you can taste alcohol without getting too inebriated or feeling bloated. But remember: everything in moderation!
Are any beers Keto-friendly?
If you're on the Keto diet, you don't need to stay clear of alcohol as long as you're picking low-carb alcoholic beverages. That includes options like Coors Light (5g carbs), Amstel Light Lager (5g carbs), Miller Lite (3.2g carbs), or Natural Light (3.2g carbs).
To help narrow down the cream of the crop, we've rounded up 35 of our favorite low-carb beers (both craft and mass) that won't leave you feeling guilty.
Beer 5 Carbs And Under
1. Budweiser Select 55
It's hard to think of the word beer and not associate it with Budweiser. As one of the most popular and well known beers in America, it's nice to know that those looking to have a low-carb diet can also induldge in Budweiser Select 55, a classic staple.
Total Carbs: 1.8 grams
Total Calories: 55
Alcohol Content: 2.4 percent ABV
2. Michelob Ultra
When thinking of a low-carb beer, Michelob Ultra may be the most common go-to. Having an excellent taste, it's a great for those on diets who want to keep their carb counts down while still enjoying their cold beers.
Total Carbs: 3 grams
Total Calories: 95
Alcohol Content: 4.2 percent ABV
3. Corona Premier
Nothing says sand and surf like a refreshing Corona, but unfortunately, the traditional beverage can run high in calories and carbs. So, Corona decided that all should be able to enjoy a cold light ale no matter the occassion, and they introduced Corona Premier.
An extremely low-carb and low-calorie drink, we'll make sure it joins us on the beach or by the pool.
Total Carbs: 2 grams
Total Calories: 90
Alcohol Content: 4.0 percent ABV
4. Devil's Backbone Bright Tangerine
As the weather gets warmer, there's something refreshing about adding a hint of citrus into our beer mix. Unfortunately, those fruity brews can rack up on the carb count, but Devil's Backbone has brought us Bright Tangerine. Made with tangerine crystals, it's under 2g of carbs and packs a punchful of flavor.
Total Carbs: 2 grams
Total Calories: 90
Alcohol Content: 4 percent ABV
5. Miller 64
Imagine living the "high life" but not worrying about going over your carb macros and feeling guilty about consuming more than one or two. Get the taste of Miller beer without the extra calories with their exclusive Miller 64.
Total Carbs: 2 grams
Total Calories: 64
Alcohol Content: 2.8 percent ABV
6. Dogfish Head Slightly Mightly
It's hard to shop craft beers when trying to stay below a certain carbohydrate count, but DogFish Head is offering the perfect solution. Their Slightly Mighty is a true indie craft beer that has the taste of an IPA, but with only 3.6g carbs. Their solution was monk fruit as a natural sweetner (which contains no calories and is known to not raise blood sugar levels like traditional sugar cane).
Total Carbs: 3.6 grams
Total Calories: 95
Alcohol Content: 4 percent ABV
7. Bridge Brewing Co. Prime-Time
For our Canadian beer lovers, we offer you Prime-Time by Bridge Brewing Co, which has the tag line "No Compromises." A suiting moto as this beer doesn't give up taste for its extremely low carb count.
Total Carbs: 1.5 grams
Total Calories: 110
Alcohol Content: 5 percent ABV
8. Surly Brewing Rosé-Inspired Lager
With keeping a mental watch for carbs and calories, it's not as easy to induldge in our pink favorite. However, Surly Brewing created a low-carb rosé brew that's not only pink and bubbly, but full of currants and strawberries to elevate the beer.
Total Carbs: 2.25 grams
Total Calories: 127
Alcohol Content: 5.2 percent ABV
9. Pittsburgh Brewing Co. I.C. Light
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. (also known as Iron City Brewing Co.) brings us a low-carb craft beer. Known by brew masters to have a clean and crisps taste, those choosing to sip on I.C. Light will be decieved by its excellent taste.
Total Carbs: 2.8 grams
Total Calories: 95
Alcohol Content: 4.2 percent ABV
10. Kona Brewing Kanaha Blonde Ale
From the Big Island of Hawaii, Kona Brewing brings us Kanaha Blonde, a fruit beer that's perfect for the spring and summer weather. Made with real mango, it'll have you feeling like you're being transported straight to the islands in the pacific.
Total Carbs: 4 grams
Total Calories: 99
Alcohol Content: 4.2 percent ABV
11. Four Peaks Brut
For those new to beer and alcohol terminology, Brut is a fancy word for sparkling and dry. In the world of beer, having a brut brew is a nice change from the traditional beverage. Four Peak's Brut beer is low-carb due to its lack of sugar (giving it a dry taste), but not compromising on flavors as it's still full of mixed berries, melon, and white wine.
Total Carbs: 5 grams
Total Calories: 152
Alcohol Content: 6.7 percent ABV
12. Amstel Light
How about traveling the world with this beer that comes all the way from Amsterdam, Holland! Amstel Light beer is perfect if you want to take a chance on a foreign beer that delivers a full flavor and just as great as regular beer except lighter.
Total Carbs: 5 grams
Total Calories: 95
Alcohol Content: 3.5 percent ABV
13. Miller Lite
All the way from MillerCoors of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miller Lite is an American light pilsner beer with a crisp and light aftertaste of a great pilsner. Miller Lite has excised since 1975 because of its high-quality ingredients and great taste.
Total Carbs: 3.2 grams
Total Calories: 96
Alcohol Content: 4.2 percent ABV
Beer 10 Carbs And Under
14. Yuengling Light Lager
When going to a local or neighborhood bar, it's hard to stick to a low-carb diet, as you don't know what will be on tap. Luckily, offerings like Yuengling Light Lager will likely be on tap or available by bottle. This will make accepting those fun, late nights out much easier.
Total Carbs: 8.5 grams
Total Calories: 99
Alcohol Content: 3.8 percent ABV
15. Harpoon Brewery Rec. League
Popping up all over the brewery scene, hazy ales are one of the go-to beer options for those looking for a reshring craft beer flavor. Harpoon Brewery’s Rec. League is not only a delicious hazy ale, but full of great nutrients like buckwheat kasha to add B vitamins, chia seeds that are high in fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants, as well as Mediterranean sea salt, for a powerful source of electrolytes.
Total Carbs: 10 grams
Total Calories: 120
Alcohol Content: 3.8 percent ABV
16. Blue Point Toasted Lager
Toasted Lager, the flagship beer of Blue Point Brewery, is a classic American Amber Lager. The beverage is brewed with a secret blend of six specialty malts, giving it a crisp flavor and balanced with hops for a smooth taste and finish.
Total Carbs: 7 grams
Total Calories: 175
Alcohol Content: 5.5 percent ABV
17. Strongbow Hard Cider
Unlike beer, cider does not contain gluten, which can make it easier to cut the carbs (just have to work on the sweetness and sugar). Luckily, Strongbow figured out a way to turn a delicious cider into only 7 grams of carbs. On top of that, they have additional flavors including rosé apple and dry pear.
Total Carbs: 7 grams
Total Calories: 100
Alcohol Content: 5 percent ABV
18. Samuel Adams Light
Our favorite Boston beer has gone low-carb. Samuel Adams introduced a light lager and the public is going crazy over it. And it's no wonder — it took the brew masters over two years to come up with the perfect combination of hops and malts!
Total Carbs: 9.6 grams
Total Calories: 119
Alcohol Content: 4 percent ABV
19. Heineken Premium Light
Your favorite Dutch beer except with fewer carbs and calories. Heineken is a light-tasting international pale lager that has an aroma of zesty floral notes and hints of citrus.
Total Carbs: 7 grams
Total Calories: 99
Alcohol Content: 3.3 percent ABV
20. Coors Light
Coors Light is what you bring on a picnic, hiking trip, or out skiing. It's a "Cold Certified" beer that turns the mountains on the can from white to blue when the temperature is 39 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Total Carbs: 5 grams
Total Calories: 102
Alcohol Content: 4.2 percent ABV
21. Bud Light
Bud Light is probably one of the most iconic and well-known light beers out there because of its loyal following and because it's the go-to alcoholic beverage in the U.S. Bud Light's flavor comes from using rice as its fermentable sugar in the brewing process.
Total Carbs: 6.6 grams
Total Calories: 110
Alcohol Content: 3.5 percent ABV
22. Keystone Ice
Another well-known brand that offers lighter beers is Keystone, which has been making beer since 1989. Keystone Ice is a crisp, lightly hopped, and sweet beer that has a medium-to-dry finish that will feel so refreshing.
Total Carbs: 6.9
Total Calories: 145
Alcohol Content: 5.9 percent ABV
23. Carlsberg
Travel to Demark with a bottle of Carlsberg beer! Carlsberg is a full-bodied Danish pilsner that has a crisp and refreshing flavor with a distinctive hoppy aroma that's not too malty or bitter.
Total Carbs: 7.8
Total Calories: 119
Alcohol Content: 5 percent ABV
24. Busch
Busch Bavarian Beer started in 1955 and was founded by Anheuser-Busch. It still continues to be a popular beer with its simple yet crisp flavor of ingredients including water, barley, rice, and hops.
Total Carbs: 6.9 grams
Total Calories: 114
Alcohol Content: 4.3 percent ABV
25. Stroh's Light
Stroh's was founded by Bernhard Stroh who traveled from Germany to Droit, Michigan with a dream to create a Bohemian-style Pilsner that was a light and refreshing lager. 129 years later, Stroh's lives on in Detroit and is a perfect beer for the dreamers, creators, and doers in the world.
Total Carbs: 7 grams
Total Calories: 120
Alcohol Content: 4.1 percent ABV
26. Pabst Blue Ribbon Easy
You know this beer; it's the one that's mentioned in Lana Del Rey's iconic song "This Is What Makes Us Girls." Pabst Blue Ribbon Easy is a light lager that's made with only the finest hops and grains, established in Milwaukee in 1844.
Total Carbs: 8.3 grams
Total Calories: 113 calories
Alcohol Content: 3.9 percent ABV
Beer 15 Carbs And Under
27. Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA
What we like about Elysian Brewing's Space Dust, minus its delicious taste and mix of quality hops and malts, is that people enjoying the beverage can drink one and not add on the extra calories of two with its higher alcohol percentage. Not only is this good on the waist, it's awesome on the wallet.
Total Carbs: 15 grams
Total Calories: 230
Alcohol Content: 8.2 percent ABV
28. Guinness Extra Stout
Some of the things we love about Ireland are their whiskey and their beer. We've added the iconic Guinness Extra Stout to show how even though it's a darker beer, it doesn't have a ridiculously high-carb count. If you're looking for an even lower carb count, Guinness Draught is 126 calories, 10 gram carbs, and 4 percent ABV.
Total Carbs: 14 grams
Total Calories: 176
Alcohol Content: 6 percent ABV
29. Golden Road Brewing Wolf Pup Session IPA
Taste the true California lifestyle with a sip of Wolf Pup. Created with tropical and citrus flavor, it's an ideal refreshing seasonal IPA for those hot and sunny days.
Total Carbs: 13 grams
Total Calories: 143
Alcohol Content: 8.2 percent ABV
30. Elysian Brewing Avatar Jasmine IPA
They say that keeping jasmine in your room and home will reduce anxiety and stress levels, so what about beer that's infused with dried jasmine flower leaves? Enjoy Elysian Brewing's Avatar Jasmine IPA with extreme floral notes in addition to the hoppiness from this Indian Pale Ale.
Total Carbs: 15 grams
Total Calories: 189
Alcohol Content: 6.3 percent ABV
31. Blue Moon Belgian White Ale
Blue Moon comes from Denver, Colorado and is a beer that matches a Belgian-style beer very well, except with citrus flavor. Blue Moon Belgian White Ale is a wheat beer that's brewed with Valencia orange peels to give a sweet, bright, and citrusy aroma and taste.
Total Carbs: 14 grams
Total Calories: 170
Alcohol Content: 5.4 percent ABV
32. Ommegang Nirvana IPA
The Belgian style beer comes from the town of Cooperstown, where the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located. Ommegang is a pretty well-known brewery that got its start in the early 2000s. The Ommegang Nirvana IPA is made with seven hop varieties and offers notes of pine.
Total Carbs: 15 grams
Total Calories: 225
Alcohol Content: 6.5 percent ABV
33. Modelo Especial
Modelo Especial is a Spanish beer that is a rich, full-flavored Pilsner-style Lager, with an orange blossom honey aroma and hints of herbs. It contains water, barley malt, non-malted cereals, and hops.
Total Carbs: 13.7 grams
Total Calories: 144
Alcohol Content: 4.4 percent ABV
34. Deschutes Brewery Fresh Squeezed IPA
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA comes from the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon, a community gathering place that believes beer can bring people together. The brewery was also featured in the documentary "Pints: Stories Behind the Beer."
Total Carbs: 13 grams
Total Calories: 192
Alcohol Content: 6.4 percent ABV
35. Lindemans Framboise Lambic Beer
Lindemans is an original Belgium beer known worldwide because of all the different flavors. Lindemans Framboise Lambic Beer has sweet and delicious raspberry aromas, with a hint of caramel and a slightly sour finish that will make your mouth melt. It's the perfect fruit beer made with 30 percent raspberry juice.
Total Carbs: 15 grams
Total Calories: 230
Alcohol Content: 2.5 percent ABV
Elizabeth Blasi is a New Yorker. A lifestyle & travel writer, who is often seen with a suitcase in hand, jetsetting to her next location. But as a true Digital Nomad, her love of writing and romance novels means her laptop is always beside her.