Harmony Chandler
The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers many health benefits, including weight loss. Most beers have a high carb content, which can be problematic for those on the keto diet. However, there are some low-carb beers available that can be enjoyed in moderation. These include light beers such as Corona Premier, Miller Lite, and Budweiser Select 55, which typically have less than 5 grams of carbs per bottle or can. Additionally, some craft beers, like the Surly Brewing Rosé Lager, also fall into the low-carb category. While it is possible to include craft beer in a keto diet, it is important to monitor carb intake and drink in moderation to avoid disrupting the state of ketosis that the diet aims to achieve.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can I drink beer on keto? | The answer isn't so clear-cut. Beer is one of the more difficult drinks to fit into a keto diet because it is usually made from grains and is high in carbs. However, some beers market themselves as light and low-carb, with less than 5g of carbs per beer. |
| Examples of keto-friendly beers | Budweiser Select 55, Corona Premier, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, Miller 64, Beck's Premier Light, Coors Light, Lagunitas DayTime, Blue Moon LightSky, Corona Light, Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty, Devil's Backbone Bright Tangerine, Sleeman Clear 2.0 |
| Keto-friendly drinks | Wine and pure spirits are lowest in carbs; beer and sweet mixed drinks are highest. |
| Pure spirits with zero carbs | Gin, whiskey, vodka, tequila, rum |
| Wines with low carbs | Red wine, white wine, champagne, sparkling wine, dry wines |
| Cocktails with low-carb mixers | Moscow mule, gin and tonic (with diet soda or soda water), keto paloma, low-carb margarita |
| Other keto-friendly alcoholic drinks | Fermented alcoholic drinks like kombucha and mead, hard cider and seltzers, spiked seltzer drinks like White Claw and Truly |
What You'll Learn
Craft beer and keto: a tricky combination
The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has become increasingly popular. It involves limiting carbohydrate intake so that the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose, achieving a state of 'ketosis' that can lead to weight loss.
Beer is a tricky drink to fit into the keto diet. Most beers are made from grains and are high in carbohydrates, which can knock you out of ketosis and hinder your progress. However, there are some craft beers that are low in carbs and can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a keto diet.
Low-carb craft beers
Some craft beers are specifically brewed to be low in carbohydrates, with some containing less than 5 grams of carbs per bottle or can. These include:
- Budweiser Select 55
- Corona Premier
- Miller Lite
- Beck's Premier Light
- Michelob Ultra Pure Gold
- Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
- Blue Moon LightSky
- Devils Backbone Bright Tangerine Sparkling Ale
Other keto-friendly drinks
If you're looking for an alcoholic drink with zero carbs, pure spirits like gin, whiskey, vodka, and tequila are good options. These can be drunk neat or mixed with low-carb mixers like soda water, diet soda, or sugar-free tonic water.
Wine is also a keto-friendly option, particularly dry wines which have less sugar. A typical glass of red or white wine contains around 3-4 grams of carbohydrates. Champagne and sparkling wines are also low in carbs, with around 2 grams per glass.
When drinking alcohol on the keto diet, it's important to drink in moderation and monitor your carbohydrate intake to ensure you don't exceed your daily limit and disrupt ketosis.
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Low-carb beers to try
If you're on the keto diet, you'll be pleased to know that you don't have to give up beer altogether. While most beers are high in carbohydrates, there are some low-carb options available. These beers typically have fewer than 5 grams of carbohydrates per serving, which can help you stay within the daily limits of the keto diet.
- Bud Light Next: This beer has zero carbs and 80 calories, making it a good option if you want to avoid carbs completely. However, some people find that it lacks flavour.
- Budweiser Select 55: With only 55 calories and 1.9 grams of carbs, this beer is even lighter than Bud Light. It has an aroma of toasted malt and subtle hops.
- Miller Genuine Draft 64: Miller Lite has been a popular low-calorie, low-carb option for a while, but if you don't mind taking on an extra carb, Miller Genuine Draft 64 is a bit more flavourful.
- Michelob Ultra Pure Gold: With 85 calories and 2.5 grams of carbs, this beer has a slightly better nutritional profile than the traditional Michelob Ultra. It's also USDA-certified organic and free from artificial colours and flavours.
- Corona Premier: With 90 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs per 12-ounce bottle, Corona Premier is a good choice if you're looking for a light, crisp, and refreshing beer.
- Omission Light Golden Ale: This gluten-free beer has only 99 calories and three grams of carbs, making it a popular choice for those on a gluten-free or low-carb diet.
- Miller Lite: Miller Lite is a classic low-calorie, low-carb option that's widely available. It has 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs.
- Amstel Light: Made by Heineken, Amstel Light contains 95 calories and 3.6 grams of carbs.
- Blue Moon Light Sky: This light wheat beer has notes of tangerine and less than four grams of carbs per can or bottle. It's light and refreshing, making it a good choice for Blue Moon fans.
- Heineken Silver: Heineken Silver is another light beer option, with 95 calories and 2.9 grams of carbs.
- Lagunitas DayTime IPA: With a refreshing taste and only 98 calories and 3 grams of carbs, this IPA is a good low-carb option for summer.
- Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty: This low-calorie IPA is a good choice for those who want a hoppy beer without the carbs. It has 95 calories and 3.6 grams of carbs.
- Yuengling Flight: With less than 3 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving, Yuengling Flight is a good low-carb option from a popular brewery.
- Surly Brewing Rosé Lager: This fruity, rosé-inspired beer contains just 2.25 grams of carbs per bottle and has an ABV of 5.2%, which is higher than many other low-carb beers.
- Devil's Backbone Bright Tangerine Ale: This citrusy sparkling ale has just 2 grams of carbs and no gluten, making it a good choice for those who want a low-carb option without the fullness of gluten.
Remember, even when drinking low-carb beers, it's important to consume alcohol in moderation. The general guideline is one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. Additionally, keep in mind that the body may prioritise using energy from alcohol over ketones from body fat, which could limit the effectiveness of the keto diet.
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Pure spirits are keto-friendly
When drinking alcohol on a keto diet, it is important to drink in moderation and monitor your carb intake to avoid kicking yourself out of ketosis. Additionally, avoid sugary mixers and choose plain alcohol or low-sugar and low-carb mixers.
While beer is not the most keto-friendly drink due to its high carb content, there are some light beers, such as Corona Premier, Miller Lite, and Budweiser Select 55, that are very low in carbs and can be enjoyed occasionally without derailing your progress.
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Dry wines are a better option
A standard glass of both red and white wine contains about 4.7 grams of carbs, while a typical glass of champagne or sparkling wine contains about 4.68 grams of carbs. Dry wines have the lowest sugar content. Sweeter wines, like Rieslings and Gewurztraminers, have about 4 grams of carbs in a typical glass. Even sweeter dessert wines like Muscato, Tokaj, Ice Wines, or fortified wines like Port, Sherry, and Madeira are all sweeter and contain more fructose, with carb counts per glass of around 5 grams or more.
Beer is a problem on keto. Beer is made from grains, which provide a lot of rapidly digestible carbs. It’s even been called “liquid bread”. For this reason, most beers are bad for weight control and should be avoided on keto. There are, however, a few possible low-carb options for keto, such as Budweiser Select 55, Miller Lite, and Corona Premier.
If you are following a keto diet, you might feel a little left out during social events when everyone is enjoying their favorite drinks, and you can't. The keto diet is a low-carb and high-fat food and drink that won't spike your insulin levels. The diet works by making the body burn fat for energy instead of glucose. Drinking alcohol during a keto diet can be tricky because the wrong choice can knock you out of ketosis and set back your progress.
When it comes to hard alcohol, it’s pretty straightforward: pure spirits like whiskey, brandy, cognac, vodka, gin, and tequila contain zero carbs and are all fine on keto. Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks. Don’t add juice, soft drinks, or sweet flavorings to spirits. Adding tonic to zero-carb gin boosts its carb count to 16 grams per serving! Have vodka, soda water, and a twist of lime instead for a refreshing carb-free drink.
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Avoid sweet cocktails
While it is possible to drink alcohol on the keto diet, it can be tricky as the wrong choice can knock you out of ketosis. Pure spirits like gin, whiskey, vodka, and tequila are suitable drink choices as they are low-calorie and contain zero carbs and added sugar. Wine is also a keto-friendly option, particularly dry wines as they contain fewer carbs and sugar than dessert wines. For example, 150ml of red wine contains only 3.92g of sugar, while a similar quantity of white wine contains 3.90g. Light beers such as Corona Premier, Miller Lite, and Budweiser Select 55 are also very low in carbs.
However, when it comes to cocktails, it is important to be mindful of your mixers. Sweet cocktails are best avoided on the keto diet as they often contain a significant amount of sugar. A sugary cocktail can contain 46.67g or more of carbs, which is almost an entire day's carb allowance on the keto diet. Instead, opt for low-carb mixers like diet soda, soda water, sugar-free tonic water, or diet cola.
If you are on the keto diet, it is also important to drink in moderation and monitor your carb intake to ensure you do not exceed your daily limit.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the brand. Craft beer is typically higher in carbs, but some light beers like Miller Lite have about 3 grams of carbs per can. Budweiser Select 55 and Miller 64 are also good options, with less than 2 grams of carbs per bottle.
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers many health benefits, including weight loss.
Wine, spirits, and light beer are generally considered keto-friendly. Pure spirits like gin, whiskey, vodka, and tequila contain zero carbs and are safe to consume on the keto diet. Dry wines also have a low carb content.
Beer is generally high in carbs and should be avoided on the keto diet. Sweet mixed drinks, flavoured hard liquor, and drinks with fruit juice or soda are also high in carbs and sugar and should be avoided.
The keto diet can help with weight loss by making the body burn fat for energy instead of glucose. It can also help improve cardiovascular health and protect against cognitive decline and dementia.
