Calories In Beer: Brand-By-Brand Breakdown

Beer is a popular drink worldwide, but it's important to be aware of its calorie content, especially if you're watching your weight. Beer is made from fermented grains, and the number of calories it contains depends on its alcohol content and the amount you drink. Generally, craft beers, seasonal beers, and those with higher alcohol content will have more calories than lighter beers. If you're watching your calorie intake, non-alcoholic beers are a good option as they tend to be lower in calories.

Characteristics of Beer Brands

Calories in popular beer brands

The calorie content of beer varies depending on the brand and type, with darker beers generally containing more calories than lighter ones. Here is a breakdown of the calorie content of some popular beer brands:

Budweiser

Budweiser is a popular American beer brand. According to sources, a 12-ounce serving of Budweiser contains approximately 145 calories. It also has 10.6 grams of carbohydrates and 1.3 grams of protein. Budweiser's alcohol by volume (ABV) is 5%.

Bud Light

Bud Light is another well-known beer brand, often chosen for its lower calorie content. A 12-ounce serving of Bud Light has 110 calories, 6.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.9 grams of protein. Its ABV is slightly lower than Budweiser at 4.2%.

Coors Light

Coors Light is a popular choice for those seeking an even lighter option. With an ABV of 4.2%, a 12-ounce serving contains 102 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates, and less than 1 gram of protein.

Corona Extra

Corona Extra is an import beer that is widely consumed. In a 12-ounce serving, it delivers 148 calories, 13.9 grams of carbohydrates, and around 1 gram of protein. Its ABV is 4.6%.

Heineken

Heineken is another imported beer brand with a following. A 12-ounce bottle of Heineken contains approximately 142 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates, and no protein. Heineken has an ABV of 5%.

Michelob Ultra

Michelob Ultra is a popular light beer option. It has an ABV of 4.2% and offers 95 calories, 2.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.6 grams of protein per 12-ounce serving.

Miller Lite

Miller Lite is often enjoyed for its balance between flavour and lower calorie content. In a 12-ounce serving, it provides 96 calories, 3.2 grams of carbohydrates, and less than 1 gram of protein. Its ABV is 4.2%.

Natural Light

Natural Light, also known as "Natty Light," is a popular choice among college students. With an ABV of 4.2%, a 12-ounce serving contains 95 calories, 3.2 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.7 grams of protein.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois is a well-known European import. A 12-ounce serving of Stella Artois contains approximately 141 calories and 10.9 grams of carbohydrates. Its ABV is 5%.

Craft, Seasonal, and Dark Beers

It is worth noting that craft, seasonal, and dark beers tend to have higher calorie content than the lighter options mentioned above. For example, a 12-ounce serving of Guinness Extra Stout has 176 calories, and a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot of the same serving size contains 318 calories.

Beer brands with the most calories

Beer is made from fermented grains, and the calories in beer come mainly from carbs and alcohol. Craft beers, seasonal beers, and beers with high alcohol content tend to have more calories than lighter beers.

While it is challenging to pinpoint the exact number of calories in each beer brand, here is a list of beers with relatively higher calorie content:

Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is a popular beer brand known for its diverse range of beers, including the Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Celebration Ale, Draft Ale, Early Spring Beer, Harvest Ale, India Pale Ale, Pale Ale, Pale Bock, Porter, Summerfest Beer, and Wheat Beer. These beers are typically higher in alcohol content, contributing to a higher calorie count.

Flying Dog

Flying Dog Brewery offers a wide variety of beers with distinct flavors and styles. Some of their beers with higher calorie content include the Flying Dog Double Dog, Snake Dog IPA, Wild Dog Coffee Stout, and Kerberos Tripel. These beers often have higher alcohol percentages, leading to an increase in calories.

Sam Adams

The Samuel Adams brand, also known as Sam Adams, features a range of beers with robust flavors. Their Boston Lager, Boston Ale, Cherry Wheat, and Cream Stout are known to have a more substantial calorie count compared to lighter beers.

Guinness

Guinness, the classic Irish stout, is known for its dark and creamy texture. Despite its rich flavor, Guinness Draught Stout is surprisingly low in calories, with only 126 calories per 350ml serving. However, it still has a higher calorie content compared to some lighter beers.

Heineken

Heineken is one of the most popular beer brands globally, and their beers tend to have a more significant calorie presence. The Heineken Special Dark Beer and Heineken Special Light are notable for their higher calorie content.

It is important to note that the calorie content of beers can vary depending on factors such as alcohol percentage, serving size, and specific ingredients. Additionally, breweries may change their recipes, resulting in slight variations in calorie counts over time.

Beer brands with the fewest calories

Beer is a popular drink worldwide, but it can be a source of empty calories, which are calories that don't provide many nutrients. The good news is that there are plenty of low-calorie beers available, and you don't have to sacrifice taste to save on calories. Here are some beer brands with the fewest calories:

Jester King Le Petit Prince

With 75 calories per can, this Texas-brewed dry, unspiced table beer is a great low-calorie option. It's well-balanced, with fantastic, fruity flavours and a welcome tartness without the extra calories.

Allagash River Trip Pale Ale

This light-bodied pale ale has crisp notes of citrus and melon, making it perfect for a hot day. With only 128 calories per serving, it's a refreshing choice without packing on the pounds.

Coors American Light Lager Beer

Coors Light is a well-known, refreshing option, especially during the summer. With a little over 100 calories per can, it lives up to its name as a light lager.

Yuengling Light Lager Beer

Yuengling is a top pick among beer drinkers, and their light lager version packs a crisp punch. With less than 100 calories, it maintains the same flavour profile as their flagship beverage, known for its caramel malt flavour and mild hop character.

Amstel Light

Amstel Light has been a crowd favourite for over 150 years. With less than 100 calories, it's a reliable, thirst-quenching mix of barley malt and hops.

Heineken Light

Heineken Light is a lean, fruity, and slightly sweet version of the original Heineken. With fewer calories, it has just the right amount of earthiness, adding a layer of sophistication without the heaviness.

Corona Light

Corona Extra is one of the bestselling low-calorie beer brands in the world. As a pale lager, it's light and refreshing, typically served with a slice of lime. With 44 calories per 3.5oz (100ml), 148 calories per bottle (350ml), and 4.5% alcohol, Corona is one of the lowest-calorie beers available.

Bud Light

Bud Light is an American-style pale lager, similar to Corona, and perhaps the most famous low-calorie beer. With 3.5% alcohol per bottle and only 110 calories per serving, it's a great option if you're watching your calorie intake.

Skinny Brands Beer

Skinny Brands offers a low-calorie lager and IPA, both brewed in the UK. With 4% ABV, the lager has just 87 calories per bottle, while the IPA has 89 calories per can, making them excellent choices for those counting calories.

Beavertown Neck Oil Session IPA

Beavertown's Neck Oil Session IPA is an Indian Pale Ale (IPA) with a citrusy twist. With only 36 calories per 100ml and 122 calories per can, it's a great option if you're looking for a low-calorie, refreshing beer.

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold is a refreshing, slightly citrusy beer with a super-light mouthfeel. At just 85 calories per bottle, it's one of the beers with the fewest calories on this list.

Guinness Draught Stout

Although you may think of Guinness as a heavy beer, this rich-tasting Irish brew is actually low in calories. With 126 calories and 4.2% alcohol per 350ml serving, it's a great choice for those who want a dark, creamy stout without the extra calories.

Remember, when it comes to beer, the higher the ABV, the more calories it's likely to have. So, if you're watching your calorie intake, opt for beers with lower ABVs and choose non-alcoholic or light beers whenever possible.

Calories in non-alcoholic beers

Non-alcoholic beers have a similar calorie count to light beers. While they are not a low-calorie option, they tend to have fewer calories than their alcoholic counterparts. A cup of standard malt non-alcoholic beer contains 99 calories, according to the USDA.

Non-alcoholic beers can range from as few as 17 calories to 80 or 90 calories. For example, a Heineken 0.0 contains 63 calories, while a St. Pauli Girl Non-Alcoholic Beer has 96 calories. In comparison, many commercial beers fall in the 140 to 170 calorie range, with light beers at around 100 calories.

Non-alcoholic beers tend to have more carbohydrates, too. For example, Coors Non-Alcoholic has 58 calories but 12.2 grams of carbs. This is because non-alcoholic beer contains more than twice the carbs of regular beer, mostly in the form of added sugar to improve the taste.

Some newer brands of non-alcoholic beer contain fewer calories and carbs than standard alcoholic beers, so they can be a good option for people who want to keep their liquid calories to a minimum. For instance, a can of Partake Brewing's IPA has just 10 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates.

If you're looking to reduce your alcohol intake, non-alcoholic beers are a great option. However, if you're looking to cut calories, you may want to opt for another drink as non-alcoholic beers often contain more sugar than regular beer.

Alcohol-free vs non-alcoholic

It's important to note the distinction between alcohol-free and non-alcoholic beers. Alcohol-free beers must contain no detectable levels of alcohol and are labelled 0.0% ABV. On the other hand, non-alcoholic beers can contain up to 0.5% ABV. Many non-alcoholic beers will have 0.3% or 0.4% alcohol despite the name.

Calories in seasonal beers

Seasonal beers, such as those with spicy, pumpkin-y flavours, often have a higher alcohol percentage and therefore a higher calorie count. While many mass-market American beers have an alcohol content of around 5%, most fall beers have between 6% and 8% alcohol by volume, resulting in a 20% or more increase in calories.

• Sam Adams “20 Pounds of Pumpkin” – 199 calories, 5.7% ABV
• Sierra Nevada Celebration – 225 calories, 10% ABV
• Strongbow Honey Apple Cider – 195 calories
• Pumpkick by New Belgium Brewery – 180 calories, 6% ABV
• Funky Buddha Sweet Potato Casserole Beer – 237 calories, 7.9% ABV
• The Bruery: Autumn Maple Beer – 300 calories, 10% ABV
• Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale – 240 calories, 8% ABV
• Victory Moonglow Weizenbock – 261 calories, 8.7% ABV
• Flying Dog “The Fear” Imperial Pumpkin Ale – 270 calories, 9% ABV
• Schlafly Pumpkin Ale – 240 calories, 8% ABV
• Founders Breakfast Stout – 249 calories, 8.3% ABV
• Southern Tier Pumking – 258 calories, 8.6% ABV
• Lagunitas Brown Shugga – 295 calories, 9.8% ABV
• Cigar City Good Gourd – 255 calories, 9.6% ABV
• Avery Rumpkin – 543 calories, 18% ABV

Craft, seasonal beers and beers with high alcohol content tend to have more calories than lighter beers. If you are watching your calorie intake, opt for alcohol-free beers, which usually contain fewer calories.

Frequently asked questions