Choosing Craft Beers: Calorie-Conscious Connoisseurs' Guide

With the health and fitness craze showing no signs of slowing, it's no surprise that the trend has spread to the adult beverage industry. Beer lovers are increasingly looking for low-calorie options that still deliver on taste. And with the rise of competitive low-calorie beers in the market, they have to taste good to stay in business. So, how do you choose a good low-calorie craft beer? Well, most of the calories in beer come from two sources: alcohol and residual sugar. So, any session beer with a high attenuation rate – that is, the percentage of sugar converted to alcohol by yeast – can qualify as a low-calorie beer. When choosing a low-calorie beer, it's also good to be mindful of the overall carbohydrate content and added sugars in flavoured varieties.

Low-calorie lagers

Lagers are the most popular type of beer. They are known for their crisp, light, and clean taste, although pilsners, a type of lager, are slightly bitter. They come in three main colours: pale, amber, and dark.

• Budweiser Select (2.4% ABV): 55 calories
• Molson Ultra (3% ABV): 70 calories
• Moosehead Cracked Canoe (3.5% ABV): 90 calories
• Sleeman Light (4% ABV): 90 calories
• Busch Light (4.1% ABV): 91 calories
• Labatt Premier (4% ABV): 92 calories
• Amstel Light (4% ABV): 95 calories
• Anheuser-Busch Natural Light (4.2% ABV): 95 calories
• Miller Lite (4.2% ABV): 96 calories
• Heineken Light (4.2% ABV): 97 calories
• Bud Select (2.4% ABV): 99 calories
• Corona Light (3.7% ABV): 99 calories
• Yuengling Light Lager (3.8% ABV): 99 calories
• Coors Light (4.2% ABV): 102 calories
• Carlsberg Lite (4% ABV): 102 calories
• Bud Light (4.2% ABV): 103 calories
• Labatt Blue Light (4% ABV): 108 calories
• Brava Light (4% ABV): 112 calories
• Moosehead Light (4% ABV): 115 calories
• Samuel Adams (4.3% ABV): 124 calories

When choosing a low-calorie lager, consider the overall carbohydrate content and added sugars, especially in flavoured varieties.

In addition to the options above, you may also want to consider low-calorie beers from craft companies, such as:

• Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty (95 calories)
• Southern Tier Swipe Light (110 calories)
• Boulevard Brewing Easy Sport (99 calories)

Low-calorie ales

If you're looking for a low-calorie ale, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting a low-calorie beer:

• The lower the alcohol by volume (ABV), the lower the calories. So, look for beers with a lower ABV.
• Sweeter-tasting beers typically have more calories.
• It's a myth that dark beers have more calories than lighter beers—it's all based on the ABV.
• Look for words like "low" or "light" in the name.

Now, let's take a look at some specific low-calorie ales that you might want to try:

Le Petit Prince

This beer has 75 calories per can and is a dry, unspiced table beer brewed in Texas. It has a well-balanced flavour with fantastic, fruity flavours and a welcome tartness without a ton of calories.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty

This ale has notes of pineapple, coconut, and citrus. It's made with monk fruit to reduce the sugar content, delivering the punch of a traditional IPA without the extra calories. It has 95 calories.

Lagunitas DayTime IPA

This IPA is perfect for a relaxing afternoon, with fruity flavours and a low ABV. It has notes of pineapple, melon, grape, and lemongrass. It has 98 calories.

Boulevard Brewing Easy Sport

This ale is brewed with potassium, magnesium, and sea salt to supplement athletes. It also has tangerine peel and Mandarina Bavaria hops for a sports drink-like flavour. It has 99 calories.

Lakefront Eazy Teazy

This beer is flavoured with green tea and the citrusy Lemondrop hop, resulting in a flavorful 99-calorie beauty.

Kona Kanaha Blonde Ale

This full-flavoured blonde ale has a touch of mango and comes in at 99 calories.

Southern Tier Swipe Light

This light lager is a refreshing treat, with a full-flavor and low calories. It has 110 calories.

Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza

This beer is made with hibiscus, agave, watermelon, and lime for a crisp, fresh, and crushable taste. It has 110 calories.

Harpoon Rec League

This hazy pale ale is full of flavour and brewed with healthy ingredients such as buckwheat kasha, chia seeds, and sea salt. It has 120 calories.

Boston Beer 26.2 Brew

This ale has a unique golden amber colour and sweet and hoppy flavour notes. It has 120 calories.

Firestone Walker Easy Jack

This ale has a strong, bitter flavour and comes in at 120 calories.

River Trip Pale Ale

This light-bodied pale ale has crisp notes of citrus and melon, making it perfect for a hot day. It has 128 calories.

Oarsman Ale

This ale has a clean finish on the palate and contains sweet and hoppy flavour notes. It has 137 calories.

Southern Tier 8 Days a Week Blonde Ale

This blonde ale has a stronger, bitter flavour. It has 144 calories.

Fat Tire Amber Ale

This amber ale has sweet notes of caramel and toffee and goes down smoothly. It has 160 calories.

Low-calorie stouts

When it comes to choosing low-calorie craft beers, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to remember that alcoholic beverages tend to be high in calories, with alcohol containing 7 calories per gram. However, this doesn't mean that you have to give up beer completely. The good news is that the beer scene has diversified, and there are now many low-calorie options available, including stouts.

Stouts are a type of ale that use roasted barley to create a rich, dark colour. While they are typically associated with higher calorie counts, the roasting process actually has more of an impact on the colour of the beer rather than the number of calories. This means that there are several low-calorie stouts to choose from.

One popular option is Guinness Extra, which has an ABV of 5.6% and only 126 calories. This stout is known for its creamy texture and rich flavour, making it a great choice for those who want to enjoy a full-bodied beer without the high calorie count. Another option is the Young's Double Chocolate Stout, which comes in at 150 calories per bottle and offers a sweet and indulgent flavour.

If you're looking for something even lower in calories, the Odell Brewing Cutthroat has an ABV of 5% and only 145 calories. This stout is a great choice for those who want to enjoy a tasty beer without the extra calories. For an even lighter option, try the Murphy's Irish Stout, which has an ABV of 4% and 192 calories.

When choosing a low-calorie stout, it's important to consider your personal preferences for flavour and strength. The options mentioned above vary in terms of ABV and calorie count, so you can choose the one that best suits your taste and dietary needs. Remember to always drink in moderation and enjoy your low-calorie stouts responsibly!

Low-calorie gluten-free beers

Low-Calorie, Gluten-Free Beers

Finding gluten-free beers is not always easy, and finding gluten-free beers that are also low in calories is even harder. However, there are a few excellent options.

Omission Ultimate Light

This light-bodied golden ale is similar to many craft beers. It has a light, malty flavour with a slight hoppiness and citrus notes. It pairs well with a summer salad or grilled salmon and asparagus. It has 4.2% ABV and only 99 calories per 12 ounces. It is brewed with malted barley, a gluten-containing ingredient, which is then removed with enzymes. While it is suitable for people with celiac disease, some people with celiac disease have reported reactions to the beer.

St. Peter's Sorgham Beer

This caramel brown English Brown Ale is known for its sweet, molasses-like taste. It is a slightly heavier, warmer beer that pairs well with baked sweet potatoes, steaks, or chicken cacciatore. It contains 4.2% ABV and 126 calories per 16.9 ounces. The central grain in the beer is sorghum, a gluten-free grain that has been cultivated for thousands of years. The American Chemical Society notes that sorghum is safe for people with celiac disease.

Joseph James FoxTail Pale Ale

This 5% ABV pale ale is made from organic brown rice and brewed in Hendersonville, Nevada. It is light and crisp, making it perfect for summer. It has 130 calories in a 12-ounce can. It does not use the traditional gluten-free beer ingredient, sorghum, but instead uses organic rices, nectars, and hops to replace barley. All of these ingredients are gluten-free, so it should be safe for those with gluten sensitivities.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty IPA

This IPA has notes of pineapple, coconut, and citrus. It is made with monk fruit to reduce sugar content, delivering the punch of a traditional IPA without the extra calories.

Heineken Light

Heineken Light maintains the flavours that have made the original so popular. It is lean, fruity, and slightly sweet, with a lighter feel and fewer calories.

Low-calorie non-alcoholic beers

How to Choose Low-Calorie Craft Beers

Non-alcoholic beers are becoming increasingly popular, especially among those looking to cut down on their alcohol intake, and they generally have fewer calories than their alcoholic counterparts. However, it's important to note that non-alcoholic beers still contain empty calories and carbs, so they are not necessarily a healthier option if you don't usually drink beer.

When choosing a low-calorie, non-alcoholic beer, look for options with 100 calories or less per bottle or can. Here are some recommendations:

• Coors Edge: One of the lowest-calorie options available, with only 41 calories.
• Run Wild IPA by Athletic Brewing: Specifically created with athletes in mind, this IPA has just 65 calories.
• Heineken 0.0%: This non-alcoholic version of the popular Heineken beer is 0% ABV, ensuring the avoidance of alcohol while lowering calorie intake.
• Partake Brewing Blonde: With only 15 calories and 2 grams of carbs, this beer has one of the lowest calorie and carb counts.
• Athletic Lite by Athletic Brewing Co. This beer has only 25 calories, 5 carbs, and is made with organic grains.
• Kölsch by Best Day Brewing: A light and refreshing Kölsch-style beer with a toasty malt character and only 55 calories and 11 carbs.
• Juicy Mavs Hazy IPA by Surreal Brewing Company: Enjoy the taste of a hazy IPA for only 25 calories and 4.9 carbs.
• Citrus Wheat by Rightside Brewing: A classic wheat beer with flavours of banana and tangerine juice, a hint of spice, and a crisp finish. Each can has 49 calories and 10 carbs.
• Raspberry Gose by The Original Bravus: This sour beer pushes the boundaries with 96 calories and 18 carbs, but it's a great option if you want something tart and fruity.

Other Low-Calorie Craft Beers

If you're looking for low-calorie options that still contain alcohol, there are plenty of craft beers to choose from. Here are some recommendations:

• Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty: This low-cal IPA has 95 calories and is making waves among the fitness crowd.
• Southern Tier Swipe Light: With 110 calories, this light lager offers a full-flavor experience with low calories.
• Easy Sport Recreation Ale by Boulevard Brewing: Hitting the market in April, this brew has 99 calories and is enhanced with potassium, magnesium, and sea salt to appeal to athletes.
• Deschutes Brewery craft pilsner: This 99-calorie, 4% ABV pilsner was crafted with a low-protein malt to achieve a low-calorie yet flavorful beer.
• DayTime IPA by Lagunitas Brewing: A refreshing IPA with 98 calories and 4% ABV, perfect for those who want to avoid packing on the pounds.
• Eazy Teazy by Lakefront Brewing: A unique blend of tea and beer, this brew combines green tea with the citrusy Lemondrop hop for a flavorful experience at only 99 calories.
• Kanaha Blonde Ale by Kona Brewing Co.: A full-flavoured blonde ale with a touch of mango, this beer clocks in at 99 calories.
• Saint Archer Gold: Owned by MillerCoors, this skinny beer has 95 calories and targets a high-end, active demographic.
• Ballast Point Lager by Constellation Brand's Ballast Point: This popular brewery offers a low-calorie option with their 99-calorie lager.
• Rec League by Harpoon Brewing: A hazy pale ale with 120 calories and 3.8% ABV, brewed with healthy ingredients like buckwheat kasha, chia seeds, and sea salt.
• Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza by New Belgium: Produced in collaboration with a Mexican craft brewery, this beer is made with hibiscus, agave, watermelon, and lime, resulting in a crisp and crushable taste at 110 calories per can.

Frequently asked questions