You may be able to enjoy low-carb beers, from Corona Premier to Kona Light Blonde Ale, whether you're following the keto diet or just eating fewer carbohydrates for health reasons. Many of the beers below contain around 5 grams (g) of carbs or less per serving.
Even if you drink a low-carb beer, remember to consume alcohol in moderation—meaning one daily drink or less for women and two daily drinks or less for men. Here's what else to know about keto-friendly beer and more about 25 of the best ones to try.
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Low-carb beers generally have less than 1g of carbs per 100 milliliters (mL). While individual preferences differ, there's a beer to suit nearly everyone's tastes, whether a light wheat beer or a bitter India pale ale (IPA).
You may want to look for "light" beer if you're searching for low-carb beers. Their carb contents are consistently lower than other beers. They may contain less alcohol, as measured by the percent of alcohol by volume (ABV), than their regular counterparts, but not by much. That said, some "light" beers have more carbs than others and vary in calories.
"To be labeled as 'light,' the product needs to have one-third fewer calories compared to the full-calorie version," Taylor C. Wallace, PhD, adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., told Health. Below are 25 low-carb beers with fewer than 100 calories per 12-ounce bottle, can, or glass.
1. Amstel Light
95 calories, 5g carbs, 3.5% ABV
At 5g of carbohydrate per serving, Amstel Light is about the middle of the road for this category. It's also light on the palate and quite refreshing.
95 calories, 3.6g carbs, 4% ABV
Blue Moon LightSky is an option if you want a wheat brew. This one's light and refreshing with a solid tangerine undertone, "which will be very familiar to anyone who has had Blue Moon in the past," Steven Tsaparikos, RDN, a dietitian and certified health coach at Aligned Health Practice in Carmel, Ind., told Health.
3. Budweiser Select 55
55 calories, 1.9g carbs, 2.4% ABV
With an aroma of toasted malt and subtle hops, this beer is the lowest when it comes to calories and carbs. It's even lighter than Bud Light, which comes in over our 100-calorie cap, and Budweiser Select, Anheuser-Busch's 99-calorie version.
90 calories, 2.6g carbs, 4.0% ABV
Corona Premier is from Grupo Modelo in Mexico. It has fewer calories and carbs than Corona Light, which has 99 calories and 5g of carbohydrates.
5. Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
95 calories, 3.6g carbs, 4% ABV
This low-calorie brew is one that Tsaparikos particularly enjoyed. "This is a great option for the IPA fans out there that are wanting to work towards their goals and still enjoy a nice hoppy beer at the end of a long day," said Tsaparikos.
98 calories, 3g carbs, 4% ABV
Lagunitas Brewing Company delivered a light IPA with low alcohol content. With the brew, "you still get the characteristics of a traditional IPA but with much lower calories and carb content," said Tsaparikos.
7. Michelob Ultra Pure Gold
85 calories, 2.5g carbs, 3.8% ABV
Ultra Pure Gold has a slightly better nutrition profile than the traditional Michelob Ultra—which contains 95 calories, 2.6g of carbs, and 4.2% ABV—and what appears to be a similar flavor profile, observed Tsaparikos. Michelob's Ultra Pure Gold seven-ounce bottle only contains 55 calories and has just 1.5g of carbs if you want even fewer carbs and calories.
96 calories, 3.2g carbs, 4.2% ABV
First brewed in 1975, the pilsner—a beer with a strong hop flavor—is the "original light beer." You can also try Miller64, which has only 64 calories per serving and 2.4g of carbs.
9. Yuengling Flight
95 calories, 2.6g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Yuengling, a brewery based in Pa., created Yuengling Flight. This version of the lauger has less than 3g of carbs per 12 oz serving, compared to 12g.
64 calories, 3.9g carbs, 2.3% ABV
Opened during the 19th century in northern Germany, Beck's Brewery makes one of the best light beers perfect for a hot summer day. At only 3.9g of carbohydrates, Beck's Premier Light has sweet and fruity flavors.
11. Busch Light
95 calories, 3.2g carbs, 4.1% ABV
According to Busch, their light beer has the same taste—but fewer calories and carbohydrates—than their regular brew.
95 calories, 3.2g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Anheuser-Busch debuted its first light beer, which has fewer calories and carbohydrates than its regular brew, in 1977. According to Anheuser-Busch, Natural Light is the perfect beverage for any "easy-drinking character."
13. Devils Backbone Bright Tangerine Ale
90 calories, 2g carbs, 4% ABV
In 2016, Anheuser-Busch acquired Devils Backbone Brewing Company, which has a taproom based in Lexington, Virginia. Under the new leadership, the company produced and distributed several beers, like Devils Backbone Bright Tangerine Ale. The light beer has citrus flavors and only 2g of carbohydrates.
85 calories, 4.6g carbs, 3.2% ABV
Per Spoetzl Brewery—the maker of Shiner beers—was founded in 1909 in Shiner, Texas. They say their low-carb beer tastes like a Texas ruby red grapefruit and has notes of ginger.
15. Surly Brewing Co. Rosé
127 calories, 2.25g carbs, 5.2% ABV
This pink-colored beverage may be your go-to choice if you aren't a big fan of beer. The rosé beer has notes of currants and strawberries.
80 calories, 0g carbs, 4% ABV
According to Bud Light, Next is their first brew that has absolutely zero carbohydrates while also providing a refreshing taste.
17. Milwaukee's Best Light
96 calories, 3.5g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Miller Brewing Company introduced Milwaukee's Best Light, a low-calorie pale lager, in 1986. Per the Drizly website, Milwaukee's Best Light has a slightly bitter, malty taste.
99 calories, 3.2g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Yuengling describes their light lager as tasting like caramel malt and mild hop. At only, 3.2g of carbs, this other low-calorie Yuengling option is full of flavor.
19. Allagash Saison
140 calories, 4.83g carbs, 6.1% ABV
Allagash Saison is on the slightly high end of the low-carb beer spectrum, and it has a higher ABV than some of the other options. The Allagash company brews its light beer with dark Belgian candi sugar, malted rye, barley blend, and oats to create a delicious citrus beverage.
140 calories, 3.9g carbs, 6.3% ABV
In 2018, Ommegang, a brewery based in Cooperstown, N.Y., released its low-calorie IPA. Their Brut IPA is dry and bubbly and has a hoppy taste. Its similar character to champagne makes it a perfect drink for New Year's Eve and other celebrations.
21. Kona Light Blonde Ale
99 calories, 4g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Kona Brewing Co. describes its low-calorie Light Blonde Ale as having a pale, caramel malt taste and pairing great with seafood.
99 calories, 4.2g carbs, 4% ABV
Deschutes Da Schootz! Pilsner is bubbly and toasty, tasting like citrus. The hops include Tettnang, Lemondrop, and Azacca, giving the pilsner a fruity and floral taste and smell.
23. Heineken Silver
95 calories, 2.9g carbs, 4% ABV
Heineken Silver is another light beer to consider. The original Heineken contains 142 calories and 11g of carbs per 12 oz.
99 calories, 3g carbs, 4.2% ABV
Omission Ultimate Light Golden Ale, a gluten-free beer option from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company based in Oregon, is also a good low-carb option. Reviewers described it as having a crisp, slightly bitter taste.
25. Keystone Light
120 calories, 5g carbs, 4.13% ABV
In 1989, Coors Brewing Company, based in Golden, Colorado, introduced Keystone Light, which is triple-filtered and has a crisp, smooth taste.
Look for nutritional information on the packaging of your beer or online. A reasonable benchmark for people who watch their carb intake is 5g of carbohydrates, explained Tsaparikos, as long as they're drinking responsibly and not drinking too much.
There's no good indicator—such as bitterness from hops—can help you identify other low-carb beers. "Obviously, if the product tastes sweet, it likely has more sugar and carbs," said Dr. Wallace. "But in general, quantities can vary between even similar products."
A Quick Review
There are various low-carb beer options, which are ones with lower amounts of carbs per serving. Busch Light, Blue Moon LightSky, Omission Ultimate Light Golden Ale, and Corona Premier are just a few of those options.
You can only identify a low-carb beer by researching its nutrition and looking for beers with 5g of carbs or fewer. Whichever ones you choose, remember to drink in moderation.
