What Type of Beer Is Lowest in Calories?

November 6, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, some of the lowest-calorie beers on the market contain as few as 55 calories per 12-ounce serving. Choosing a beer with a lower calorie count can be a simple way to moderate your intake without sacrificing enjoyment, but determining what type of beer is lowest in calories requires understanding the factors at play.

Quick Summary

This guide examines the beer types and brewing methods that result in the lowest calorie counts. It compares popular options like light lagers, session IPAs, and non-alcoholic beers, providing brand examples and nutritional information to help you make an informed choice.

Key Points

Low ABV is Key: The most reliable indicator of a low-calorie beer is a low Alcohol by Volume (ABV), as alcohol contributes most of a beer's calories.
Ultra-Light Lagers Offer Minimal Calories: Brands like Budweiser Select 55 and Miller 64 are specifically engineered for minimum calories, often falling under 70 per serving.
Light Lagers Balance Flavor and Calories: Mainstream light beers, such as Michelob Ultra or Corona Premier, offer a balanced taste profile with around 90-110 calories.
Non-Alcoholic Beers are the Lowest: With the alcohol removed, non-alcoholic beers contain significantly fewer calories, with some options as low as 17 calories per 12 ounces.
Craft Low-Calorie Options Exist: Craft breweries are creating low-calorie options like session IPAs, which provide a flavorful, hoppy experience at a reduced calorie count.
Brewing Methods Impact Calorie Count: Techniques like manipulating fermentation and enzyme use are key to reducing both alcohol and carbohydrate levels in low-calorie beers.
Dark Beer Can Be Deceptively Low-Calorie: Some dark beers, like Guinness Draught, can have a surprisingly low calorie count relative to their flavor profile.

The Science Behind Beer Calories

To understand what type of beer is lowest in calories, it's essential to know where beer's calories come from. The two main sources are alcohol and carbohydrates.

Alcohol (Ethanol): Alcohol contains approximately 7 calories per gram, making it the most significant contributor to a beer's calorie count. This is why beers with a higher Alcohol by Volume (ABV) almost always have more calories.
Carbohydrates: These come from residual sugars left after fermentation and provide 4 calories per gram. Low-carb beers are specifically brewed to reduce these residual sugars.

Brewers can employ different techniques to reduce the calorie content. One common method is to allow for almost complete fermentation, converting more fermentable sugars into alcohol while leaving fewer residual carbohydrates. Other techniques involve adjusting mashing temperatures, using specific yeast strains, or adding water to the finished product. For non-alcoholic beer, methods like vacuum evaporation or reverse osmosis remove alcohol, significantly reducing overall calories.

Low-Calorie Beer Categories and Examples

When searching for a low-calorie beer, you can generally look at three categories: ultra-light beers, light beers, and non-alcoholic options.

Ultra-Light Beers

These beers prioritize minimal calories and ABV above all else. They are often brewed with adjuncts like rice or corn to create a lighter body. While some may find their flavor profile less complex, they are the go-to for the absolute lowest calorie counts.

Budweiser Select 55: With a very low 2.4% ABV, this option contains just 55 calories per 12-ounce serving.
Miller 64: At 2.8% ABV, this beer has 64 calories per 12-ounce serving.
Beck's Premier Light: This beer boasts 64 calories per 12 ounces and has a 2.3% ABV.

Light Lagers and Ales

This is the most common low-calorie category, offering a balance between flavor and a manageable calorie count. These beers typically fall in the 90-110 calorie range per 12-ounce serving.

Michelob Ultra: A popular choice with 95 calories and 4.2% ABV per 12 ounces.
Corona Premier: This crisp option has 90 calories per 12-ounce bottle and 4.0% ABV.
Miller Lite: With 96 calories per 12 ounces, it is known for its balanced taste at 4.2% ABV.
Guinness Draught: Surprisingly, this stout is relatively low in calories for a darker beer, with about 126 calories per 12 ounces.
Session IPAs: Brews like Lagunitas DayTime (100 calories) and Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty (95 calories) pack hoppy flavor into a low-calorie format by reducing the ABV.

Non-Alcoholic Beers

By removing or limiting the alcohol, non-alcoholic (NA) beers inherently become some of the lowest-calorie options. The calorie count can vary, but most fall well below 100 calories per serving.

Athletic Brewing Co. Free Wave Hazy IPA: 70 calories per 12 ounces.
Heineken 0.0: This zero-alcohol beer contains 69 calories per 11.2 ounces.
Busch NA: An alcohol-free option with 60 calories per 12-ounce serving.

Comparison of Common Beer Types and Calories

To highlight the difference, here is a comparison of typical calorie ranges across various beer styles per 12-ounce serving.


Beer Style	ABV (%)	Average Calories (12 oz)	Primary Calorie Source	Notes
Non-alcoholic	<0.5%	17-90	Carbohydrates (Sugars)	Calories vary depending on the brewing method and residual sugars.
Ultra-Light Lager	2.4-3.0%	55-70	Alcohol	Designed for minimal calories; often uses adjuncts like rice.
Standard Light Lager	4.0-4.2%	90-110	Alcohol and Carbs	A popular balance of flavor and low calories.
Session IPA	3.0-5.0%	95-150	Alcohol	Lower ABV than a standard IPA, retaining some hoppy character.
Standard American Lager	4.0-5.0%	130-150	Alcohol and Carbs	The baseline for many mainstream beers.
Standard IPA	6.0-9.0%	180-240+	Alcohol and Carbs	High ABV and complex malts lead to higher calories.
Imperial/Double IPA	8.0%+	250-300+	Alcohol	Very high alcohol content results in high calorie density.
Stout (e.g., Guinness)	4.0-5.0%	~125-180	Alcohol and Carbs	Can be surprisingly low in some cases, but often higher due to roasted malts.

How to Choose the Lowest Calorie Beer for You

Selecting the best low-calorie beer depends on your personal preferences and health goals. Consider the following when making your choice:

Prioritize ABV

The most direct way to reduce beer calories is to choose a lower ABV. A simple rule is: the lower the alcohol content, the lower the calorie count. For example, a 12-ounce beer with 5% ABV is about 150 calories, while a 2.5% ABV beer can be around half that amount.

Consider Flavor and Style

If flavor is a priority, you don't have to sacrifice it for low calories. Many craft breweries now produce excellent-tasting session IPAs, light lagers, and even stouts with a low-calorie profile. These offer more complexity than basic ultra-light options. For those who love hoppy beers, Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty offers the taste of an IPA without the high calories.

Look for Non-Alcoholic Innovations

The quality and variety of non-alcoholic beers have vastly improved. Brands like Athletic Brewing Co. or BrewDog offer tasty NA options that are extremely low in calories, making them perfect for those who want the flavor of beer without any alcohol or associated calories.

Brewing for a Lighter Brew

Brewing science has made significant strides in creating lower-calorie options. Techniques include using debranching enzymes from sources like rice to create more fermentable sugars that are then consumed by yeast, resulting in less residual sugar and fewer carbs. Some brewers also blend the beer with purified, carbonated water during the final packaging stage to reduce calorie density. Advanced methods for creating non-alcoholic beer, such as vacuum evaporation, are used to remove alcohol after fermentation while preserving the beer's natural flavors.

Conclusion

For those wondering what type of beer is lowest in calories, the answer is typically a very low ABV or non-alcoholic brew. Beers like Budweiser Select 55 or Miller 64, with their minimal alcohol content, are among the lightest options available. However, a wide range of flavorful light lagers, session IPAs, and non-alcoholic craft beers are now available, proving that you don't have to compromise on taste to enjoy a lower-calorie beverage. By paying attention to a beer's ABV and style, you can easily find a satisfying choice that aligns with your dietary goals. As brewing innovation continues, the variety of low-calorie beers with great flavor is only going to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Budweiser Select 55 is one of the lowest-calorie beers available, containing just 55 calories per 12-ounce serving due to its very low 2.4% ABV.

Non-alcoholic beers are generally among the lowest in calories because they lack the high-calorie alcohol component. However, the calorie count can vary depending on residual sugars, so it's always best to check the label.

While often perceived as more calorific, some dark beers like Guinness Draught are surprisingly lower in calories than many people think, offering around 126 calories per 12 ounces. However, rich imperial stouts are typically very high in calories.

Brewers create low-calorie IPAs by reducing the ABV and employing techniques that limit residual carbohydrates. These 'session IPAs' focus on hop flavor and aroma rather than high alcohol, keeping the calorie count down.

Alcohol is the primary source of calories in beer, providing 7 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates. This is why a beer's ABV is the most direct indicator of its potential calorie count.

Brewers can influence calorie content by adjusting the fermentation process. Techniques like higher temperatures or specific enzyme use can convert more sugars into alcohol, leaving fewer residual sugars and, thus, fewer calories.

No, not all light beers taste watered down. While ultra-light options may have a very mild flavor, many light lagers and session IPAs are brewed to retain a balanced and satisfying taste, focusing on the flavor from malt and hops.