Staying Keto-Friendly With Low-Carb Beers: How Many Is Safe?

Beer is typically not keto-friendly, as it is high in carbohydrates. However, there are many low-carb beers that can be enjoyed on a keto diet. These beers have fewer than 5 grams of carbohydrates per serving, and some even have zero carbs. It's important to note that drinking alcohol can affect your body differently when you're in ketosis, so it's recommended to drink in moderation and be mindful of how it affects you.

Zero-carb beers

While on a keto diet, it is best to opt for zero-carb beers to avoid consuming too many carbohydrates. Here are some zero-carb beer options and some additional information about low-carb beers:

• Bud Light Next: Bud Light's first brew with zero carbohydrates and a refreshing taste.
• Tennents Light Lager: With only 0.7g of carbohydrates per bottle, it is one of the lowest carb beers available.
• SkinnyBrands Lager: A gluten-free, vegan-certified, and kosher-certified lager with just 3 grams of carbs per bottle.
• Hahn Ultra Zero Carb: A zero-carb beer with a malty beer taste, high flavour, low bitterness, and easy drinking.
• Salute Lager and IPA: An exception to the often bad-tasting low-carb beers, this lager and IPA brewed in Italy are pretty good and taste like "normal" beer.

Additional Low-Carb Beers

• Budweiser Select 55: A light version of the classic American-style lager with less than 2g of carbs per bottle.
• Corona Premier: A beach-friendly, easy-drinking beer with 2g of carbs per serving.
• Miller 64: A light beer with a slightly malty flavour and just 2g of carbs per can.
• Michelob Ultra Pure Gold: A USDA-certified organic beer with no artificial colours or flavours and 2.5g of carbs per bottle.
• Yuengling Flight: A slightly fuller-bodied light beer with 2.6g of carbs per serving.
• Amstel Light: A light beer with a stronger hoppiness and a hint of honey, but with a slightly higher carb count.
• Heineken Silver: A light beer with 2.9g of carbs per serving.

It is important to note that even when drinking low-carb beers, alcohol consumption should be in moderation: one drink per day or less for women and two drinks per day or less for men.

Low-calorie beers

If you're on a keto diet, you may be wondering if you can still enjoy a beer or two. The good news is that there are plenty of low-carb beers available that can fit within your keto macros!

The general guideline for keto is to keep your daily carb intake between 20-50 grams. Traditional beer is very high in carbohydrates, with an average of around 11-13 grams of carbs per 12-ounce serving. So, if you're not careful, drinking beer can quickly use up your daily carb allowance.

However, low-carb beers typically have under 3 grams of carbs per serving, and some even have zero carbs. This means that you can enjoy three to four low-carb beers for the same amount of carbs as one regular beer.

It's important to note that the keto diet can lower your alcohol tolerance, so you may feel the effects of alcohol more quickly. Additionally, alcohol can pause fat-burning and ketone production, so it's crucial to drink in moderation and track your beers as part of your daily macros.

Choosing a Low-Calorie Beer

When selecting a low-calorie beer, keep the following in mind:

• Don't rely solely on the packaging. "Light" beers may not always be low in carbs or calories. Instead, look for the ""low-carb" label, which indicates no more than 7 grams of carbs per serving. Even better, check the nutrition facts label to see the exact carb content.
• Review the alcohol content. Most low-carb beers have an alcohol content of around 5-6% ABV, similar to regular beers.
• If you're choosing a non-alcoholic or low-alcohol option, be sure to pick one that's also low in carbs.
• Keep an eye on the serving size. The standard serving for a 5% ABV beer is 12 ounces.

Recommended Low-Calorie Beers

• Budweiser Select 55: With only 1.9 grams of carbs and 55 calories per bottle, this is one of the lowest-carb options available.
• Miller Genuine Draft 64: This beer has 64 calories and 2.4 grams of carbs. It's similar to Miller Lite but with slightly less flavour.
• Michelob Ultra Pure Gold: This beer has 85 calories and 2.5 grams of carbs. It's USDA-certified organic and has no artificial colours or flavours.
• Corona Premier: With 90 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs per 12-ounce bottle, Corona Premier is a refreshing and easy-drinking option.
• Omission Light Golden Ale: A popular gluten-free option with 99 calories and 3 grams of carbs.
• Miller Lite: A classic light beer with 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs. It's been a low-calorie, low-carb option long before the keto diet became popular.
• Busch Light: The brewers claim it has the same taste as regular Busch but with only 95 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs.
• Amstel Light: Made by Heineken, this beer has 95 calories and 3.6 grams of carbs. It has a stronger hoppiness than most light beers with a hint of honey.
• Blue Moon LightSky: A wheat beer with notes of tangerine, it has 95 calories and less than 4 grams of carbs.
• Coors Light: A refreshing option with 4.2% ABV and 5 grams of carbs.
• Bud Light: A delicate sweetness with 7 grams of carbs per bottle.
• Pabst Blue Ribbon: This beer has a bread-like flavour with a slight bitterness and 12 grams of carbs.
• Michelob Ultra: One of the highest alcohol contents among low-carb beers at 4.2% ABV, and only 2.6 grams of carbs.

Remember, always drink in moderation and ensure that your beer choices fit within your daily keto macros and calorie intake. Enjoy!

Best low-carb beers for taste

When it comes to the keto diet, beer is one of the more difficult drinks to fit in. However, there are plenty of low-carb beers that are both tasty and keto-friendly. Here are some of the best low-carb beers for taste:

Kona Light Blonde Ale

Kona Brewing Co. describes its low-calorie Light Blonde Ale as having a pale, caramel malt taste that pairs great with seafood. With only 4 grams of carbs per serving, it's a perfect choice for those watching their carb intake. It also has less than 100 calories per bottle, making it a low-calorie option as well.

Blue Moon LightSky

Blue Moon LightSky is a wheat brew that is light and refreshing with a solid tangerine undertone. It has only 3.6 grams of carbs per can, making it a great option for those on a keto diet. It's also usually on the more affordable side of craft beers.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty

This low-calorie brew is a great option for IPA fans who want to enjoy a nice hoppy beer while sticking to their keto diet. It's sweetened with zero-carb monk fruit sweetener, which balances out the classic tart and piney flavors. Each can has just 3.6 grams of carbs, making it a keto-friendly choice.

Budweiser Select 55

Budweiser Select 55 has one of the lowest carb counts, with just 1.9 grams of carbs per bottle. It's a light version of the classic American-style lager, making it perfect for when you want to enjoy a few beers without worrying about your carb count. It's also pretty low in calories, with only 55 calories per bottle.

Lagunitas DayTime

Lagunitas DayTime is a light IPA with a low alcohol content. You still get the characteristics of a traditional IPA, but with much lower calories and carb content. Each can has just 3 grams of carbs, making it a great choice for those on a keto diet.

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold is USDA-certified organic and doesn't contain any artificial colors or flavors. It has a light, clean, and refreshing taste with a touch of sweetness, and only 2.5 grams of carbs per bottle. It's a perfect choice for those following a low-carb diet.

Miller Lite

Miller Lite is a classic and well-known light beer that's easy to drink and low in carbs and calories. With just 3.2 grams of carbs and 96 calories per 12-ounce bottle, it's a great option for those looking to manage their overall calorie and carb intake. It has a full-bodied flavor with a bitter aftertaste, making it a popular choice among low-carb beers.

Heineken Silver Lager

The Heineken Silver Lager is a brand-new 2023 launch from Heineken. It has a light mouthfeel and flavor profile with minimal bitterness. It's a great choice for those looking for a low-carb beer that doesn't compromise on taste.

Yuengling Flight

Yuengling Flight is a little fuller-bodied than other low-carb options and has all the flavor you would expect from a quality beer. Each serving has just 2.6 grams of carbs, but you'd never guess it from the taste! It's a delicious keto-friendly option.

Coors Light

Coors Light is one of the OGs of light beers. Each light beer has just 5 grams of carbs, making it a good choice for those on a keto diet. It's pure nostalgia in a can or bottle, and its familiar taste will bring back memories.

Corona Premier

Corona Premier is a light, crisp, and refreshing beer that's perfect for a hot day. With just 2.6 grams of carbs per serving, it's keto-friendly and low enough in carbs to have a few! It goes well with a squeeze of lime and a little salt.

Remember, even when drinking low-carb beers, it's important to consume alcohol in moderation. Enjoy these tasty beers as part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle!

Alcohol content in low-carb beers

When it comes to drinking beer on the ketogenic diet, it's important to remember that beer is like liquid bread. It's typically filled with carbs and calories, and it's rarely keto-friendly. The average beer has around 150 or more calories in every 12-ounce serving, along with a dose of alcohol, which can alter your body's normal metabolic processes and impair your ability to burn fat.

However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a cold beer while on a keto diet. There are dozens of beers with low enough calories and carbs that you can consume without falling out of ketosis. These include:

• Coors Light (5g carbs)
• Budweiser Select 55 (1.9g carbs)
• Corona Premier (2.6g carbs)
• Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty (3.6g carbs)
• Lagunitas DayTime (3g carbs)
• Michelob Ultra Pure Gold (2.5g carbs)
• Miller64 (2.4g carbs)
• Yuengling Flight (2.6g carbs)
• Beck's Premier Light (3.9g carbs)
• Michelob Ultra (2.6g carbs)
• Amstel Light (5g carbs)
• Corona Light (5g carbs)
• Heineken Silver (2.9g carbs)
• Omission Ultimate Light Golden Ale (3g carbs)
• Miller Lite (3.2g carbs)
• Devils Backbone Bright Tangerine (2g carbs)
• Shiner Ruby Redbird (4.6g carbs)
• Surly Brewing Co. Rosé (2.25g carbs)
• Sleeman Clear 2.0 (2g carbs)
• NIXE Extra Dry (2.49g carbs)
• Pig's Eye Lean Light (2.6g carbs)
• Marston’s Resolution (1.65g carbs)
• Budweiser Select (3.1g carbs)
• Keystone Light (4.2g carbs)
• Heineken Premium Light (7g carbs)

When choosing a low-carb beer, it's important to look for nutritional information on the packaging or online. As a general rule, beers with 5 grams of carbohydrates or fewer are considered low-carb. It's also worth noting that darker beers tend to have a higher carb count, so it's best to avoid stouts and lagers that are darker in colour.

While these low-carb beers can be enjoyed as part of a keto diet, it's important to drink them in moderation. Men should have no more than two drinks a day, while women should have no more than one. Additionally, it's crucial to remember that even light beer and other low-carb alternatives can impair weight loss progress if consumed in excess.

Gluten-free low-carb beers

If you're on a gluten-free or keto diet, you might be wondering which beers are suitable for you. While traditional beer is typically brewed from barley, a gluten-containing grain, there are now several gluten-free options available.

Omission Brewing Co.

Omission Brewing Co. brews its beers differently from typical gluten-free ales. Instead of starting with a gluten-free base, head brewer Joe Casey uses malted barley and introduces an enzyme to the beer that eats up all of the gluten in the liquid, removing it entirely. Omission's Ultimate Light Golden Ale is a great pick for non-coeliac peeps looking for a light beer. It's smooth, citrusy, easy to drink, and full of flavour, with just five grams of carbs and 90 calories per serving.

New Planet Blonde Ale

New Planet Brewery makes a variety of gluten-free and gluten-removed beers. The gluten-free Blonde Ale contains water, millet, gluten-free oats, maize, cane sugar, hops, and yeast. At 4.5% ABV, it's a light and refreshing pick. Per serving, it has 120 calories, 14 grams of carbs, and zero grams of fat and sugar.

Ground Breaker Brewing Dark Ale

Ground Breaker's Dark Ale is brewed with dark roasted chestnuts and lentils, which provide a roasted flavour with hints of dark fruit and chocolate. This dark brew is 4.5% ABV, and has 135 calories per serving.

Steadfast Beer Co. Gluten-Free Pale Ale

Steadfast Beer Co.'s Pale Ale is brewed with sorghum, molasses, and hops, and has a bright, citrusy flavour. It's 6.8% ABV, so it's one to sip slowly. Per serving, it has 200 calories and 17 grams of carbs.

Element Brewing Company Plasma Sake IPA

This one's for the IPA lovers! The Plasma Sake IPA is made with brown rice, malted millet, malted buckwheat, and Aramis hops. It promises to taste anything but gluten-free. Be prepared for a strong 9.3% ABV.

Ghostfish Brewing Company Meteor Shower Blonde Ale

Ghostfish brews in small batches in their dedicated gluten-free facilities and uses local ingredients like Northwest-grown hops. Made with honey, sweet rice, corn, and honeydew, this light-bodied ale is easy to drink and has 4.5% ABV. Per serving, it has 150 calories and 15 grams of carbs.

Other low-carb beers

While the following beers are not specifically listed as gluten-free, they are all low in carbs, which is essential for those on a keto diet.

• Budweiser Select 55
• Corona Premier
• Miller 64
• Michelob Ultra Pure Gold
• Yuengling Flight
• Surly Brewing Rosé Lager
• Beck's Premier Light
• Deschutes Da Shootz! Pilsner
• Heineken Light
• Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
• Blue Moon LightSky
• Ommegang Brut IPA
• Kona Light Blonde Ale
• Coors Light

Frequently asked questions