Low-Carb Keto-Friendly Beers: Light, Tasty, Carb-Conscious

Keto and beer aren’t exactly two words you would see together all that often.

People on keto diets are usually trying to lose weight. ALCOHOL, on the other hand, is almost synonymous with WEIGHT GAIN. If you want to keep a SLIM FIGURE, you probably want to avoid those cold beers.

Thankfully, we have the best low-carb beers you can drink without sabotaging your keto diet! How sweet!

The 8 Best Keto Low-Carb Beers

You probably had to look away when you crave a cold bottle of beer. The good thing is that you don’t have to.

Here are some of the best alternatives

1) Miller 64 Extra Light Lager: Best Overall

Imagine this.

You’re sitting by your backyard catching up with old friends. Its dry and light notes pair perfectly with nuts.

The fresh and crisp flavor that this extra light lager has is perfect for quick chats and conversations.

With only 2.4 grams of carbohydrates per bottle, you won’t feel any guilt reaching for a second bottle.

This keto-friendly beer is EASY ON THE MOUTH and is very light and airy. Many people love how basic its profile is.

But, if basic is not for you, you’ll find Miller 64 to be QUITE DILUTED.

Pros

• Slightly sweet but not cloying
• Refreshing hints of oats and apple
• Polished flavor

Cons

• ABV is not very satisfactory
• Watery
• Corn-like smell

2) Budweiser Select 55 Premium Light: Best Value

The Budweiser Select 55 is a crisp, light gold, aromatic low-carb beer. It has an excellent clean finish decorated with hints of caramel malt.

This light lager is a refreshing mix of imported and domestic hops to get you a full flavor despite the lightness.

The Select 55’s flavor isn’t even the best thing about it.

Budweiser Premium Light’s 55 calories per bottle won’t cost you your keto diet. You can have your drink without worries with only 1.8 grams of carbs.

It’s the grab-to low-carb drink for that hot summer day. We’d go as far as to say it’s the lightest beer in the world!

But its light taste can be a liability of its own. For some people, this light-bodied beer tasted somehow watered down and shapeless.

It can sometimes taste bread-like or paper-like for some because of its neutral flavor and dry notes.

If you’re expecting as much flavor as a regular beer, this keto beer is NOT FOR YOU.

Pros

• One of the lowest calorie beers
• Smooth mouthfeel
• Low price

Cons

• A bit of sour aftertaste
• 2.4% ABV means less satisfaction
• Too light

3) Michelob Ultra: Best Budget Pick

The bright and light, malty and grainy notes of Michelob Ultra make it stay true to being a beer. It is one of the low-carb beer options that rock a crisp, clean, and simple profile.

There are no artificial colors or flavors.

We love the Michelob Ultra for easy drinking in a pint glass on a Sunday barbecue afternoon. For a dollar a bottle, you can’t really complain.

Unfortunately, the packaging doesn’t hold the cold temperature well, so it gets warmer faster.

Pros

• Cheap
• Citrusy
• Refreshing carbonation

Cons

• Minimal taste
• Very pale ale
• Unpleasant aftertaste

4) Coors Light American Lager Beer

An ABV of 4.2% gives you satisfaction close to a regular beer. Sure the calories and carbs aren’t as low as the other alternatives, but sometimes you just really need a good kick.

Originating from Colorado, it has a light body with clean malt notes. There is ALMOST NO BITTERNESS, uncharacteristic of low-carb beers. This lager is both dependable and affordable.

If you’re on a strict diet, you might want to hop in another option instead.

Pros

• Above-average ABV
• Low IBU
• Premium feel

Cons

• Now the lowest calories
• Can be too dry

5) Skinny Brands Lager

With a carb content of three grams in a 12 oz bottle, this gluten-free beer is perfect. It’s also vegan and kosher certified.

Gluten-free beers aren’t very common, so you should definitely get this.

There’s nothing unique to it, flavor-wise. But, with an ABV of 4% for only 89 calories and zero guilt? It’s truly satisfying on another level—no more worrying about calories and carbs.

Pros

• Gluten-free
• Kosher certified
• Good for vegans

Cons

• Lacks uniqueness
• Tastes too common

6) Blue Moon LightSky

Out of the light beers on the list, Blue Moon has fruity flavors for a lower carb count than soft drinks.

It’s hard to just have one drink.

It has an exceptionally smooth taste along with barley malt and unmalted cereals. This is a low-carb alcoholic drink to enjoy with grilled food.

Pros

• The perfect touch of sweetness
• Clean and pleasant finish

Cons

• Minimal fruitiness
• Light beer

7) Amstel Light

Amstel Light doesn’t have the lowest calories and carbs. It’s also on the expensive side compared to the other low-carb beers on the list.

But don’t discount it just yet!

It’s expensive but not unreasonable. This pale ale has a healthy dose of hops, sea salt, buckwheat, and chia. It doesn’t taste watered down at all.

Pros

• Craft beer
• Healthy

Cons

• Not the lowest grams of carbs
• Just average alcohol by volume

8) Heineken Light

You don’t often get a low-carb beer that tastes better than the regular version. Heineken has a name for a reason.

It’s not gluten-free, but the gluten is significantly reduced in this easy-drinking beer.

It is well-balanced and has a clean finish along with its bready, dry, and light notes.

Pros

• Gluten-reduced
• Feels premium

Cons

• Has a subtle bitterness
• The bready tone is not for everyone

FAQs

You now have a light beer in mind. Read on to clear out any questions you have on keto and light beer.

What Is a Keto Diet?

More and more people are interested in LOSING WEIGHT.

It can be because we want to get a slimmer physique. In a world of social media and big screens, a slim figure is hard not to like.

Obesity is also a condition that’s getting popular. A lot of us are becoming health-conscious. Weight loss is a great way to lead healthier lives.

As such, people are coming up with different types of diets. Keto, short for ketogenic, is one of the special diets tailored for weight loss. What’s unique about the keto diet is its macronutrient composition.

• 55-60% fat
• 30-35% protein
• 5-10% carbohydrates

To make it simpler, it’s a high-fat and low carbohydrate diet.

How does that help with shedding some weight?

The main principle is that we’re putting our body in a state of ketosis. Essentially, we’re encouraging our bodies to USE FAT AS FUEL instead of the usual carbohydrates.

If you’re interested in starting a keto diet or already trying it out, just make sure you don’t over consume your proteins. Proteins can turn into glucose in excess.

Does Beer Really Cause Beer Belly?

The answer is yes, and no.

Beer, or any alcohol for that matter, is very high in calories. Our favorite alcoholic beverages come from the fermentation of natural starch and sugars.

Both these ingredients are primary sources of calories.

Where do all those calories go? Our tummies!

The term ‘beer belly’ was coined because fat gets stored mainly in the abdomen. Hormones like testosterone also promote the buildup of abdominal fat. That’s why beer bellies are more common in men than in women.

The higher the alcohol content of your drink, the more calories there are as well.

However, it isn’t the BEER itself that causes beer belly. It’s just calories and hormones.

If you want to avoid developing tummy fats, you might want to consider keeping your beer to just one glass or opting for a lower alcohol level.

How Do You Make Beers Low Carb?

Let’s face it. Most alcohol will hurt our diets.

Lucky for us, there are tons of options for us to take. Nowadays, there are plenty of low-calorie alternatives.

Purer alcohols are better choices if you’re looking to trim your waistline. There’s wine, whiskey, rum, and gin as possible low-carb options. Lighter beers are also widely available now.

Beer is usually high in calories because of starch and sugar. If you take those out or reduce them, you’ll get a lighter beer that’ll suit your macros.

You can also transform beer into a low-calorie drink by mixing it with diet soda, sugar-free tonic water, or seltzers.

Low-carb beer is something we can consume even on a keto diet.

Regardless of what drink you take, just make sure to keep the quantity in check. Even small numbers can pile up to an enormous amount. Consult our handy Beer Calories Calculator for further investigation.

Summary

Whether it’s to slim down a few inches or to avoid heart diseases, I’m all for the weight loss we need. On a limited daily caloric requirement, you’d want to enjoy ONLY THE BEST beers.

Here are THE best low-carb beer options you can enjoy even when you’re watching the scale!

Best Overall: Miller 64 Extra Light Lager

The Miller 64 is your definite guiltless pleasure with net carbs of only 2.4 grams. Drink beer this light on a pint glass at 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit to get the refreshing taste you need.

Best Budget: Michelob Ultra

We all love a hint of citrus to balance the barley malt taste. Michelob does a great job at this.

Picking up a bottle of this low-carb beer won’t make you worry about carbs and calories. Your carb intake will remain on track while you enjoy a bottle or two of light beers.

What’s even better is that the low cost will make you drink alcohol the most laid-back way.

Best Value: Budweiser Select 55 Premium Light

Budweiser gets you a low-carb beer at very low-carb counts. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best low-carb beers at only 1.8 carbs per serving.

Pick it up at any store during summertime, and you’ll still ace your low-carb diet.

Last Reminders

It can be tough craving a drink when you’re on a keto diet (or any diet for that matter).

The good thing is that you don’t have to hold back completely. You can get the refreshment you want at the carb count you can afford.

We just want to remind you that no type of beer can save you from weight gain if you don’t eat well or exercise. Even with low-calorie beer, moderation is key!

We hope you enjoy going through the list. Let us know in the comments which one you liked most.

Now, get that drink and UNWIND GUILTLESSLY!