If you’re watching your calories but still enjoy a cold pint, you’re not alone. Our health and wellbeing are at the forefront of the majority of our minds, but so is socialising. Enjoying a beer at the pub with friends shouldn’t affect the way you look after your body, which is why there has been an increased search for low calorie beer.
With the rise of health-conscious purchases, no and low-alcohol beer has seen an increase in popularity. But what many people are unaware of is the link between low calorie beer and alcohol-free beer. Low and no beers have some of the lowest calories on the market and so are a great option for those watching their waistline.
But what actually makes these beers so low in calories?
What Is a Low Calorie Beer?
In simple terms, a low-calorie beer contains fewer calories than a standard beer, which usually contains about 215 kcal. Low calorie beers are often under 100 kcal per bottle or can. The high calorie count in normal beer comes from two main sources: alcohol and carbohydrates (mostly from residual sugars).
This is why the ABV (alcohol by volume) has such a direct impact on a beer’s calorie count: the more alcohol, the more calories.
Why ‘No and Low’ Alcohol = Lower Calories
Let’s break it down:
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Alcohol contains approximately 7 calories per gram, nearly as many as in fat (which contains 9). So even if a beer is low in sugar, the alcohol alone can drive up the total calorie count.
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‘No and low’ beers are typically defined as being between 0.5–1.2% ABV, with the UK’s current law stipulating that anything under 0.5% is not considered an alcoholic drink. These beers remove the biggest source of calories by removing or reducing the alcohol.
- Many of these beers are also brewed to a reduced sugar recipe as a way of achieving lower alcohol content, so the total calorie load is trimmed from both ends.
Alcohol has calories, it’s not just about beer. Cutting out alcoholic beverages is actually a great way to help regulate your diet and maintain weight loss, not least because lowered inhibitions from alcohol can also disrupt the most steadfast health resolutions! Luckily, the no and low market is on the rise, meaning that there is a vast selection of alcohol-free beverages available, from wines to spirits. You’ll still be able to enjoy your favourite drinks without the alcohol and the calories that come with it!
Real-World Examples
To put the amount of calories in alcohol-free beer into perspective:
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A regular pint of 5% lager contains around 215 calories.
- A standard 330ml bottle of alcohol free beer (0.5% ABV) such as our Bavarian Helles Lager can contain as few as 60–70 calories, or even less. An equivalent pint-sized serve is in the region of 113.
- Some other craft options, like our Nirvana IPA contain as few as 25 calories per 100ml, or 82 Kcal per can.
Who’s Drinking Low-Calorie, Low-Alcohol Beer?
It’s not just designated drivers and Dry January loyalists. Fitness-conscious drinkers, calorie counters, and those simply looking to moderate their alcohol intake are all turning to these lighter options. The modern brewing techniques applied here at Nirvana Brewery use industry-leading and innovative new yeasts to ensure that alcohol free has just as much flavour as full alcohol beer. So, the only thing you’re missing out on is the hangover the next morning!
The Bottom Line
If you're counting calories, cutting down on alcohol is one of the quickest wins and switching to no or low-alcohol beer is an easy trade-off. So next time you’re scanning the supermarket shelves, browsing our website 😉 or standing at the bar, remember: the lower the ABV, the lower the calorie count.
Cheers to that!
