Hops, which is used to make beer.
There are many types of low-calorie beer, but there are some in terms of calories and taste. Within this broadly defined group are conventional light beers and ultra light beers, each marketed specifically for their low calorie content. Non-alcoholic beers and beers that are known for their flavor but are actually very low in calories are also worth considering.
Low calorie beer.
Beer contains alcohol, and alcohol provides most of the calories in a beer. This means that there is a direct relationship between the alcoholic strength of a beer and the number of calories it contains. There are additional factors, such as how sweet or full-bodied the beer is, that can influence its calorie content, but you can generally estimate a beer’s calorie content by learning its alcohol level. In many countries, brewers are required to list the alcohol by volume (ABV) on each bottle or can of beer. Since alcohol is the main contributor of calories, those with a lower ABV generally contain fewer calories.
Dark beers tend to have more calories than light beers.
Non-alcoholic beers are among the lowest calorie beers because they contain no alcohol. Some of these beers range from 70 to 96 calories. These levels rival any of the heavily marketed low-calorie beers that contain alcohol, so if drinking alcohol isn’t a priority, but counting calories while enjoying the taste of beer, non-alcoholic beers may be a good choice.
Light beers generally have a lower alcohol concentration.
With similar calorie levels to non-alcoholic beers, ultralight beers are an option for beer drinkers who want alcohol in their beer but are willing to sacrifice flavor. The low calorie levels in these beers were essentially achieved by reducing the alcohol content and removing residual sugars that provide flavor but also retain additional calories. It is common to find beers in this category with only 64 calories per 350 ml serving. A recent emphasis on reducing the number of calories consumed has increased the popularity and availability of ultralight beers.
Since the low-calorie beer boom, many brands have released their own versions. It can be helpful to order low-calorie beers at a local brewery or outlet. Beer distributors or brewers almost always provide information on calorie content and can be another helpful source of information on low-calorie beers.