Craft Beer While "Dieting"

Options
TheSlorax
TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
If you’re like me, you love beer. And if you’re like me, possibly the worst part about cutting calories is not being able to have craft beer without going significantly over your calorie goal.

But actually, that’s not quite the case. In my quest for finding craft beer that fits easily into my day, I have made up the following list of beer that is under 200 calories per 12 oz. Some of you with higher daily goals may be able to have beer slightly higher in calories, but for those of you can't and also for those who would like to have more than one or two delightful craft beers after work, under 200 calories is pretty amazing. I’ve broken it up into categories by type of beer so you can drink your favorite type to your heart’s content. In the interest of brevity, I’ve only included IPA, stout, porter, lager, and ale varieties, with honorable mentions to some decent commercial beers.

*** Please note that some of these may be local to me and not available in your area. If that’s the case, I recommend using RateBeer.com to find the calorie content on any craft beers you may be considering. This list is, of course, not all inclusive, so if I missed one of your lower calorie favorites, feel free to add it in reply. I also realize that a couple of these may not technically be craft beer, but they’re still pretty decent and I like them so they made it to the list.

***** Please also note that if you suggest MGD 64, Coors Light, Corona Light, or especially Natty Light I will report your post.

IPA

Lagunitas IPA – 186 cal, 6.2% ABV
Full Sail IPA – 180 cal, 6% ABV
Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA - 195 cal, 6.5% ABV
Nectar Ales Nectar IPA - 201 cal, 6.7% ABV
Bridgeport IPA – 165 cal, 5.5% ABV
Deschutes ChainBreaker White IPA – 168 cal, 5.6% ABV
Big Sky IPA – 186 cal, 6.2% ABV
Alaskan IPA – 186 cal, 6.2% ABV

Stout

Deschutes Obsidian Stout - 178 cal, 6.4% ABV
Alaskan Stout – 171 cal, 5.7% ABV
Sierra Nevada Stout – 175 cal, 5.8% ABV
Mad River Steelhead Extra Stout – 195 cal, 6.5% ABV
Shipyard Blue Fin Stout – 141 cal, 4.7% ABV
Coronado Blue Bridge Coffee Stout – 162 cal, 5.4% ABV
Rogue Chocolate Stout – 189 cal, 6.3% ABV
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout – 171 cal, 5.7% ABV
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout – 183 cal, 6.1% ABV

Porter

Deschutes Black Butte Porter – 156 cal, 5.2% ABV
Anchor Porter – 168 cal, 5.6% ABV
Sierra Nevada Porter – 168 cal, 5.6% ABV
Butte Creek Organic Porter – 177 cal, 5.9% ABV
Eel River Porter – 174 cal, 5.8% ABV

Lager

Full Sail Session Premium Lager – 153 cal, 5.1% ABV
Full Sail Session Black Lager – 162 cal, 5.4% ABV
LandShark Lager – 141 cal, 4.7% ABV
Anchor California Lager – 147 cal, 4.9% ABV
Kona Longboard Lager – 138 cal, 4.6% ABV
New Belgium Shift Pale Lager – 150 cal, 5% ABV
Omission Gluten Free Lager – 138 cal, 4.6% ABV
Third Shift Amber Lager – 159 cal, 5.3% ABV

Ale

Firestone Double Barrel Ale – 150 cal, 5% ABV
Lagunitas Censored – 202 cal, 6.75% ABV
HeBrew Genesis Dry Hopped Session Ale – 168 cal, 5.6% ABV
Big Sky Montana Trout Slayer Ale – 150 cal, 5% ABV
Speakeasy Prohibiton Ale – 183 cal, 6.1% ABV

Decent Commercial Beers

Sam Adams Boston Lager – 141 cal, 4.8% ABV
Blue Moon Belgian White Ale – 162 cal, 5.4% ABV
Shock Top Belgian White – 156 cal, 5.2% ABV
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 150 cal, 5% ABV
Guinness Draught - 123 cal, 4.1% ABV
«1345

Replies

  • charlieibeling
    charlieibeling Posts: 93 Member
    Options
    good post. thank you.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Options
    Brb, need new pants
  • kill3rtofu
    kill3rtofu Posts: 169 Member
    Options
    awesome thanks@
  • LeahFerri
    LeahFerri Posts: 186 Member
    Options
    Beautiful.

    As a side note, how does alcoholic beverage nutrition information make its way into the world? It's not like it's ever on the container...
  • jenbob555
    jenbob555 Posts: 36 Member
    Options
    I LOVE YOU. Craft beer is my weakness and it's so hard for me to not have a beer or two with dinner with my husband. I'm more partial to wheat beers but there's a lot of other good ones on here!
  • EDollah
    EDollah Posts: 464 Member
    Options
    Excellent list.

    Just so you know, there's a group for craft beer fans here:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/11910-craft-beer-and-home-brewing

    I've been neglecting my favorite beers over the past few months but I'm one of the few people on the planet whose New Year's resolution included "drink more beer" as I aim to reintroduce it into my routine.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Options
    You can't see me, but I'm totally doing a happy dance right now.

    I think we can go ahead and call this a Public Service Announcement.

    :smile: :drinker:
  • phuckingbadasscutie
    phuckingbadasscutie Posts: 1,619 Member
    Options
    Love this post!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
  • jenbob555
    jenbob555 Posts: 36 Member
    Options
    Also, as an FYI, Third Shift is actually a MillerCoors beer...their attempt at making something that looks like a craft beer to cash in on how popular microbreweries are now.
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    Options
    Also, as an FYI, Third Shift is actually a MillerCoors beer...their attempt at making something that looks like a craft beer to cash in on how popular microbreweries are now.

    yeah, a couple are from bigger companies. like I said they're not technically "craft beer" but they're still fairly decent.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Options
    No mention of Guinness Draught? Only 125 calories per 12 oz. And feels like a meal.
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    Options
    No mention of Guinness Draught? Only 125 calories per 12 oz. And feels like a meal.

    what you mean the beer at the very bottom of my list? :wink:

    I knew I had forgotten some really obvious ones... shhhh...
  • keysie1
    keysie1 Posts: 4 Member
    Options
    I love you.
  • tempehforever
    tempehforever Posts: 183 Member
    Options
    I love everything about this thread. Glad I am not the only one who refuses to give up good beer!

    Beer, bagels, and bacon: three things I will always, always, always make room for in my diet. :)
  • rollbiz
    Options
    Just wanted to say thank you SO MUCH for posting this list...! Good beer is always going to have a place in my diet and this has made my novice shopping experience much easier.
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    Options
    Great work! Thanks for this.

    For those out drinking out keep in mind a pint is 1.33 of the 12oz amount.

    Also - Slorax / Hayley - in your research did you come across a rational explanation for the reported calorie diff in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale draft versus bottle? I never did.
  • srslybritt
    srslybritt Posts: 1,618 Member
    Options
    Jenna_can_i_get_pregnant_from_this.gif
  • EddieHaskell97
    EddieHaskell97 Posts: 2,227 Member
    Options
    As a fellow craft brewer, I thank you for this post! Nicely done!
  • kimmymayhall
    kimmymayhall Posts: 419 Member
    Options
    Great list, thank you! My biggest problem is finding calories for local beers but ratebeer really does have a lot of good info.
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
    Options
    I think I just teared up a little...

    Thanks!