in search for a low calorie beer

T_R_A_V

Yeah i like blue moon but only on tap...in the bottle just doesnt cut it for me

T_R_A_V

Cmon...more beer talk...my fav subject

Kristen81

Yeah! I need to know the best beer for me to drink on Sunday at the bar. They will have Abita on tap for us Saints fans but Im sure it has more calories than I want to consume. HMMM...maybe I'll just drink Vodka soda with a lime

EmilyStrick

HMMM...maybe I'll just drink Vodka soda with a lime

that's what i drink! i love beer, but not enough i guess! just make sure they give you plain carbonated water and not tonic! i always feel like a priss when i'm not drinking beer and watching sports, but whatever.

p.s. - van gogh makes an espresso vodka (the clear one, NOT the double espresso) that actually has no caffeine, tastes like dessert and is 69 calories per ounce!!! so yummy! they just came out with a dutch caramel flavor, but i don't know the cal count on that yet.........

T_R_A_V

So ive been trying to get myself into this 55 cal bud select...but cant nail down the taste too much

Kristen81

I love than Van Gogh Vodka....I'm just much more of a beer girl than I am a liquor girl. I'm doing extra work today so that I can have beer night with the boy. I already added 6 Michelob Ultra's, which I NEVER drink...but it's less than 600 calories.
I just figure....with the bad food I'll be eating Sunday, I may as well stick to low cal liquors.

pinbotchick

Cmon...more beer talk...my fav subject

If I'm gonna have a beer, it has to be a good one. I savored every sip of the 212 cal Sierra Nevada Celebration that I had a few nights ago. My husband used to a professional brewer - those were the days *sigh* but I suppose it's better for my health. I haven't had the nerve to try those low cal beers but the Bud Light Golden Wheat wasn't bad.

T_R_A_V

yeah beer is the only thing that I cant cut out of my diet....I refuse too

SherryRH

My husband is a beer snob and does not normally drink any light beer. If he does drink a light beer he goes for amstel light. He likes the taste and says it does not taste like a light beer. (I wouldn't know, I hate beer.) Not sure of the calorie count but if you are looking for a light beer with a better taste, this may be the way to go.

bukozki

I posted this for another thread. I actually ride the head of the tiger. I shoot for quality of brew and high alcohol in lieu of low calories. More drunk on less drink usually means more drunk on less calories and also more drunk on less filling...

Unlike food, I'd say front load your drinking, get drunk quicker if that's your goal and spare yourself the hours of session style drinking. I personally prefer higher ABV (Alcohol by volume) beers, they tend to fall into the craft brew category. They tend to be higher in calories, but they balance it out by being higher in alcohol, they also tend to be more sip-able and therefore less chug-able. So those give you a few options, drink quickly and get drunk quickly without filling yourself up, or sip slowly and get the same effect from potentially fewer calories.

A few head to head comparisons courtesy of MFP and BeerAdvocate.

Bud Light
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29/1320/

Style: Adjunct Lager
Rating: D-
Serving Size: 12 Oz
Calories 110
ABV: 4.2%


Pabst Blue Ribbon
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/447/1331

Style: Adjunct Lager
Rating: C
Serving Size: 12 Oz
Calories 153
ABV: 4.74%


And because you're Australian...

Foster's

Style: Adjunct Lager
Rating: C-
Serving Size: 12 Oz
Calories: 193
ABV: 5%


Now let's make a mixed drink to compare...

Webtender.com provides these mixes...

Rum and Coke (4 Oz and 8 Oz) ((Optimistic pour at a bar, but you get the idea))
We're using Captain Morgan (30% ABV), because he was practically begging...

So 4 Oz of Captain is 240 Calories, diluted with 8 Oz of Coke at 105 Calories, or Diet which adds 0 Calories but probably contains some sort of astringent, leaving you with a 12 Oz serving diluted to 10% ABV at 240-345 Calories. That's assuming you get a full 4 ounces of booze and 8 ounces of Coke in your glass. Bars tend to go heavy on the ice because it's cheap, but the good news is that ice is calorie free. You're probably looking at getting something closer to 2 Oz of Rum and 8 Oz of Coke (multiplied proportionately to fill 12 Oz glass for direct comparison) which comes out to a 270 or 144 (Diet) Calories for a drink weighing in at 6% alcohol.

So, optimistically you're getting a much better deal than your typical lager beers, and realistically you're getting a marginally better calorie to buzz ratio.

Now take a look at some higher ABV Beers...

Founder's Backwoods *kitten*
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/35036

Style: Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy
Rating: A-
Serving: 12 Oz
Calories: 280
ABV: 10.2%

Dogifish Head 90 Minute Indian Pale Ale

Style: Imperial Indian Pale Ale
Rating: A
Serving: 12 Oz
Calories: 230
ABV: 9%


La Fin Du Monde

Style: Belgian Triple
Rating: A
Serving: 12 Oz
Calories: 225
ABV: 9%


I think the math is clear. You pay in calories for higher alcohol, but if you choose your drinks wisely (and based on their ABV) you can get to where your going without wrecking your whole week.

Think of it this way


Dogfishhead 120 Minute IPA

Style: Imperial IPA
Rating: B+
Serving: 12 Oz
Calories: 450
ABV: Varies 18%-25% (Generally assumed to be 20%-21%)

You could drink 12 Oz of beer at 450 Calories and get the same amount of alcohol (assuming 20%): 5 Bud Lights (60 Oz, 550 Calories), about 4 PBRs or Foster's (48 Oz, 612, 772 Calories respectively), 2 well made Captain and Cokes (24 Oz, 480 (Diet) or 690 Calories), or just over 3 Captain and Cokes that you might expect from a bar (36 Oz, 433(diet) or 810 Calories).

Do some math and do it before you get wasted. My advice, get in there, get drunk, ride the wave and don't fill yourself up on terrible drinks. Make sure you're getting quality of taste and quality of impact.

And since TRAV asked, I tracked down the Abita brew calories.

The nutritional info comes from here: http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/abita
And the rating and ABV info comes from Beeradvocate.com

Purple Haze (Abita) Serving Size: 12 oz; Calories: 145, Total Fat: 1.015g, Carbs: 1.052g, Protein: ?g
ABV: 4.2%
Rating: C+

Amber (Abita) Serving Size: 12 fl oz; Calories: 145 (128?), Total Fat: 1.01g, Carbs: 1.05g, Protein: 0g
ABV: 4.5%
Rating: B-

Turbodog Ale (Abita) Serving Size: 12 oz; Calories: 172, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 16g, Protein: ?g
ABV: 5.6%
Rating: B

Abita Light Beer (Abita) Serving Size: 12 oz; Calories: 119, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 8.2g, Protein: 0g
ABV: 4.0%
Rating: C

Jockamo Ipa (Abita) Serving Size: 12oz; Calories: 190, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 13g, Protein: 2g
ABV: 6.5%
Rating: B
This one is a personal go-to beer for me. It's a solid IPA.

Satsuma Harvest Wit (Abita) Serving Size: 12 oz; Calories: 155, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 11g, Protein: 2.4g
ABV: 5.1%
Rating: B-

Mardi Gras Bock (Abita) Serving Size: 12 ounces; Calories: 187, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 16g, Protein: ?g
ABV: 6.5%
Rating: B-

Abbey Ale (Abita) Serving Size: 12 oz; Calories: 230, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 18g, Protein: 3.3g
ABV: 8%
Rating: B

Pecan Harvest Ale (Abita) Serving Size: 12 oz. bottle; Calories: 150, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 11g, Protein: 2.6g
ABV: 5%
Rating: B-

Restoration Pale Ale (Abita) Serving Size: 1 Beer -- 12 oz.; Calories: 167, Total Fat: 0g, Carbs: 15g, Protein: 1.9g
ABV: 5%
Rating: B-

bukozki

All I know is that right now in my fridge I've got the following...

12 Oz. Founders Porter
12 Oz. Bottle Dogfishhead Indian Brown Ale
22 Oz. Bottle Victory Baltic Thunder
750ml. Bottle Sly Fox Black Raspberry Reserve
22. Oz Bottle Sly Fox Odyssey
6 Pack Troegs Nugget Nectar

And I just have to get through a six mile run before I dig in. That'll keep me going.

T_R_A_V

Heck yeah...thanks for the info

T_R_A_V

All I know is that right now in my fridge I've got the following...

12 Oz. Founders Porter
12 Oz. Bottle Dogfishhead Indian Brown Ale
22 Oz. Bottle Victory Baltic Thunder
750ml. Bottle Sly Fox Black Raspberry Reserve
22. Oz Bottle Sly Fox Odyssey
6 Pack Troegs Nugget Nectar

And I just have to get through a six mile run before I dig in. That'll keep me going.

I dont think we have some of those down here in Louisiana

bukozki

Sly Fox and Victory are from outside of Philadelphia, Troegs is from Harrisburg, Dogfishhead is Delaware and Founders is Michigan.

I just checked all of them and none seem to be distributed to Louisiana right now. I encourage you to look them up and track them down, they're all fantastic breweries.

bukozki

I don't know why I assumed you were from Louisiana. Because Abita is brewed there and you like them? You can look up individual brewers and check their distribution.

T_R_A_V

Well...you have my fav up that way...Yeungling is the best...and guess what cant get it here. I brought back a keg from FLA last time i was there though

sdreamer84

so I found some lower calorie beers. Saturday I tried Amstel Light. only 95 calories and it had good flavor and for the super bowl I had michelob ultra pomegranette rasberry. Both very good! My best friend has switched to vodka with water mixed with crystal light packets. Which is also very good!

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone!!

weaklink109

I LOVE microbrewed beer, and since I live near Portland, OR--which is to microbrewed beer what Seattle (corporate home of Starbucks) is to coffee--I can indulge myself as often as I can fit it in to my available calories, but I prefer them on tap rather than in a bottle.

Sometimes, its gotta be a bottle, then, for me, there is nothing like a good light beer. I am not fond of regular Michelob Ultra, but the Cactus Lime version is pretty good. The flavor is there without being overwhelming. I prefer it to Bud Light Lime, which has an overwhelming lime taste that to me tastes to much like artificial flavor.

I haven't tried the new wheat beer that Bud is advertising, but since Hefewiezen is my favorite microbrew, it is worth a try.

Cheers!!:drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

courtney_love2001

mmmm beer. I wanted one tonight but I OD'd on snickerdoodles instead :S

weaklink109

Snickerdoodles and beer....hmmmm, I think ginger snaps might go better !! LOL

T_R_A_V

beer.....hmmmm yummmy

OddSquid

Beer snob here. I drink Sam Adams regularly and am a fixture at my local brewpub, to the point where any new servers get taken around and introduced to US, the regulars. Reds, browns, porters, and IPAs are my go-to brews. I think Guinness is the crappiest stout ever made -- it's the Budweiser of stouts (just because it's popular doesn't mean it's good). I'm going to automatically have a low opinion of anything with the name "Anheuser-Busch" associated with it.

So.....

If anyone really is considering drinking a Bud Select 55, don't bother. Really. It's 55 calories because it's watered down to the point where its alcohol content is 2.5% ABV. Why drink a crap beer that won't even get you drunk unless you drink an entire case? Save your money, save the calories, and have water instead.

That said, if you like beer with flavor and body, just have one or two less. Don't compromise quality -- Michelob Ultra Amber is probably the closest to tolerable for a macro-brew.

You like Blue Moon? HAVE A BLUE MOON! Just get the smaller size if on draft, or have one less bottle. DO NOT compromise with a Bud Light Golden Wheat (for that nonsense, just take a Blue Moon, split it in half and top it off with water -- you'll save money that way and get the same experience).

It's the Diet Coke Syndrome -- just because it's advertised as "less calories/light" doesn't mean you can drink MORE of it

Drink the good stuff, just less of it or less often.

toots99

Beer snob here. I drink Sam Adams regularly and am a fixture at my local brewpub, to the point where any new servers get taken around and introduced to US, the regulars. Reds, browns, porters, and IPAs are my go-to brews. I think Guinness is the crappiest stout ever made -- it's the Budweiser of stouts (just because it's popular doesn't mean it's good). I'm going to automatically have a low opinion of anything with the name "Anheuser-Busch" associated with it.

So.....

If anyone really is considering drinking a Bud Select 55, don't bother. Really. It's 55 calories because it's watered down to the point where its alcohol content is 2.5% ABV. Why drink a crap beer that won't even get you drunk unless you drink an entire case? Save your money, save the calories, and have water instead.

That said, if you like beer with flavor and body, just have one or two less. Don't compromise quality -- Michelob Ultra Amber is probably the closest to tolerable for a macro-brew.

You like Blue Moon? HAVE A BLUE MOON! Just get the smaller size if on draft, or have one less bottle. DO NOT compromise with a Bud Light Golden Wheat (for that nonsense, just take a Blue Moon, split it in half and top it off with water -- you'll save money that way and get the same experience).

It's the Diet Coke Syndrome -- just because it's advertised as "less calories/light" doesn't mean you can drink MORE of it

Drink the good stuff, just less of it or less often.

Amen! I'd rather drink and enjoy and savor one Blue Moon than slog through four Bud Select 55's.

Blue Moon was always my favorite, til I moved to Texas and discovered Shiner Bock...ohhh I love Shiner. Shiner Hef, Shiner Blonde...*sigh* Not really a fan of the shiner Black Lager though.

suiciedchild

http://www.beer100.com/beercalories.htm

pinbotchick

Beer snob here. I drink Sam Adams regularly and am a fixture at my local brewpub, to the point where any new servers get taken around and introduced to US, the regulars. Reds, browns, porters, and IPAs are my go-to brews. I think Guinness is the crappiest stout ever made -- it's the Budweiser of stouts (just because it's popular doesn't mean it's good). I'm going to automatically have a low opinion of anything with the name "Anheuser-Busch" associated with it.

So.....

If anyone really is considering drinking a Bud Select 55, don't bother. Really. It's 55 calories because it's watered down to the point where its alcohol content is 2.5% ABV. Why drink a crap beer that won't even get you drunk unless you drink an entire case? Save your money, save the calories, and have water instead.

That said, if you like beer with flavor and body, just have one or two less. Don't compromise quality -- Michelob Ultra Amber is probably the closest to tolerable for a macro-brew.

You like Blue Moon? HAVE A BLUE MOON! Just get the smaller size if on draft, or have one less bottle. DO NOT compromise with a Bud Light Golden Wheat (for that nonsense, just take a Blue Moon, split it in half and top it off with water -- you'll save money that way and get the same experience).

It's the Diet Coke Syndrome -- just because it's advertised as "less calories/light" doesn't mean you can drink MORE of it

Drink the good stuff, just less of it or less often.

I do agree with you to drink less and have a better quality beer esp one that you enjoy. But, unless you have tried Bud Light Golden Wheat and disliked it, don't knock it. I am the Queen of Beers, have been to over 400 brew pubs and many great beer bars throughout the United States, am married to a former brewmaster and have tried too many beers to count (probably not something I should admit). I felt Bud Light Golden Wheat was surprising full of body and tasted good. Now, it's not my favorite beer in the world either. My favorite style is IPA and we frequent Short's Brewery for the Huma-lupa-lIsious. Maybe we'll we will run into each other at the next MI beer festival. The absolute best beer would have to be Lindeman's Framboise (esp when you get it draft at Ashley's). Sierra Nevada Celebration would be a close second. Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Viese, Dogfish head 60/90/120 min IPA, Bell's Cherry Stout, and Sam Adam's Triple Bock are up there on my best beers list...

What are other great beers that people like?

rolandhulme

Beer talk! Awesome!

Yep, I've found beer is one part of my diet I can't seem to quit. I'm British, so like flavorful beers. My favorite is made by Yards in Philly - Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale. Yum, yum, yum. Failing that, I'm a big fan of all Sam Adams - especially their regular Boston Lager and Noble Pils seasonal.

UCONNCOED

MMMM I love beer too, I have been having the same dilema. I think I am going to go with the.... "save" up lots of calories during the week and then just drink my beers on the weekend. I like the idea of Starting with your "Blue Moons" and maybe drinking them a little faster, then once your at the point of "milking a few" switch to a lighter beer. Or just cut one out, because I drank the others a little faster.....


Alsoooo..... food for thought..... the skinnier we get, the less beer we might need to consume. Even if its just 1 less, thats saving us 170 calories or so.

Love beer talk :drinker:

July24Lioness

I work for Anheuser-Busch, so my answers are going to be a bit biased, LOL...........

Bud-Lite with Lime (yummo)
michelob ultra
Bud Select 55

TropicalKitty

I work for Anheuser-Busch, so my answers are going to be a bit biased, LOL...........

Bud-Lite with Lime (yummo)
michelob ultra
Bud Select 55

But they have no flavor. Sorry! They may be low-cal, but they don't really quench a true beer drinker's thirst.

I think it really goes back to why you are drinking it. Us beer snobs aren't going to go for the watery AB/Miller/Coors stuff (which we probably aren't drinking even the regular stuff to begin with :laugh: ). Casual "beer" drinkers may be more likely to go for the diet product. And if you are just trying to get drunk, there are more diet friendly ways of going about it that don't also leave you bloated.

At any rate, I won't eat dinner for a great Belgian tripel, or the occasional strout or IPA. :drinker: Then again, I know beer has all sorts of goodies in it already.

It's not even 7am and I'm ready to hit the pub.

Autumn920

DID ANYONE SAY BUD LITE HARVEST WHEAT YET?!?!? it's the newest addition to the Bud Lite line of beers. I hate wheat beers so I can't tell you how it tastes or what it's nutrition is....but if its Bud LITE...I have to imagine its the closest lite beer to a wheat beer you'll find