in search for a low calorie beer

2

Replies

  • T_R_A_V
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    Yeah i like blue moon but only on tap...in the bottle just doesnt cut it for me
  • T_R_A_V
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    Cmon...more beer talk...my fav subject
  • Kristen81
    Kristen81 Posts: 342 Member
    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
    EmilyStrick Posts: 267
    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
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    So ive been trying to get myself into this 55 cal bud select...but cant nail down the taste too much
  • Kristen81
    Kristen81 Posts: 342 Member
    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
    pinbotchick Posts: 3,904
    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
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    yeah beer is the only thing that I cant cut out of my diet....I refuse too
  • SherryRH
    SherryRH Posts: 810 Member
    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
    bukozki Posts: 60
    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
    bukozki Posts: 60
    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
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    Heck yeah...thanks for the info
  • T_R_A_V
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    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
    bukozki Posts: 60
    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
    bukozki Posts: 60
    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
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    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
    sdreamer84 Posts: 10 Member
    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
    weaklink109 Posts: 2,831 Member
    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
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    mmmm beer. I wanted one tonight but I OD'd on snickerdoodles instead :S
  • weaklink109
    weaklink109 Posts: 2,831 Member
    Snickerdoodles and beer....hmmmm, I think ginger snaps might go better !! LOL
  • T_R_A_V
    T_R_A_V Posts: 1,629 Member
    beer.....hmmmm yummmy
  • OddSquid
    OddSquid Posts: 107 Member
    Beer snob here. :smile: 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. :wink:

    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 :smile:

    Drink the good stuff, just less of it or less often.
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    Beer snob here. :smile: 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. :wink:

    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 :smile:

    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* :love: Not really a fan of the shiner Black Lager though.
  • suiciedchild
    suiciedchild Posts: 9
    http://www.beer100.com/beercalories.htm
  • pinbotchick
    pinbotchick Posts: 3,904
    Beer snob here. :smile: 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. :wink:

    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 :smile:

    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:love:). 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
    rolandhulme Posts: 148 Member
    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
    UCONNCOED Posts: 332 Member
    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
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    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
    TropicalKitty Posts: 2,298 Member
    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
    Autumn920 Posts: 6
    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
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