10 Lowest-Calorie Beers 2022 — Best Light Beers

We updated this article in December 2022 to ensure all picks were in stock and accurately priced. We also added more information about each featured product based on testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab.

It’s a common misconception that cutting calories automatically means cutting flavor. “Opting for low-calorie beer absolutely does not mean compromising on taste. Beer is such a diverse beverage that brewers have a number of tools to use,” says The Beer Bible author Jeff Alworth.

Curious as to how exactly low-calorie beer is made? Lucy Burningham, the author of My Beer Year, explains that brewers do this by reducing the carbohydrates which come from malt and grains. The alcohol content is also reduced. “One gram of alcohol contains about 7 calories, which is a very concentrated form of calories,” Burningham explains.

When choosing a low-calorie beer, Alworth says to start by narrowing it down to what you already enjoy. For example, if you like hoppy IPAs, look for session IPAs, which he says are lower in alcohol and therefore lower in calories. More into lagers? Look for a low-calorie lager, which just so happens to be the best-selling beer category in the U.S.

To pinpoint the very best low-calorie beer out there, food and nutrition experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute tested multiple options, taking into account taste as well as ingredients. Here are the 10 they deem the very best.

Our top picks:

Looking for ways to eat and drink healthier? Check out our roundups of protein-packed snacks, the healthiest fast food orders and the best keto-friendly wines.