Craft beers have made us beer drinkers used to fuller taste than the big-brewery beers. Unfortunately, the drive to out-hop the competition, the calories in beer have crept up significantly. We have move well-beyond the argument of “tastes great/less filling” over Miller Lite.
A couple of years ago, I realized that my body fat had increased beyond comfort. It was time to lose some body fat. My ever-supportive wife arrived home from the grocery store with a six-pack of Michelob Ultra (95 kcal; 4.2% ABV). One sip, and I knew—“I can’t do this.” I had favored beers like Amstel Light (95 kcal; 3.5% ABV) and Labatt Blue Light (92 kcal; 4.0% ABV) in the past, but, after years in Michigan and Oregon, my palate had changed.
We began to explore the calories in beer. I soon made the observation that the calories equated to the %ABV. I discovered that (as a rule-of-thumb) for each %ABV in a 12-ounce beer there are approximately 30 kcal (40 kcal in a pint). As we explored further, we found that our “sweet spot” fell somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5% ABV (135-165 kcal per 12-oz). Anything less lacked flavor. Anything more the calories grew less appealing. We began to hunt for those perfect beers.
Along came “sessionable” beers. (Well, technically, session beers have been around for quite some time.) Though the current definition may be arguable, a session beer is one that is 3-4% ABV (maybe as high as 5%). Until recently these were rare—or rarely good. As more and more quality session beers began to appear, carbohydrates began to enter into the equation. Michelob Ultra, Amstel Light, and Labatt Blue Light, for example, have 2.6, 2.4, and 5 g, respectively. MIller Lite has 3.2 g.
Craft brewers are not ones to disappoint (at least they try not to). Rather recently, session IPAs have begun to appear—hoppy but without the calories. At the top of my list has been Lagunita’s DayTime IPA (referred to as a “fractional” IPA; 4.65% ABV) and Founder’s All Day IPA (4.7% ABV). DayTime falls in the sweet spot and it has reduced carbohydrates (3 g) and only 98 kcal. All Day IPA has 147 kcal (12 g of carbs)—deviating slightly from my 30-kcal rule-of-thumb.
Recently, Deschutes Brewery’s Wowza! Lo-Cal Hazy Pale Ale (tapping into both the low-carb and hazy craze) appeared as “Men’s Health Certified”, which caught my wife’s eye (end sense of humor). This beer comes in at 4% ABV and 100 kcal (4 g carbs). It’s not bad. I little light on the mouth feel but reasonably good tasting.
We all have different palates. Thankfully, there are increasingly more options for those of us who enjoy “great taste” but want to keep calories for food. Undoubtedly, the choices will continue to grow as brewers tap into this new market. The Full Pint1 suggest a few. (I will have to try Firestone Walker’s Fly Jack at 96 kcal, 4.0% ABV, and 5 carbs.)
So, we beer-snobs who want to lose the beer-gut have options. Enjoy (in moderation)!
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
1https://thefullpint.com/beer-reviews/6-low-calorie-ipas-blind-tested-reviewed/