Beer is big business — in fact, it's one of the biggest businesses out there. In 2024, it's estimated that Americans will consume roughly 18.6 billion liters of beer at home, with approximately 4.6 billion liters drunk in bars or at restaurants, according to Statista. That's not counting the other uses of the drink either, which extends to batters and cooking your meat with beer. So with the extraordinary amount of the beverage knocked back and bought each year, it's natural to consider whether there's a healthier way to do it. Beers can often be high in carbohydrates, calories, and of course alcohol, and so thinking about how you can enjoy the social benefits of the drink without too many of the drawbacks is always a smart thing to do.
Luckily, you don't have to look far. These days there are plenty of healthy options in the beer market, which have been brewed to offer a more wholesome alternative to some of the most popular options out there. Big breweries like Heineken, Budweiser, and Miller all have healthier versions of your favorite beer, while smaller breweries also provide plenty of options. Some beers out there, like Guinness (which could well be the healthiest beer for your heart), give you health benefits without notably changing the taste or body of the drink. Ready to enjoy a healthier tipple? We've got you covered.
What should you look for in a healthy beer?
First things first: In moderation, beer is not the worst drink in the world. While beer does have a considerable carbohydrate content and can be fairly high in alcohol, it can also be fairly nutritious. Beer is well-known for containing phenols, antioxidant compounds which may help protect the body against a range of chronic diseases. Ales and dark beers contain more phenols than regular kinds, and alcoholic beers have more phenols than non-alcoholic varieties.
Luckily, though, there are plenty of healthy beers out there that have a moderate alcoholic content, allowing them to have more phenols and allowing you to stay within the recommended drinking limits of two drinks or less per day for men, and one drink or less per day for women. The thing to look out for is an alcohol content of around 2.4 to 5%, with a carbohydrate content of roughly 2 to 5 grams. The reduction of carbohydrates that healthier beers offer allows you to better control your blood sugar, which may be especially helpful for individuals with diabetes, and also reduces the caloric content of beer, which in high quantities can contribute to obesity and associated health issues. The exception to this in this list is Guinness, which has a slightly higher carbohydrate content but which makes up for it by being especially rich in certain vitamins and minerals.
Budweiser Select 55
If you're looking for a healthy beer that lowers calories while also being alcoholic, Budweiser Select 55 is the one to go for. As you might expect from its snappy name, this beer has just 55 calories per 12 oz can, and just 1.8 grams of carbohydrates per serving. It also has a small but notable alcoholic content, coming in at 2.4% ABV — which is unlikely to get you drunk, but which will also not break the bank on your daily allowance of alcohol.
When it comes to flavor, opinions somewhat vary on this beer. Some folks have praised Budweiser Select 55's crisp, light taste, also noting that it has a certain smoothness which is a little unexpected for such a low-alcohol drink. Others are way less generous, pointing out that its flavor is a little weak and is more akin to seltzer than actual beer. We'll let you be the judge on its taste, but when you consider that a regular Budweiser delivers almost 100 more calories and 11 grams of carbs per serving, the health factor of Select 55 is clear.
Calories: 55
Carbs: 1.8 grams
ABV: 2.4%
Type: Lager
Beck's Premier Light
Becks is already a pretty fresh-tasting beer, but its Premier Light variety takes things to the next level. This light lager is a breeze of a drink, and manages to avoid the dull, metallic taste that plagues other healthy beers. Folks have noted that Beck's Premier Light is surprisingly full-bodied for a drink that has a mere 2.3% ABV, and although it may not be winning any awards for having an innovative taste, it's pretty drinkable.
As for its healthiness, it's hard to deny that Beck's Premier Light is true to its name. This beer has just 63 calories and 3.8 grams of carbs, a reasonable amount for a healthy beer. Its carb count is less than half of the amount in regular Beck's, which clocks in at 9 grams of carbohydrates and 138 calories. Regular Beck's also has 5% ABV, so you'd have to drink two of the light version to get the same impact. If you ask us, though, that reduced alcoholic content is a good way to keep your intake in check, while still being able to enjoy a frothy, refreshing drink.
Calories: 63
Carbs: 3.8 grams
ABV: 2.3%
Type: Lager
Blue Moon Light
Blue Moon is one of the biggest craft beer brands in the country – but it's not content to rest on its laurels. In addition to its classic Belgian White variety and its non-alcoholic beer, it also offers a light version. Blue Moon Light Citrus Wheat hits the spot nutritionally, with a significantly reduced carbohydrate count, providing just 3.6 grams of carbs per serving. It also manages to keep its calories low, providing 95 calories in every 12 oz can.
The best thing about this beer is that it manages to deliver these positive nutritional stats without compromising too much on alcohol content. Blue Moon Light Citrus Wheat has a 4.0% ABV, which isn't too much of a reduction on Blue Moon Belgian White's 5.4% ABV level. When you compare the latter's 14 grams of carbs and 168 calories per serving to the light version, though, it's clear how much work the brand has done on making it healthier. Thankfully, too, Blue Moon Light doesn't lack taste in the way that some other healthy beers can. This beer has a playful citrusy flavor, with wheat notes that aren't as powerful as in the classic version.
Calories: 95
Carbs: 3.6 grams
ABV: 4.0%
Type: Wheat beer
Corona Premier
When it comes to light beers, Corona is a step ahead of the pack. The brand offers not one, but two different healthier versions of its flagship product Corona Extra. It's Corona Premier that we're interested in here, though. This beer is the healthiest you can get under the Corona bannerhead, with just 2.6 grams of carbohydrates per serving and 90 calories in every bottle, and a light flavor that fits the type of beer it is. It also has an impressive 4.0% ABV, almost entirely retaining the 4.6% alcohol content that Corona Extra has.
In terms of how Corona Premier stacks up to Corona Light, there isn't a lot between them — but if you're planning on drinking them regularly, you may start to notice the difference. Corona Light has 99 calories and the same 4.0% ABV that Corona Premier does, although it does have almost 5 grams of carbs per serving. Both of them are way better than Corona Extra though, which has a whopping 13.9 grams of carbohydrates in each bottle, a surprising amount for such a light, zesty beer. Those carbohydrates equate to a higher calorie count, having 148 calories in every portion. If you want to keep things healthy, stick with Corona Premier.
Calories: 90
Carbs: 2.6 grams
ABV: 4.0%
Type: Pale lager
Heineken Light
Heineken's not the heaviest beer out there, but its nutritional stats are pretty deceptive when you think about how light it tastes. Each can of Heineken Original has 11 grams of carbohydrates and 142 calories, with a 5% ABV (as well as, somewhat confusingly, 2 grams of protein). It's clear that the popular beer brand could do better than that, and as such, the Heineken Light was born. This sprightly beer is notably not as light as some of the other options out there — it has 6 grams of carbohydrates, clocking in at slightly higher than most other light beers. Remarkably, though, it has just 90 calories despite that carb count, and a 3.3% ABV to boot.
So how does it taste? In short, not bad. Heineken Light has a crisp, mild taste with a gentle bitterness and a slight fruity note. It's pretty drinkable and is perfect for kicking back in the blazing sunshine, particularly when you don't want to feel too tipsy. It's not gonna change the world, and there's nothing revolutionary about its flavor. That said, if you want a safe option for a light beer, you can do far worse.
Calories: 90
Carbs: 6 grams
ABV: 3.3%
Type: Lager
Lagunitas DayTime
Drinking beer in the daytime is always a fairly risky thing to do. If the can you've picked up is too high in alcohol, or even if you've just had a big lunch, you might find yourself nodding off before you've had a chance to finish your beverage. Luckily, craft beer brand Lagunitas has you covered with its DayTime beer, a session IPA that's designed to be fresh and buoyant with none of the heaviness that its other beers can have. Lagunitas DayTime has just 3 grams of carbohydrates and 90 calories, and keeps its ABV at a respectable 4%.
What's most impressive, though, is not its nutrition but its flavor and scent. Lagunitas DayTime is gloriously fruity on the nose, with drinkers noting that it has hints of lychee, grapefruit, and grass. It goes down smooth, with a pop of honey in the aftertaste that makes this beer infinitely moreish. As with other session IPAs, things don't get too complex here, and if you want a few more layers you may have to go with the Lagunitas India Pale Ale. That's far from healthy, though: Each can will provide a high 190 calories, 14 grams of carbs, and a 6.2% ABV, making DayTime a far better choice in terms of nutrition.
Calories: 98
Carbs: 3 grams
ABV: 4.0%
Type: Session IPA
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
If healthy beers were marked on what they were called, Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty would win by a mile. We say this because its name perfectly reflects the beer itself. Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty packs a gentle, yet definite punch with its 4.0% ABV, yet manages to keep things decidedly light on the carbohydrate and calorie front, delivering 3.6 grams of carbs and 95 calories. Where it also hits hard is on flavor, with a hoppy taste that drinkers compare to beers with a way higher ABV. "It actually had a great robust IPA flavor. It was only 4% which is a great session ABV but didn't lack in taste," said one happy customer via Reddit. "It actually drank similar to like a 7% IPA. This is probably going to be my new summer beer!"
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty certainly keeps things more modest than some of the brand's other beers. Take its 90 Minute IPA, for example. This behemoth of a beer has a massive 9% ABV and 26 grams of carbs, roughly the same amount as a medium-sized potato. It also delivers 290 calories per 12 oz. serving. We'd say that's a little too mighty for our taste, folks.
Calories: 95
Carbs: 3.6 grams
ABV: 4.0%
Style: IPA
Guinness
Okay, here's where things get interesting. If you're going by numbers alone, Guinness shouldn't really be classified as a healthy beer. Sure, its 9.9 grams of carbohydrates and 125 calories per serving are pretty good, as is its 4.2% ABV content. However, in a world where light beers can have just 2 or 3 grams of carbs and a few dozen calories, can Guinness really be classified as healthy?
The answer is yes, it can — thanks to its general nutritional profile. The ample polyphenol content in Guinness means that it's one of the healthiest beers for your heart, potentially helping to reduce blood pressure and keep inflammation in check, provided that you're drinking it in moderate quantities. These polyphenols may also help to keep your gut microbiome balanced and rich. As well as this, Guinness has an excellent iron and folate content, with the latter helping to keep your bones and hair healthy, and the iron-rich flavor profile making it a natural fit for beef and Guinness stew. Oh, and on top of all that, 4.2% ABV and 9.9 grams of carbs really isn't that bad for a full-bodied beer that you can find widely in bars, so it's a good option when the joint you're in doesn't have any light options (or you don't feel like being sneered at by judgy macho bartenders).
Calories: 125
Carbs: 9.9 grams
ABV: 4.2%
Type: Stout
Miller64 Extra Light
It can be tricky to find an ultra-light beer that still has any flavor, but somehow Miller64 Extra Light has cracked it. This beer's nutritional profile is ideal for folks who want to take part in festivities while keeping things moderate. Each can of Miller64 Extra Light has a barely-noticeable 2.4 grams of carbohydrates, as well as 64 calories, making it one of the lowest-cal beers out there. Its ABV content, meanwhile, comes in at 2.8% ABV.
While all of these nutritional stats might point towards something completely tasteless, Miller64 Extra Light has a crisp, gently sweet taste. Sure, it may not be the fullest-body beer out there, but it still manages to pack a punch without just tasting like slightly bitter carbonated water. If you need any more convincing, just check out how it stacks up to Miller High Life. You may get 4.6% ABV in the more well-known of Miller's beers (with an equally well-known mascot), but you'll also be getting 12.2 grams of carbs and 141 calories — over double the amount in Miller64 Extra Light. For a healthy choice, go for the light beer.
Calories: 64
Carbs: 2.4 grams
ABV: 2.8%
Type: Lager
Kona Light Blonde Ale
There are a million light lagers out there, but finding light ales can be slightly harder. This is partly because ales, with their darker color and maltier taste, rely on a certain heaviness that can be hard to keep when you're brewing it to be lighter and less carb-heavy. Thankfully, the Kona Brewing Co. has cracked the code with its Kona Light Blonde Ale.
Now, we should point out that as a blonde beer, this ale is fairly fresh-tasting and sprightly, with lightly tropical notes and a buttery mouthfeel – so if you're expecting a robust, hoppy drink, you'll likely be disappointed. However, with just 4 grams of carbohydrates and 99 calories per serving, its nutritional statistics more than make up for any heaviness lost. Plus, Kona Light Blonde Ale manages to retain a 4.2% ABV, an ample amount for a light beer. It's only slightly less than Kona's Big Wave Golden Ale, which comes in with a 4.4% ABV. Somehow, though, Big Wave Golden Ale manages to have 10 grams of carbohydrates and 132 calories per 12 oz serving. Between the two, there's really no contest.
Calories: 99
Carbs: 4 grams
ABV: 4.0%
Type: Blonde ale
YuengLing FLIGHT
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to healthy beers is finding light options that still have a robust alcohol content (and the alcohol doesn't just give you a buzz, folks — it also contributes to flavor). Thankfully, YuengLing FLIGHT has you covered on that front. This lager is about as low-carb as they come, with 2.6 grams per serving, and it still manages to pack a 4.2% ABV into each glass. This alcohol content does raise its calorie count to 95 per 12 oz bottle, which is a touch higher than other low-carb beers, but it's still pretty respectable.
YuengLing FLIGHT is a healthier option than YuengLing's traditional lager, which rocks a not-much-higher 4.5% ABV, but still manages to have 12 grams of carbohydrates and 141 calories per serving. Amazingly, too, it fares way better than YuengLing's Light Lager, which has a 4.0% ABV, 3.2 grams of carbs, and 99 calories, giving you less alcohol and more carbohydrates for barely any calorie difference. Customers tend to prefer YuengLing FLIGHT to the brand's light lager too, pointing out that it has a smooth profile and a strong punch of maltiness.
Calories: 95
Carbs: 2.6 grams
ABV: 4.2%
Type: Lager