Lovable Low Carb Beers

If you're on a low carb diet, watching your weight, or simply don't wish to inundate your system with excess carbohydrates, yet still enjoy partaking of a tasty brew, then you may be interested in some tips for keeping your beer choices low carb friendly. If so, then read on for some helpful ideas.

If you're in the market for a beer that's low in carbohydrates, one detail you would do well to keep in mind is that a light beer does not necessarily equal a low carb beer. Granted, heavy, mealy, stout-style beers (like Guinness, for example) are almost definitely not going to be low in carbs. Aside from the somewhat obvious however, although it's true overall that lighter beers do tend to be lower in carbohydrates, this is not a steadfast rule that can be relied upon. It depends upon the brand of the beer and the production process, among other factors.

For example, a Michelob Light includes well over 11 (grams per 100 ml.) carbohydrates, whereas a Michelob Ultra includes less than 3 carbs. In fact, Michelob Ultra was one of the very first beers specifically manufactured to cater to the low carb market; it was introduced in 2002 to appeal to a new demographic that was seeking a low carb beer. This just goes to show that you ought to make a habit out of checking the labels of your favorite brand of beer to find out for sure which variety is the lowest in carbs. Don't simply assume it's the variety with 'light' in the title.

Then again, some beers with 'light' in the title are low carb-including the popular Miller Light with only 3.2 carbs, Coors Light with 5 carbs, Corona Light with 5 carbs, and my personal favorite, Amstel Light with 5 carbs and a crisp, refreshing taste sensation. Bud Select is another low carb option, weighing in with a mere 3.1 carbohydrates. All of these beers are well-liked, so they must taste good, despite the lack of high carbohydrates.

Some beers are even lower in carbs than those noted above, although I must admit I'm not personally familiar with these brands; I found out about them through some online research. In any case, Hahn Super Dry, Bondi Blonde, and Pure Blonde are three beers that boast 2 grams or less of carbohydrates each. With that extra-low carb count, it might be well worth giving one or more of those brews a taste test and finding out what you think of the flavor.

Finally, the very first absolutely NO carb beer was recently crafted by Burleigh Brewing Company in Australia. Released in late 2008, this beer is called Bighead and the press release describes it as:
"a full-flavoured, full-strength lager with a smooth clean taste with zero carbohydrates and only 88 calories per bottle." Sounds like another good possibility.

As you can see, just because you're trying to avoid excess carbohydrate consumption doesn't mean you can't kick back with a tasty brew. Choose from the options noted above or check the labels on some of your other favorite beers to find out how they stack up. Cheers!

(If you or your partner prefers liquor to beer, see also my article on the Best Low Carb Mixed Drinks.)