Over the past few years, major beer producers have made low-carb beer a mainstay.
But what is low-carb beer?
Low-carb beer, which should be distinct from low-calorie beer in Australia, has frequently been promoted as the better option for individuals who want to indulge but keep an eye on their weight.
How Does Low-Carb Beer Work?
Low-carb beer is prepared using particular methods so that it has fewer carbs. Low-carb beers can include as few as 0.5 grams of carbs per 100mL, compared to regular beers’ about 1.4 grams.
Since low-carb beer is a healthier alternative to regular beer, it has been around for a while and has quickly gained popularity. In 2004, one of the first low-carb beer brands, Pure Blonde, was released. As a result, low-carb beer options are now widely available in pubs and bars.
Are there a few calories in low-carb beer?
Although both are frequently referred to as “light” options, low-carb beer is not necessarily the same as low-calorie beer. Why? A product must have third fewer calories than the same brand’s regular beer to be designated as “light.”
This implies no defined calorie limit for all low-calorie and carb beers. Beer’s sugars and grains give it its calories, and even low-carb varieties may have as many as a conventional beer. The easiest way to be sure how many calories or carbs are in your drink is to read the label.
Is Low-Carb Beer Good for You?
Although it’s widely believed that low-carb beer is the healthiest option, the reality is, unfortunately, more complicated. We must first clearly define what “low carb” beer actually implies. Low-carb consumption is determined as 60 to 130 grams of carbohydrates per day.
A few low-carb beers fit this range, but ordinary beer would easily push you over the limit. So low-carb beer is good for you, right? Wrong. While cutting back on carbohydrates can help lessen liver fat accumulation, beer’s inherent alcohol content is what makes people gain weight.
Low-carb beer still has sufficient calories to add mass to your body while having fewer carbs, and finding this information can be challenging because brands are not required to list calories on labels unless they desire to.
Studies have revealed that, unless consumed in moderation, the difference between low-carb and ordinary beer is negligible over time.
Try wine or spirits if you want a low-carb and low-calorie option. Wine has fewer carbs than beer, while spirits like tequila, vodka, gin, and whiskey have no carbs. Just be careful with the sweet mixers!
What Amount Of Carbs Is In Beer?
One normal beer bottle has around seven slices of bread’s worth of carbohydrates, or 1.4 grams of carbohydrates per 100ml. The amount of carbohydrates in each type of beer varies, and it also depends on how they are produced. Beers with thicker foam and darker hues generally contain higher levels of carbohydrates.
Craft beer manufacturers typically add more carbohydrates to their beer, especially if they add flavours. Additionally, they frequently contain more sugar than regular beer due to these added flavourings.
Pay attention to the amount of sugar in your beer as well. Due to the additional sugars, some beers, like black beer, have between 15 and 17 grams of carbs. Even some flavour-infused beers have around 30 grams of carbohydrates per serving!
How Does Low-Carb Beer Taste?
Low-carb beer has a lighter texture, colour, and taste. You are lucky if you enjoy taking a cold bottle of lager. Low Carb beer will raise your taste buds to levels that will excite you. Let’s take a look at some of the best low-carb beers to try out on that sunny day.
1. Burleigh Brewing Co. – Bighead
This low-carb craft beer from Queensland’s Burleigh Brewing Co. may have a large head, but it packs a flavorful punch. It was the first non-carb beer in Australia and the only one on this list to have none.
Despite this, it has a wonderful flavour and a hoppy bitterness that give it a full-flavoured punch. You should still drink in moderation even when no carbohydrates are present.
2. Pure Blonde – Ultra
Because Pure Blonde Ultra Low Carb Lager embodies full-strength flavour while maintaining a light and flavorful beverage you drink because you wish to, not because you’re looking for the most healthy beer in Australia; it makes our list of the best low-carb beers.
While some claim it doesn’t taste as good as it once did, others affirm it to be one of the best-tasting low-carb beers available. It is ideal for a beach vacation because it is crisp, cool and contains 1.4 grams of carbs per 100ml.
3. Steersman – Blonde
Steersman Blonde, which won the gold medal at the Sydney Royal Beer and Cider Show in 2019, offers a crisp, clear beer low in gluten and carbohydrates without sacrificing its crisp flavour.
4. Summer Bright Lager
This tasty beverage was brewed with summer drinking in mind using a blend of Australian hops, malted barley, and other premium ingredients. It has a refreshing bitterness and fruity undertones and is a crisp, full-strength light lager.
5. Skinny Lager
This wonderful drink is from the UK and delivers exactly what it promises: a light, gluten-free beer with only 2.97 grams of carbs per serving and complete vegan friendliness. With Skinny Lager, you can maintain a healthy weight without giving up a nice beer with your friends.
6. Hahn SuperDry GF
Hahn SuperDry GF (formerly Hahn Ultra Crisp) uses a new brewing process, replacing the traditional barley and wheat grains with rice, to create a lighter, refreshing, and gluten-free brew that is ideal after a long day in the salt and sun. It is regarded as an easy-drinking beer because of its low-carb, crisp, cheap-cal makeup and hydrating taste.
7. Corona – Ligera
This mouthwatering cerveza, debatably one of the most “session-able” beverages on this list, has a smooth, hoppy flavour and an irresistible citrous scent that virtually screams easy drinking. Hot tip: For the ideal summer beverage, consider rimming the bottle’s lip with salt and using a bit of lime.
8. Coopers Dry
The beverage from South Australia has joined the list of top low-carb beers in Australia. Coopers Dry delivers on its promise to be a crisp, light beer with zero carbs. Its maltings factory produced the brew’s foundation, giving it a silky and delicate mouthfeel.
When you take a sip, the mild floral aroma and light citrus flavour of lime and lemon are irresistible. Health-conscious drinkers can indulge in it throughout the year with various foods, in moderation, of course, due to its low malt sweetness and moderate bitterness.
9. The Original Lager from Great Northern
Drinking Great Northern Original Lager has almost become a sin for most genuine Australians. It may not have the lowest carb content per 100 ml of any beer on this list, but it’s still an excellent everyday brew with a nice flavour and fewer calories than lagers.
To sum it up in one word, we’d call it “easy-going” in every sense. In our testing (and there has been much of it), we found it fruity on the nose and refreshing on the palate. This is a fine example of Australian beer.
10. Carlton Organic Pure Blonde
This brand is essential to the list because it was the first ultra-low-carb beer produced in Australia. No additional preservatives are added during brewing to create a low-carb beer that is easy to drink.
Hersbrucker hops’ floral and herbal scent counteracts the drink’s mild flavour. It makes sense why this beer has remained Australia’s most popular low-carb beverage since 2007.
11. Coopers Clear
Adelaide’s Coopers Brewery created this traditional low-carb lager to delight calorie-conscious patrons. Coopers Clear maintains many of the brewer’s standards, from its pleasant scent to its light golden colour and creamy head, even as it deviates into “diet” terrain. Sip ice cool on a hot day, and remember to pass it on to your friends.
12. Premium Light Heineken
Heineken has been in business for ages and is excellent at changing times. Heineken presented us the Heineken Light, an easy-drinking bitter brew with a clean, refreshing finish and citrus on the nose as everyone became more health aware.
13. Wilde Beer
This delightful sparkling ale is gluten-free and low in carbohydrates, with earthy pine flavours, fruity tones, and a bitter, crisp finish. We need a drink like this on a sweltering summer day since a cool tanginess balances out the sharpness.
14. Hahn Ultra Low Carb
This beer is intended for people who want to make thoughtful, healthy decisions without sacrificing their favourite beer’s flavour. It just has 87 calories and less than 1g of carbohydrates.
Utilising cutting-edge ingredients and extended brewing times, this beer is brewed at the very edge of technology to eliminate as many carbohydrates as possible while retaining the distinct crisp flavour unique to Hahn brews.
15. Low-carb Strongbow cider
Strongbow Lower Carb Cider made the top 15 list of Australia’s best low-carb beers because it has 50% fewer sugar and carbs than Strongbow Original Cider. This is a fantastic drink with a light and refreshing flavour for those watching their caloric intake.
This cider, made from freshly selected apples, has a particular freshness that is perfect for summer. Due to the low sugar content, you can taste the clean apple flavour with harmonious fruit, a refreshing dry finish, and no lingering sweetness
16. Coors Light
This is the guy to go to if you want low-carb beers that are fantastic for during the summertime. It is simple to locate, contains only 5 grams of carbohydrates per serving, and has 102 calories in each bottle.
17. Busch Ice
Busch Ice has a smooth, sweet finish and more alcohol than the usual beer. Busch Ice, first sold in 1995, goes through a unique ice-brewing procedure that cools the beer below freezing. The beer then has a smooth, sweet finish and a higher alcohol level, thanks to removing the ice crystals.
In Germany, Eisbock was accidentally created during an unusually cold year. The springtime bock beers froze, intensifying the flavour and raising the alcohol content.
18. Natural Light
Natural Light has been a staple in college students’ fridges and on beer pong tables since it was first introduced by Anheuser-Busch in 1977. The beer continues to draw admirers looking for a cheap beer to pour back thanks to its reasonable pricing and light, easy-drinking flavour.
After Miller Brewing Company introduced Miller Lite in 1975, a 96-calorie beer that went viral immediately, the competition to make the most delicious low-calorie beer officially began.
Anheuser-Busch introduced Natural Light five years before introducing Bud Light to compete with Miller Lite’s popularity. Currently, the beer has only 95 calories.
19. Keystone Light
This low-carb beer is a fantastic choice for those who love a crisp, refreshing beer. This beer is referred to as “a triple-filtered American-style light lager” by beer advocates. So anticipate wanting a couple.
20. Bud Light
Thanks to the delicate malt sweetness in this light beer, you may enjoy delightful low-carb beers that taste great minus the guilt. It’s a fantastic choice for a keto and low-carb diet because each bottle only contains 7 grams of carbohydrates.
21. Pabst Blue Ribbon
Even though this beer has a lot of carbs, if you only intend to have one, it might fit within your daily macros. You could also attempt a Pabst Blue Ribbon Easy for half the quantity of carbohydrates.
22. Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a fantastic low-carb beer if you want to control your overall calorie and carb intake. There are only 3.2 grammes of carbohydrates and 4.2 ABV in a 12-ounce serving.
Miller Lite stands out from most competition thanks to its strong flavour. It is the ideal 12-ounce serving size and is keto-friendly.
23. Michelob Ultra
Before you venture down that path of trying new things with your taste buds and risk the beer calories, Michelob Ultra is here to help you learn even the tiniest facts about your beer.
One beer that is certain to meet your demands more comprehensively than you could ever think is Michelob Ultra, which has a superb flavour, a thin consistency, and a very low carbohydrate content.
This lager beer has a modest alcohol content of 4.2 percent and is a bright golden yellow. It is widely used as a key component in many cocktails and brewed in Missouri.
24. Amstel Light Lager
This is another five-and-under keto-friendly beer that is just low enough in calories and carbs to fit a 20-net-carb keto diet. The slogan “born out of friendship” by Amstel means business. Johannes van Marwijk Kooy and Charles de Pesters, two best friends and in-laws, established the company in 1870.
25. Corona Premier – 2.6g carbs
Corona Premier is ideal for the ketogenic diet due to its low sugar and carbohydrate content. These beers are light and refreshing; fortunately, they have enough carbs for you to have a couple.
Of all the beers Corona made, Corona Premier is among the lightest. It has the ideal amount of sweetness and a pleasingly dry aftertaste. The improved lager light beer contains the same components as Corona Light and is straw-coloured and pale yellow.
26. Budweiser Select 55
It can be challenging to find a beer that isn’t overly twangy. With only 1.9 carbohydrates per beer, Budweiser Select 55 keeps the calories and carbs in this beer extremely low. It is a specialty light beer that tastes faintly of caramel.
27. Heineken Light
Heineken Light is a thin lager that delivers a crisp, refreshing taste without losing flavour. It has a light body, a delicate hops bitterness, and a pleasant finish, making it simple to drink and ideal for those seeking a satisfying low-calorie beer.
Its popularity attests to its superiority, and its unique green bottle and label are readily recognisable. Overall, Heineken Light is a fantastic option for people looking for a nice light beer.
28. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
This beer has 14.6 grammes of carbs, which is high. However, if you only intend to drink one beer, it might fit within your daily macros. It’s one of the list’s tastiest items and the least dilute. Although the carb measure may be high, the ABV is also fairly high (5.6%), so you only need one.
29. Bells Two Hearted IPA
Another beer with a high carb content and a high ABV (7%) is the Bells Two Hearted IPA. This well-rounded, medium-bodied beer has a notable hop flavour and fragrance. It has a mild sweetness to counteract the harshness and pours a bright amber colour with a thick white foam.
When it comes to the aftertaste, the hops are more noticeable and leave a delightful, lasting bitterness on the mouth. It’s a fantastic beer for hops fans and palatable for people unfamiliar with IPAs. If you only drink one, you can probably fit it into your daily macros.
30. Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel – 8.6g carbs
Flight Dog, Kerberos Tripel beer, is a tripel in the Belgian style that has a distinctive flavour combination that makes for an intriguing and pleasurable drinking experience. It smells of clove, banana, and spice and has a thick, creamy head with a golden hue.
The flavour is rich, with a hint of fruity sweetness and malty flavour countered by a faint bitterness and traces of spice. Despite its richness, the beer has a smooth, dry aftertaste and is quite palatable. Additionally, it’s a fantastic choice for those observing their carb intake, with only 8.6g of carbohydrates.
What Beer Qualifies as Low Carb?
A beer cannot claim to be low-carb in the same way as low-alcohol beers may; as a result, the statistics on those that do vary considerably.
If you wish to make up your definition, beer typically contains 1.4g of carbohydrates per 100g; anything below that mark would be considered a lower carb, and whatever is below half of that would be considered low carb.
Is Low Carb Beer Low Calorie?
Low-carb beers promise fewer calories, fewer carbohydrates, and supposedly no unfavourable beer gut. Low-carb beers typically have around 100 calories and about two grammes of carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving, compared to the typical 145 calories plus 11 grammes of carbs in standard beers.
Low-carb beer is sometimes a way to lose weight. You can’t drink gallons of the stuff and wind up with a six-pack. It’s calories, not carbs, that make you fat. Even the least-carb beer on our list still has 87 calories per can.
Keep in mind to always drink sensibly. Drinking, not calories or carbs, is the most dangerous, so don’t use low-carbs or low-calorie counts as an excuse to consume more than is recommended.
Now that the wise counsel part is handled, let’s talk about the real reason you came here: the carbs in Australian beer.
Low Carb VS Low-Calorie Beer
In the context of diets, the distinction between a low-calorie diet and a low-carb can be better understood: if you’re on a low-carb diet, it indicates you’re considering reducing the number of carbs in your diet.
On the other hand, a low-calorie diet focuses more on reducing the overall amount of food you consume, so you can eat whatever you want as long as it’s done in moderation.
In Australia, it can be challenging to obtain low-calorie beer, but it does exist! It’s critical to remember that low-calorie beer doesn’t necessarily have low-carb content. Even though the Peroni has more calories, a 330ml bottle of Corona Extra and a 330ml bottle of Peroni Nastro Azzurro almost have the same amount of carbohydrates.
How True to the Hype Is Low-Carb Beer?
Although it may sound appealing to enjoy a guilt-free beer, low-carb beer does not live up to its claims.
While many low-carb alcoholic beverages sound like better alternatives to regular beer (such as Pure Blonde, one of Australia’s most well-liked low-carb beers), they won’t prevent your body from gaining weight.
The greatest low-carb beer is the one with the lowest alcohol content because it will aid in your diet.
Alcohol is to blame, not carbohydrates.
The alcohol in beer, not the carbs, impacts your metabolism and the general weight reduction process. Your body’s metabolism slows down after consuming too much alcohol, and it devotes all of its energy to overcoming the effects of the alcohol.
Surprisingly, the majority of beers already include modest levels of carbs. Dietitian and LiveLighter campaign manager Alison McAleese says:
“At the end of the day, beer’s alcohol—not its carbs—damages your waistline and places you at higher risk for serious health issues like cancer. Select less ABV beer and reduce it to prevent weight gain and lower these risks.
Best Beer Substitutes
You can still relax with a few drinks even if you are attempting to reduce weight. The appropriate amount of occasional alcohol consumption may even benefit your health! While it may slow your metabolism, it additionally provides wonderful health benefits, such as reducing your likelihood of type 2 diabetes and heart disease – as long as you drink the right amount.
If you enjoy beer and consume it frequently, get light beer brews. In Australia, light beer is defined not by its caloric content but rather by its alcohol content, typically 2.5%. However, if you’re concerned about the calories in beer, wine and spirits are all worthwhile options.
Final Verdict
These low-cal, low-carb beverages are accessible throughout Australia and were explicitly produced for health-conscious beer consumers to guarantee we all got our fair share of summertime spirits without compromising our precious waistlines.
Seltzers and ciders are some other low-carb beverage options if you’re daring. Cutting carbohydrates, but want a beer tonight? That’s acceptable.
