Don’t let snobs or cicerones (beer sommeliers) tell you otherwise. There’s nothing wrong with a good light beer. On the contrarylight beers are basically the king of all beers (wellBudweiser is the King of Beers). They’re by far the best-selling variety of beer in the country.
The popularityof courseis precisely the conundrum. There are just so many–which is the best light beer out there? After tireless research and endless sacrifice - aka - drinking light beerswe’ve undertaken the great and terrible burden of trying a bunch of beers and figuring out which ones are the best.
So read on to hear the 25 best light beer brandsyou may be surprised to find a few of your favorite craft beer breweries in the list.
- Bud Light
- Heineken
- Busch Light
- Keystone Light
- Amstel Light
- Beck’s Premier Light
- Corona Light
- Coors Light
- Michelob Ultra
- Shiner Light Blonde
- Miller Lite
- Guinness Draught
- Night Shift Brewing Nite Lite
- Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
- Estrella Damm Inedit
- Kirin Ichiban
- Yuengling Light Lager
- Bell’s Light-Hearted Ale
- Tecate Original
- Sam Adams Light Lager
- Natural Light
- Omission Ultimate Light
{% contentfig “/beer/bud-light-tallboy-can.jpg”“A tallboy can of Bud Light”“THE light beer of light beers” %}
Bud Light
You know that the ol’ reliable of the beer world had to show its face on this list. Whether being guzzled at college tailgatesat New York barsor at home barbecuesBud Light is a choice for Americans everywhere.
For a good reasonit’s by far the most popular beer in the United States. Available for negligent prices in enormous packages and containing just 110 calories and 4.2% ABVBud Light is a middle road for light beers. When you want a full flavor that’s heavy on corn but not too filling or bloatingthis is the drink for you.
{% contentfig “/beer/bud-light-platinum.jpg”“A bottle of Bud Light Platinuma 6% ABV beer”“Brewed for the night!” %}
Bud Light Platinum
Bud Light Platinum is for those that want to light up the night. With fewer calories than Bud (Heavy)this lager beer is like plugging a Bud Light into a guitar amplifiersame light beer experienceonly higher alcohol content.
{% contentfig “/beer/heineken-light.jpg”“A bottle of Heineken Lighta 3.3% ABV beer”“Green bottle for the win” %}
Heineken Light
Clocking in at just 3.3% alcohol by volume and a calorie count of 99Heineken is on the lighter side of the Light Beer Continuum (a metric for understanding light beers created by mejust now). It’s everything you love about Heinekenjust light. Same tastesame green beer bottle.
So next time you’re out about the townkeep an eye out for a red star and green body. Noit isn’t a sign that you’re in the Soviet Union - it means you’re in Heineken country.
Busch Light
If there were a beer that embodied coldnessit would be this one. At a slim 95 calories and a crisp 4.5% ABVit’s simple math that Busch Light is an excellent light beer. The flavor takes it to the next level.
There are haters out there who will look down their noses at the Busch Lightbut they fail to consider one thing: refreshment. Some light beers can give you a blast of flavorbut if they can’t refresh youthen what’s the pointreally?
Busch Light is also the staple beer of drinking games. We urge you to play responsibly. Only play responsibly.
Keystone Light
Keystone Light bumps up the calories just a tad to 101 but has the lowest ABV on this list so far–a mere 4.1%! If you’re looking for a beer that won’t send you home in a stupor–welluntil you’ve had six or seven in a row–then reach for a Keystone Light.
With a breadymalty flavorKeystone Light has the kind of crisp mouthfeel that you’d expect from a light beer. On top of thatits complex blend of grains gives a distinctive flavor that lingers in your mouth after you’ve had your last sip.
{% contentfig “/beer/amstel-light.jpg”“A bottle of Amstel Lightan imported light beer”“Who hasn’t had an Amstel Light?” %}
Amstel Light
The third import light beer on this list is also one of the best. Amstel Light boasts 4.4% ABV and 95 caloriesbut the real prize here is its tastewhich makes you feel like you’re sipping a Trappist ale out of a giant boot in a Biergarten…or something like that.
With a slightly bitter biteAmstel Light isn’t the kind of beer that tastes exactly like water. Howeverthat’s a good thing because it slows you down and keeps you appreciating the subtle exotic malt of its flavor profile.
Beck’s Premier Light
This beer is absurd. In a weird wayit’s almost not a beer. At 3.8% ABV and 64 caloriesit’s nearly as close to being an NA beer as to being Amstel Light.
Yetdon’t let that fool you. For oneit has 3.9g of carbohydrates and 1 gram of protein per bottlewhich is a bit more than competitors. It also means that if you drink about 50 of thesewhich we sincerely advise againstyou will get your daily protein intake.
Againpleaseplease do not do that. Insteadresponsibly enjoy a few bottles of Beck’sluxuriating in their lightslightly fruity pilsner flavor.
{% contentfig “/beer/corona-light.jpg”“A bottle of Corona Lightan imported Mexican light beer”“Does the sand come in Light too?” %}
Corona Light
Corona Light is undoubtedly the cerveza to rule them all when it comes to beers south of the border. It boasts a relatively average ABV (4%) and calorie count (99)not counting the microscopic change that’ll come when you add lime to your bottle.
The Corona is the signature drink of the Fast & Furious franchiseand for a good reason. Whether you’re looking out onto the sapphire waters of a tropical sea or thinking about launching a car into spaceCorona Light’s sharp flavor will be your companion along the way.
Andin the same way that Grupo Modelo has the Corona Extra & Coronita pairingthere is a Corona Light & Coronita Light pairing available for purchase. Coronita is the same light-bodied pale lagerjust a smaller version.
{% contentfig “/beer/coors-light-tallboy-can.jpg”“A tallboy can of Coors Light”“This list wouldn’t be the same without Coors Light” %}
Coors Light
Coors Light is if water decided to get an upgrade. That might sound like an insultbut it’s not. Coors Light is the quintessential light beer with an easy mouthfeel and a sharp taste that wakes your tongue up as soon as you take a sip.
On the back-endCoors’ brewers are famous for using water-saving Moravian barley and for making a brew that has just 102 calories4.2% ABVless than 1 gram of proteinand zero grams of fat.
Michelob Ultra
With 4.2% ABV and 95 calories in every 12-ounce bottleMichelob Ultra is one of the lightest among the old guard of light beers (Miller LiteBud Lightand Coors Light).
Although it’s become the favorite beer of partying college kids since it debuted in 2002Mich Ultra shouldn’t be written off as a child’s beer. Noquite the contrary: Michelob Ultra is a beer for everyone with a slightly sweet flavor and smooth mouthfeel.
Shiner Light Blonde
A gold medalist at the Australian International Beer Awardsthe Shiner Light Blonde has earned a reputation as being a cut above the rest. Wellit’s true.
It’s certainly a distinct light beer. Its taste is fizzy but not too sharpand its aroma is that of malt and corn rising under the hot Texas sun and both floral hops and bread.
In additionthe Shiner Light Blonde boasts a calorie count of 993.8 grams of carbohydratesno fatand a 4.2% ABV.
{% contentfig “/beer/miller-lite-tallboy-can.jpg”“A tallboy can of Miller Litea 4.2% ABV beer”“Tastes Great. Less Filling.” %}
Miller Lite
You know that Miller Lite was going to make it on this list. After allthis is one of the light beers–one of the original light beersin fact!
Miller Light is famous nationwide because of three plain and simple facts:
- It’s dependable
- It’s tasty
- It’s cheap
This is not a light beer that will break the bank by any meansbut it also offers the one-two punch of crispness and sweetness to complement its 96 calories. If you’re trying to decide what light pilsner to go formake sure this is a contender. As they sayit’s Miller Time.
Guinness Draught
I hear you crying out in confusion. Guinness? By Georgethat isn’t a light beer at all! Look at its shimmering ruby hueits pearly headits bursting body!
Wellyou’re right about the second part but wrong about the first. Guinness is 4.2% ABV and has 125 caloriescomparable to the other light beers on this list. In factit’s even lower than some of them!
If you have any Irish in youthis should be music to your ears. Rejoicedear friendsin knowing that whether you’re trying to slim down or enjoy a night on the townit’s always a lovely day for a Guinness. Sláinte!
{% contentfig “/beer/night-shift-brewing-nite-lite.jpg”“Nite Litea Lager brewed by Night Shift Brewing”“Love the can artwork and branding” %}
Night Shift Brewing Nite Lite
Night Shift’s Nite Light Craft Light Lager is a bit of a mouthful–figuratively and literally. We prefer to abridge the name to the simple Nite Litebut we’ll keep the excellent flavors of this tasty lagerwhich includes citruscornand hints of baked treats like biscuits.
This beerwhich brings 4.3% ABV and 120 calories to the tableshould also be appreciated for its colorwhich may be the most beautiful lite beer I’ve seen. It’s gold that shimmers like the sun over fields of wheat. It’s also likely to pop up in your recommendations in Drizlyif you’re the type to buy beer online.
{% contentfig “/beer/dogfish-head-brewery-slightly-mighty.jpg”“Slightly Mightya Lo-Cal IPA brewed by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery”“What isn’t good from Dogfish?” %}
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
The Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty is the first IPA to appear on this listand it’s well worth it. IPAs are famous for being the beers that help people get into beers–and this one is the best-selling light IPA in the United States. It’s also one of the best low calorie beers available on the market.
Dogfish Head is most famous for its craft brewsand that sensibility is reflected in the Slightly Mighty. Though it’s just 95 caloriesdon’t take that to mean it’s flavorless. On the contrarythe Slightly Mighty hits the spot with its monk fruit-infused sweetness.
Estrella Damm Inedit
The Damm Inedit isby farthe fanciest light beer on this list. Crafted by Michelin-starred chef Ferran Adrià and his high-class team of world-class brewmastersthe Damm Inedit is a light beer like no other. Plus it comes in a 750ml bottle.
An extra lager in the Damm Inedit is like the lovechild of wheat ale and a pilsner and sports enough complex flavors to compete with so-called “real” beers. Just one sip lets you into a world of creamyfruitysemi-spicy delight that’ll make you rethink whatever you thought you knew about light beer.
Kirin Ichiban
Kirin Ichiban is another first. This beer is the first on this list from the eastern hemisphere. Brewed in JapanKirin Ichiban Light is an import through and through. It is flavorfulhigh-qualityand often challenging to find.
The Kirin Ichiban light has 95 calories and a 3.3% ABVmaking it another of those beers just on the precipice of being an NA beer. Nonethelessthis is still an excellent beer for those looking for something dry and medium-light.
On top of thatthe company’s unique mash-pressing method gives the beer a distinct flavor profile that evokes both bready and floral flavors.
Yuengling Light Lager
Like GuinnessYuengling Light is deceptive. With its 4.5% ABVamber colorand caramel notesit’s not the kind of light beer you’d expect to bewelllight. The only asterisk on the beer is that it’s one of the higher-calories options on this listclocking in at 140. In realitythat probably won’t make a huge difference for most folks drinking beersbut if you’re looking to be merciless with your calorie countingthen this rich beer may not be for you.
As an asideYuengling is America’s Oldest Breweryjust in case you didn’t know.
{% contentfig “/beer/bells-brewery-light-hearted-ale.jpg”“Light Hearted Alea Lo-Cal IPA brewed by Bell’s Brewery”“The afternoon just got easier”%}
Bell’s Light-Hearted Ale
Another light India Pale Ale for the beer loversBell’s Brewery’s Light-Hearted Aleis just 3.7% ABV and has tasting notes of citrus and pine - giving you the feeling of wandering through a mysterious forest overlooking the Pacific Ocean with every sip. We think.
Bell’s is known for producing high-quality iterations of a wide variety of beersso you can expect that they knocked it out of the park with this one. On top of its ludicrously low ABV and delicious tastethe citrusy Light-Hearted Ale is a mere 110 calories and one of the best low calorie beers your money can buy. That’s a nutritional steal by any definition.
{% contentfig “/beer/tecate-original.jpg”“A bottle of Tecate Original”“Can’t go wrong with a Tecate” %}
Tecate Original
Lastbut most certainly not leastis Tecate Original. If you want a slightly juiced-up alternative to the Coronathen Tecate can be your stand-in. With a somewhat high 141 calories and 4.5% ABVthis isn’t the lightest of light optionsbut it’s still serviceable.
This is especially true given Tecate’s reliable flavorwhich gives a hint of sweet corn that isn’t cloying and doesn’t stick in your mouth. It’s brief and wispylike the memories of a great summer night.
Sam Adams Light Lager
A light version of their Boston Lagerthis 4.3% ABV American Beer should please craft beer drinkers looking to scale back on carbs and calories. Is it the best beer Sam Adams brews? Not even close. One only need look toward the Utopia series to prove that wrong - a series that is also among the highest ABV beers produced in America.
Natural Light
Natty Light!
Seriouslythat’s all that needs to be said about Natural Light. It’s under 100 calories. You could say that too. But is there really a need to further explain the glory that is Natty Light? No.
Actuallythere’s one thing. Natty Lights are often used when playing the waterfall card game.
Omission Ultimate Light
Omission Brewing Company brews some of the best gluten-free beer on the market today. Their Ultimate Light Golden Ale is brewed with Citra and Galaxy hopsgiving the drinker a taste of the tropics while remaining crisp and possessing a cleandry finish. If you’re making a list of summer beersit should be on it.
* Editors Note - Omission Ultimate Light Golden Ale is a gluten-reduced beer
Light Beer FAQs
What are the Carbonation levels of common light beers?
Here are a few examplesmeasured in pints of CO2 per pint of beer.
- 2.55 pints of CO2 per pint: Coors Light
- 2.46 pints of CO2 per pint: Bud Light
- 2.2 pints of CO2 per pint: Estrella Damm
Conclusion
Wellthere you have it. Whether you’re looking for a cerveza or a stoutan IPAor a pilsnerthere’s a high-quality light beer out there for you. Nowit’s just the hard part. Pick which of these delectable guilt-free indulgences you want to drink first.