The 10 Best Low-Carb Beers You Can Actually Drink on the Keto Diet

If you're following the keto diet or just eating fewer carbohydrates for health reasons, beer (aka liquid carbs) might be one of the first things you cut from your daily intake. But there are days when you just want to have a cold one, and in those instances, low-carb beer is the way to go.

"There are more low-calorie and low-carb beer options on the shelves right now than there has ever been," said Steven Tsaparikos, RDN, a dietitian and certified health coach at Hancock Wellness Center in Greenfield, Indiana. While individual preferences differ, there's a beer to suit nearly everyone's tastes, whether that's a light wheat beer or a more bitter IPA. "Long gone are the days of every low-carb beer being extremely bland," he told Health.

When it comes to low-carb beers, you might want to focus on "light" beers. Their carb counts are always lower and they usually contain less alcohol (as measured by the percent of "alcohol by volume," or ABV) than their regular counterparts. That said, some have more carbs than others. And they vary in calories too. "To be labeled as 'light,' the product needs to have one-third fewer calories compared to the full-calorie version," Taylor C. Wallace, PhD, principal and CEO of the Think Healthy Group and adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University, told Health.

For clients who enjoy drinking beer, Tsaparikos encouraged moderation and making informed choices. Look for nutritional information on packaging or online. Five grams of carbohydrate is a reasonable benchmark for people who watch their carb intake, Tsaparikos said, as long as they're drinking responsibly.

We've rounded up 10 low-carb beers that clock in at fewer than 100 calories per 12-ounce bottle or glass, including some fresh new options. Enjoy!

Amstel Light

95 calories, 5 g carbs, 3.5% ABV

At 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving, Amstel Light is about the middle of the road for this category. It's also light on the palate and quite refreshing.

Blue Moon LightSky

95 calories, 3.6 g carbs, 4% ABV

Craving a wheat brew? This one's light and refreshing with a solid tangerine undertone, "which will be very familiar to anyone who has had Blue Moon in the past," noted Tsaparikos.

Budweiser Select 55

55 calories, 1.9 g carbs, 2.4% ABV

With an aroma of toasted malt and subtle hops, this beer is the lowest when it comes to calories and carbs. It's even lighter than Bud Light, which comes in over our 100-calorie cap, and Budweiser Select, Anheuser-Busch's 99-calorie version.

Corona Premier

90 calories, 2.6 g carbs, 4.0% ABV

This 2018 offering from Grupo Modelo in Mexican actually clocks in at fewer calories and carbs than Corona Light (which has 99 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates).

Devil's Backbone Bright Tangerine Sparkling Ale

85 calories, 2 g carbs, 4% ABV

"Sparkling ales, ciders, and seltzers are very popular right now," noted Tsaparikos. Both Devil's Backbone Bright Tangerine Sparkling Ale and the brand's Bright Pineapple Sparking Ale had solid ratings on the beer rating website untappd.com.

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty

95 calories, 3.6 g carbs, 4% ABV

This low-cal brew is one that Tsaparikos has enjoyed himself. "This is a great option for the IPA fans out there that are wanting to work towards their goals and still enjoy a nice hoppy bear at the end of a long day," Tsaparikos said.

Lagunitas DayTime

98 calories, 3 g carbs, 4% ABV

With the re-release of DayTime in 2019, Lagunitas Brewing Company delivered a lighter IPA with lower alcohol content. With this brew, "you still get the characteristics of a traditional IPA but with much lower calories and carb content," said Tsaparikos.

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold

85 calories, 2.5 g carbs, 3.8% ABV

Introduced in 2018, Ultra comes in with a slightly better nutrition profile than traditional Michelob Ultra (95 calories, 2.6 grams of carb, and 4.2% ABV) and what appears to be a similar flavor profile, observed Tsaparikos. If you want to cut back, pick up Michelob Ultra's 7-ounce bottle: It's 55 calories and 1.5 grams of carbs.

Miller Lite

96 calories, 3.2 g carbs, 4.2% ABV

First brewed in 1975, this pilsner is the "original light beer." Want even fewer calories and carbs? Try Miller64, which has just 64 calories per serving and 2.4 grams of carbs.

Yuengling Flight

95 calories, 2.6 g carbs, 4.2% ABV

This "next generation" light beer pairs well with salad, seafood, and poultry, according to the Pennsylvania brewery's website. Among light lagers on the beer rating website Beeradvocate, Flight ranks among the best, beating Yuengling's Premium Light Beer.

Don't see a low-carb beer you like?

Unfortunately, there's no good indicator—such as bitterness from hops—that can help you ID other low-carb beers. "Obviously if the product tastes sweet, it likely has more sugar and carbs," said Wallace. "But in general, quantities can vary between even similar products."

But it will get easier soon: "Beer industry leaders Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, HeinekenUSA, Constellation Brands Beer Division, North American Breweries, and Craft Brew Alliance—which produce more than 81% of the beer sold in the US—agreed to implement labeling of total calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and ABV to help consumers choose healthier options," said Wallace. The Beer Institute describes the Brewer's Voluntary Disclosure Initiative in detail. Cheers to that.