Top 10 Highest-Calorie Beers (and the 10 Lowest!)

December 10, 2008

You've got one holiday party after another, so chances are, you're probably kicking back a few brewskies. I'm all for celebrating, but liquid calories can make you gain pounds fast. If beer is your go-to beverage, you may want to skip out on these brands, since they contain the most calories per 12-ounce bottle.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot: 330 calories
Samuel Adams Boston Lager: 180 calories
Guinness Extra Stout: 176 calories
Pete's Wicked Ale: 174 calories
Harpoon IPA: 170 calories
Heineken: 166 calories
Killian's Irish Red: 163 calories
Long Trail: 163 calories
Molson Ice: 160 calories
Anheuser Busch Natural Ice: 157 calories

Which beers contain the fewest calories? If you're curious read more.

These beers may be better options if you're watching your calorie intake.

Beck's Premier Light: 64 calories (fewest!)
Amstel Light: 95 calories
Anheuser Busch Natural Light: 95 calories
Michelob Ultra: 95 calories
Natural Light: 95 calories
Miller Light: 96 calories
Heineken Light: 99 calories
Budweiser Select: 99 calories
Coors Light: 102 calories
Corona Light: 105 calories

Source and Source

44 Comments

2 years

You skipped quite a few beers that have considerably more calories (Blue Moon at 171 per 12 oz. serving, for instance). This is a pretty poorly researched article.

2 years

Isn't bud select actually 55 not 99?

3 years

Billy the cool kid - Lets look at Sam Adams and Sam Adams light. Sam Adams has 4.9% ABV. Sam Adams Light has 4.05% ABV. Now I'm no mathematician but from what I remember in math class 4.9 would be higher than 4.05.

4 years

its funny how people say light beer has less alcohol percentage. it makes me laugh how such few people actually do research on subjects they hold so dear to their heart as beer. actually the light beers have the same amount of liquor percentage. anyone who did two minutes of research would know that. shows what people actually know.

4 years

As a bartender i find you all ignorant and still drinking the beer of the high school crowd. Let me pull your cheerleading skirt down and fist you with a tempid pint of guiness, fairy boys. you all disgust me.

hankhawk 4 years

The only beer for me is Yuengling Black & Tan --has the deep, rich taste that only a dark beer offers, yet it's not bitter like Beck's. After a bike ride in hot, sunny Florida there's nothing better than pouring a cold Black & Tan into a frosty mug and slowly enjoying every swallow -- man, that's living!

ccpdm 4 years

I'm no beer connoisseur by any means, but I do like Corona, Michelob Light and Bud Light. Yep, an ice cold Bud Light by the pool in the summer! (Hey, I'm from Texas....)

sierranevadabill 4 years

I came across your recent post regarding calories in beer. While we appreciate you providing consumers with information on how they can still enjoy a beverage while watching out for their health, I find the figures to be a little misleading. The different beers highlighted are of different style and therefore contain a variable content of alcohol by volume. Generally speaking, there are no additives in beer. There is nothing added to the beer making process that would raise or lower the calorie count, except malted barley. More malted barley is needed to raise fermentable sugar and elevate alcohol content and flavor. If you check out the nutritional information on our website www.sierranevada.com, you will find the caloric content for our beers. Most of the calories in any beer, or wine for that matter are from alcohol – so, the higher the alcohol content the higher the calorie count. generally speaking, in the same volumes wine and spirits have much higher calorie counts than even the biggest beers Bigfoot is 9.6% Alcohol by Volume. Is is, by its very nature, an extreme beer. It is a specialty beer produced for a specialty audience of dedicated beer enthusiasts. A more accurate comparison to the others examples would be our flagship beer: Pale Ale. Bigfoot sales are .06% percent of the total sales of Pale Ale which is by far our biggest selling and most widely available beer. The nutritional information for Pale Ale is as follows: Per 12-ounce bottle. Calories: 175 Alcohol by Volume: 5.6% Carbohydrates: 14.1 grams Protein 1.5 grams Our consumers return to our ales again and again for the enjoyable drinking experience; our beers are brewed with,100% whole cone hops, all malt, and are naturally conditioned – we think our beers are well worth the few extra calories. Just thought you might like to have the most current accurate information for your readers. If we can help provide any additional information please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to continue this dialogue. Respectfully, Bill Manley Communications Coordinator Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico, CA

luxington 4 years

Isn't Bigfoot like 9 or 10% ABV? Most beers are less than 5% ABV. I don't think it is fair to compare just by calories.

ferret 4 years

true that, chimericgirl i actually just started drinking beer to slow down my buzz & to calm down my drunkenness. used to drink a lot, and once i started there was no stoppin me! ha i was that crazy chick who tries to drink a whole whiskey bottle by myself. didn't need it, but you know... you forget... beer is the solution... get full! lol

smashedpotatoe13 4 years

i still dont have a sierra nevada sweatshirt! in a city full of them i sure stand out in the crowd haha

NurseDeAnna 4 years

I live right next to sierra nevada. I totally just bought a Bigfoot sweatshirt for my brother yesterday, I have a bigfoot shirt. That's too funny. I don't even think I have it but I love the label and ya just gotta represent.

ChimericGirl 4 years

I guess my point is remember to do the math of how many beers total you'll end up drinking to get to your level of "happy" when you opt for the low cal stuff. You might be better off nursing a higher calorie (and usually but not always higher alcohol content)beer that you really enjoy rather than downing several light beers esp. if you really don't like the light beers.

ChimericGirl 4 years

One thing to keep in mind is that low cal beers are lower in alcohol content (basic biology: alcohol=calories). So you might drink 2 to 3 of the low cals to get the same buzz as one of the higher calorie (but tastier) beers. And almost everybody on the planet drinks alcohol for the buzz/relaxation element right? I don't believe you if you say you drink mainly for the taste of the drink ;)

insanitypepper 4 years

Note that that is the Guinness Extra Stout listed, which is not their popular beer. Guinness Draught is about 125 calories per 12-oz bottle.

jessie 4 years

love corona...never had the corona light tho...have to give a try

myystque 4 years

Guess I'll have to start on the Heineken Lights, but I'll agree with the others that if I want a GOOD beer, I don't even think about the calories involved. Bohemia from Mexico is a good lighter beer and I love, love, love Fat Tire. When I'm watching calories or want to get drunk, I have shots of tequila, rum and diet coke, or gin and tonic.

emily violet 4 years

If you're going to drink, make it count at least. Harpoon Winter Warmer, Circus Boy, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Saranac Pumpkinhead, and Sam's Winter Lager are definitely worth it. If you want to get wasted, drink vodka or something...

smashedpotatoe13 4 years

not only do i eat local, but i drink local too.. sierra nevada is the best!

seraphina 4 years

I think this list is great! But, it seems incomplete. There are many more beers in the "200s" :( This list has many more beers on it and their calorie count: http://www.beer100.com/beercalories.htm

Soniabonya 4 years

Ugh, all the good tasting beers are on the naughty list. When I drink beer, I drink for taste (even if I'm watching cals). Then again I drink more microbrew than the main brands. . . i try to limit myself to one. Blitzen Ale at Rockbottom here I come.

ferret 4 years

:JAWDROP: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot: 330 calories Glad I don't drink that one! I drink 3 easy. Not everyday, but several days out of the week. No wonder beer bellies are everywhere. For light beers, I like Amstel Light, Hein-y Lights, and Japanese & Korean beers which tend to be light (I hope!). :) I've been drinking black & tans, Bodington's and Hoegaarden's lately because it's cold and they taste good in this season! Gotta check the cal counts on those...

kendallina 4 years

I usually only drink light beers. I have had a major craving for a nice Guiness though.

bluepuppybites 4 years

Well Guinness is the only high calorie beer on that list that I drink but I do drink a lot of local micro-brews that I'm sure could be on that list, I've never drank Becks light but I love regular Becks so I might have to give that one a try.

tlsgirl 4 years

Thanks wambalus!

Link Love

44 Comments