Keto Beer: Best Options for a Low-Carb Diet

There’s nothing quite like a nice cold beer after a long day. But can you drink beer on a Keto diet? 

The answer is, it depends on the type of beer you drink. Some types of beer are naturally low carb, whereas others should be avoided at all costs if staying in ketosis is your goal. 

Whether you enjoy a tasty ale or a fruity lager, this article will cover all things beer on a low-carb diet. 

Why Most Beers are NOT Keto Friendly

No matter how you spin it, most beer contains a lot of carbs. Some even more than candy, desserts and soft drinks. It’s no wonder this alcoholic beverage is known as “liquid bread”. That’s the primary reason why beer should be avoided on Keto. 

Many people who drink alcohol will find that their weight loss efforts stall. While we know that sugary drinks like sweet cocktails are filled with carbs that can knock you out of ketosis, even low-carb alcohol can cause issues. 

Why? It’s not necessarily the calories, but how our body processes the alcohol. If you’re on a ketogenic diet, your body is running on fats for energy, and studies suggest that drinking alcohol may block your body’s fat-burning abilities.[*]

When you drink alcohol, your body metabolizes the alcohol before any other nutrient to use as fuel. This can significantly slow down the fat-burning processes that are crucial for an effective Keto diet.

Beer to Avoid on Keto

The name of the Keto game is to keep your daily carbs low. This can look different for each individual, with less than 20g net carbs a day being ideal for some, but up to 50g net carbs per day optimal for others. When it comes to drinking beer on a low-carb, high-fat diet, drinking more than one of the following can knock you out of ketosis much faster than you’d like. 

Depending on your individual macro requirements, you may get away with a slightly higher-carb beer. Sticking to just one may not hurt your Keto goals too much. However, we recommend choosing a lower-carb beer instead where possible. We will discuss the best Keto-friendly beer options later in this article.

Avoid these High-Carb Beers on Keto:

Bud Light Straw-Ber-Rita

Carbs: 23.6g

Calories per 8oz: 200

Guinness Extra Stout

Carbs: 14g

Calories per 12oz: 176

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Carbs: 17g

Calories per 8oz: 175

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Carbs: 18g

Calories per 12oz: 175

Blue Moon Belgian White

Carbs: 13g

Calories per 12oz: 164

Dos Equis

Carbs: 11g

Calories per 12oz: 131

Corona Extra

Carbs: 14g

Calories per 12oz: 148

Budweiser

Carbs: 11g

Calories per 12oz: 145

Heineken

Carbs: 11g

Calories per 12oz: 142

Keto-Approved Beers

Now for the good news. Thanks to the rise in the Keto lifestyle, beers low in carbs and calories are making their rounds in the alcohol industry. New beers that are Keto-friendly can be found worldwide. 

Here are a few Keto-approved beers we recommend:

Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co. Bright Tangerine Sparkling Ale

Carbs: 2 grams

Calories per 12 oz: 90 

Corona Premier

Carbs: 2.6 grams

Calories per 12 oz: 90 

Michelob Ultra

Carbs: 2.6 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 95

Lagunita DayTime IPA

Carbs: 3 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 98

Shiner Ruby Redbird Lager

Carbs: 3.1 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 95

Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty IPA

Carbs: 3.6 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 95

Ommegang Brut IPA

Carbs: 3.9 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 140

Kona Brewing Co. Kahana Blonde Ale

Carbs: 4 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 99

Deschutes Brewery Da Shootz! Pilsner

Carbs: 4.2 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 99

Four Peaks Brut IPA

Carbs: 5 grams

Calories per 12 oz.: 152

Amstel Light

Carbs: 5g

Calories per 12oz.: 95

Budweiser Select 55 Premium Light

Carbs: 1.8g

Calories per 12oz: 55

Beck's Premier Light

Carbs: 3.9g

Calories per 12oz: 64

Yuengling Light Lager

Carbs: 3.2g

Calories per 12oz: 99

Miller 64 Extra Light Lager

Carbs: 2.4g

Calories per 12oz: 64

Other Keto-Approved Alcoholic Drinks

Open to other alcoholic beverages outside of beer? Hard liquor and the occasional glass of wine can be a great Keto-friendly option, containing considerably less carbs than beer. Stick to the alcoholic beverages below and you can comfortably enjoy a social drink without sacrificing your Keto diet.

Hard Liquor

Stick to liquors that contain zero carbs and zero sugars. Clear liquor at about 40% alcohol is your safest bet. These include:

• Cognac
• Scotch
• Rum
• Brandy
• Whiskey
• Tequila
• Vodka
• Gin

Note: If you cannot drink it straight, make sure you’re using a chaser that contains zero, or minimal carbs. For example, get a vodka club instead of a vodka with soda.

Better still, why not get creative with your own Keto-friendly cocktails:

• Keto Blackberry Basil Cocktail
• Keto Cosmo Seltzer Cocktail
• Keto Mojito Cocktail with Coconut, Mint and Lime

Drink Alcohol Sparingly on Keto

There’s no problem with enjoying a drink or two every once in a while on the ketogenic diet. 

If you’d like to drink alcohol, make sure you choose a beverage from our Keto-approved list above and avoid sugary drinks at all costs. And remember, as with everything, moderation is always key.