12 of the best low calorie beer for 2022 - and where to buy it

If you’re searching for low calorie beer options we’ve got you covered. From lagers and IPAs to low and non-alcoholic options, there’s plenty to choose from.

A cold beer is one of life’s simplest, most enjoyable pleasures. But if you’re keeping an eye on your diet and how many calories you burn in a day (opens in new tab), you don’t want to undo all the effort when it comes to what you’re drinking.

We have listed 13 low calorie beers, most of which we have tried and tested, ranging from alcohol-free to lagers and IPAs so there’s something for everyone. All of the beers included in this collection are under 115 calories per bottle and can all be purchased online, just like low calorie wine (opens in new tab).

We'd recommend serving these cold brews alongside one of our low calorie lunches (opens in new tab) at the weekend, or paired with one of our low calorie meals (opens in new tab). Calorie counting doesn't mean you have to miss out on the treats.

Here's our roundup of the best low calorie beer for your diet...

Low calorie beer

1. Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 0.5% | Calories: 53

First on our list of low calorie beer is Lucky Saint brand. Suitable for vegans and with a 0.5 percent ABV, the Lucky Saint beer bottles look chic and the beer tastes great too. This low calorie beer was crowned winner of the Best No and Low Lager in the 2020 Imbibe Taste Awards and was recently awarded a Great Taste Award too.

Our verdict: “This is one of the most convincing non-alcoholic beers on the market. It’s perfectly balanced and produces a good head when poured in a glass so unless you tell others, they won’t guess you’re drinking alcohol-free beer.”

Average price: £1.80 View at: Sainsbury’s (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab) | Tesco (opens in new tab) | Amazon (opens in new tab) | Morrisons (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24 x 330ml bottles for - £48 | Amazon  (opens in new tab) 48 bottles or cans for  - £90 | Lucky Saint  (opens in new tab)

2. Big Drop Brewing Co Paradiso Citra IPA

Measure: 330ml | ABV: % | Calories: 61

Another fantastic alcohol-free option. This IPA is fruity and refreshing with a delicious bitterness that keeps you coming back for more. This low calorie beer was also a gold winner at the 2020 World Beer Awards with several other accolades under its belt too.

Our verdict: “This is one of our favourite non-alcoholic beers. It’s delicious on its own but also works well paired with a spicy Thai curry or lightly salted chips. It’s more satisfying than a regular soft drink but lacks a strong hoppy undertone you expect from an IPA.”

Average price: £1.41 View at: Waitrose (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 12x 330ml bottles - £18.71 | Amazon (opens in new tab) 12x 330ml bottles - £16.99 | Drink Supermarket (opens in new tab)

3. DRYNKS Smashed Lager

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 0% | Calories: 76

This beer is brewed with alcohol and then it is cleverly removed. It has a floral aroma and a crisp hoppy finish. It’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans and is gluten-free too. It was awarded bronze at the World Beer Awards 2020. It was also awarded a Great Taste star in 2020.

Smashed Lager is brewed by the company DRYNKS, which specialises in a variety of 0% beers. All Smashed Lager ingredients are sourced from the UK.

Average price: £1.66 View at: Sainsbury’s (opens in new tab) | Amazon (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 12x bottles for - £20| DRYNKS.STORE (opens in new tab)

4. Small Beer Lager

Measure: 350ml | ABV: 2.1% | Calories: 77

An even lighter option from Small Beer which is available all year round. This crisp lager has an ABV of 2.1 percent and only 0.7 UK units per 350ml. It’s a pilsner-style lager which is perfect for easy sipping in the sun.

Small Beer is a company that prides itself on producing lower alcohol beer. They are London’s first brewery to achieve B Corp Certification recognising that they meet the highest standards when it comes to brewing beer. Their beer is brewed for 6 weeks, which is 10 times longer than the industry standard, and uses just 1.5 pints of water, which is an 80% reduction of water usage compared to standard brewers.

Average price: £2.16 View at: Waitrose (opens in new tab) | Majestic (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24x 350ml bottles for - £54.56 | Amazon (opens in new tab) 24x 350ml bottles for - £52 | theoriginalsmallbeer.com (opens in new tab)

5. Small Beer Organic IPA

Measure: 350ml | ABV: 2.8% | Calories: 87.5

This specially crafted beer is available for a limited time only and was designed to celebrate summer and British farming. We love the glass bottles and the low ABV of 2.8 percent. This low calorie beer is 100 percent organic and the UK sourced which is an industry first. You can buy the beer online (opens in new tab) on Abel & Cole or on the Small Beer website listed below.

Our verdict: “We love the small bottles as they make for easy drinking and look more sophisticated than some low-alcohol options. The beer is light and refreshing and makes a great pairing with a burger and chips.”

Average price: £2.29 View at: Ocado (opens in new tab) | Abel & Cole (opens in new tab) | Beershophq.uk (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24x 350ml bottles for - £55 | theoriginalsmallbeer.com (opens in new tab)

6. Skinny Brands Lager

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 4% | Calories: 89

Brewed and bottled in the UK, this lager has an ABV of 4 percent and less than 90 calories per bottle. It’s vegan, gluten and preservative-free, and Kosher. It’s got some celebrity fans including Jake Quickenden, Vicky Pattison, and Ellie Goulding. For those who adore the taste of draught beer, you could invest in a Skinny Draught beer dispenser (opens in new tab) to take your home bar to the next level.

Our verdict: “Lager isn’t my first choice of beer but this offers a great option for those looking to save on some calories while drinking. It has a nice gentle carbonated mouth-feel and a refreshing finish.”

Average price: £1.16 View at: Tesco (opens in new tab) | Asda (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab) |Morrisons (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 12x 330ml bottles for - £14 | Amazon (opens in new tab)

7. Brewdog Lightspeed

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 4% | Calories: 95

Another hazy IPA promises flavours of apricot and peach and hints of citrus. It has an ABV of 4 percent and under 100 calories a can. It’s a very hop-led beer and could be a good option to try if you’re a fan of Brewdog’s Hazy Jane. Plus, by purchasing you are helping them to offset 1.24kg of CO2.

BrewDog first started selling beer in 2007 at local markets. In 2008, BrewDog became Scotland’s largest independent brewery and in 2010 won a gold medal for Hardcore IPA at the World Beer Cup. BrewDog says; “Our biggest mission when we set up BrewDog was to make other people as passionate about great craft beer as we are. And that is still our biggest mission today.”

Average price: 99p View at: Tesco (opens in new tab) | Sainsbury’s (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 12x 330ml cans for - £11.95 | Brewdog.com (opens in new tab)

8. Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Ginger Beer

Measure: 500ml | ABV: 0% | Calories: 95

This soft drink has impressively low-calorie content and can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer. Try it with vodka for a light Moscow Mule or with rum for a dark and stormy. It has 48 percent fewer calories compared to Fever Tree’s classic premium ginger beer.

Our verdict: “Deliciously fiery, this ginger beer is incredibly moreish. The heat of the ginger replicates the warmth you might expect from alcohol but is very refreshing. We like to drink it straight or with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Sometimes we add a sugar rim to replicate a cocktail for guests who are over for dinner but not drinking.”

Average price: £2.33 View at: Waitrose (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab) | Tesco (opens in new tab) | Morrisons (opens in new tab) | Sainsbury’s (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24x 500m bottles for - £55.95 | Amazon (opens in new tab)

9. Beavertown Nanobot Super Session IPA

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 2.8% | Calories: 99

Bitter, fruity, and balanced this offering from Beavertown has a more subtle flavour compared to other brews but with an ABV of 2.8 percent this is to be expected. It’s an ideal easy drinker for barbecues and drinks in the park but it’s most enjoyable served crisp from the fridge.

Beavertown was founded in 2011 by Logan Plant, son of Robert Plant, a singer in Led Zeppelin. Other than deliciously brewed beer, Beavertown has become known for its bold, illustrative packaging. Each can of beer is wrapped with vibrant cartoonish drawings varying from rocket ships, aliens, skulls, and robots, which makes them hard to miss on supermarket shelves.

Average price: 72p View at: Sainsbury’s (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab) | Waitrose (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24x 330ml cans for - £40 | shop.beavertownbrewery (opens in new tab)

10. Shandy Shack’s Elderflower Lager Top

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 2.5% | Calories: 105

A light option for beer lovers that also makes a good fruity introduction to the drink for those still on the fence. This ready-to-drink shandy is made by combining a pilsner lager with a splash of elderflower presse. It has an ABV of just 2.5 percent and it’s vegan and gluten-free. You can buy it at selected Sainsbury’s stores for £1.80 per 330ml bottle or via the Shandy Shack website.

Shandy Shack was created in 2018 by a trio of friends who started experimenting by mixing craft beer and sodas together. Shandy Shack says; “These days, our shandies put smiles on faces all over the UK - from Edinburgh to Exeter. Now available online, in supermarkets and independent shops.”

Average price: £1.74 View at: Sainsbury’s (opens in new tab) | Amazon (opens in new tab) | The Food Market (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24x 330ml cans for - £24.99 | shandy shack (opens in new tab)

11. Adnams Ghost Ship

Measure: 500ml | ABV: 0.5% | Calories: 115

For this citrus pale ale, Adnams use a reverse osmosis plant to get rid of the alcohol in the classic Ghost Ship 0.5 percent. This means the flavour and aromas remain but the alcohol is removed. It’s also suitable for vegans.

Our verdict: “This has a subtle bitter note and a refreshing citrus balance. It has a good foam and is a great alternative to the full alcoholic beer.”

Average price: £1.79 View at: Asda (opens in new tab) | Tesco (opens in new tab) | Morrisons (opens in new tab) | Ocado (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 12x 500ml bottles for - £20.99 | Adnams.co.uk (opens in new tab)

12. Celia Organic Gluten Free Lager Beer

Measure: 330ml | ABV: 4.5% | Calories: 138

This fresh, sand-coloured lager is gluten-free and vegan friendly. Unlike many low calorie beer, it still has a moderate ABV of 4.5 percent. It makes a good pairing for a herby roast chicken salad or a grilled steak.

Celia beer has a great history to its origin as it was and still is brewed in the cellars of a 14th-century castle. The castle is in a town called Žatec, famous for growing Saaz hop since 1004.

Average price: £ 2.29 View at: Ocado (opens in new tab) | Waitrose (opens in new tab) | Tesco (opens in new tab)

Best bulk buy deals: 24x 330ml bottles for - £54.99 | bighorn.co.uk (opens in new tab)

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