Americans are beer fanatics — and with over 5,000 breweries across the United States, it’s easy to be one. But cracking open a cold one can be problematic when watching your waistline.
The average 12 ounce beer contains around 150 calories, which may not seem like much. But drinking several beers in a sitting, as well as binge drinking, is a common practice in this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 American adults drink at least six beers a day four times a month. Drinking six typical beers amounts to 900 calories, which is nearly half the typical person’s recommended daily caloric intake.
With the nation’s obesity epidemic in full swing, it’s more important than ever to monitor caloric intake. One way to cut back on the extra calories is to reduce the amount of calories from alcohol — either by drinking less or by drinking beers with less calories. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 250 common beers to find which beers have the most calories and which have the least.
Read on to see which beers are costing you the most calories.
Click here to see beers with the most calories.
Click here to see beers with the least calories.
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology.
Beers With the Most Calories
Source: Courtesy of Sierra Nevada
23. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
> Calories per bottle: 214
> Alcohol by volume: 6.8%
> Brewed by: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.15
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Source: millercoors.com
22. Colorado Native Winterfest
> Calories per bottle: 221
> Alcohol by volume: 7.0%
> Brewed by: AC Golden Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.20
Source: newbelgium.com
21. New Belgium Trippel
> Calories per bottle: 221
> Alcohol by volume: 8.5%
> Brewed by: New Belgium Brewing
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.81
Source: Doug / Flickr.com
20. Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout
> Calories per bottle: 221
> Alcohol by volume: 6.0%
> Brewed by: Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.98
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Source: Bellsbrewery.com
19. Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout
> Calories per bottle: 221
> Alcohol by volume: 6.1%
> Brewed by: Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.96
Source: sierranevada.com
18. Sierra Nevada Stout
> Calories per bottle: 225
> Alcohol by volume: 6.0%
> Brewed by: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.07
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Source: Getty images
17. Samuel Adams American Kriek
> Calories per bottle: 226
> Alcohol by volume: 7.0%
> Brewed by: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.53
Source: wildbluelager.com
16. Wild Blue
> Calories per bottle: 240
> Alcohol by volume: 8.0%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.26
Source: millercoors.com
15. Colorado Native Double IPL
> Calories per bottle: 245
> Alcohol by volume: 8.5%
> Brewed by: AC Golden Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.01
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Source: activebeergeek.com
14. Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red
> Calories per bottle: 251
> Alcohol by volume: 9.0%
> Brewed by: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.74
Source: youtube.com
13. Samuel Adams Rouser Double IPA
> Calories per bottle: 252
> Alcohol by volume: 8.4%
> Brewed by: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.81
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Source: https://www.pinterest.com/m_r_w/
12. Shadow’s Wild Black
> Calories per bottle: 262
> Alcohol by volume: 8.0%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.54
Source: samueladams.com
11. Samuel Adams New World Tripel
> Calories per bottle: 265
> Alcohol by volume: 10.0%
> Brewed by: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.91
Source: twitter.com
10. Colorado Native Imperial Porter
> Calories per bottle: 270
> Alcohol by volume: 9.5%
> Brewed by: AC Golden Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.95
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Source: reddswickedapple.com
9. Redd’s Wicked Mango
> Calories per bottle: 275
> Alcohol by volume: 8.0%
> Brewed by: Miller Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.12
Source: reddswickedapple.com
8. Redd’s Wicked Apple
> Calories per bottle: 277
> Alcohol by volume: 8.0%
> Brewed by: Miller Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.89
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Source: dailybeerreview.com
7. Rascal’s Wild Red
> Calories per bottle: 287
> Alcohol by volume: 8.0%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.51
Source: pinterest.com
6. Samuel Adams Thirteenth Hour
> Calories per bottle: 290
> Alcohol by volume: 9.0%
> Brewed by: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.73
Source: samueladams.com
5. Samuel Adams Tetravis
> Calories per bottle: 297
> Alcohol by volume: 10.2%
> Brewed by: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.90
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Source: brooklynbrewery.com
4. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
> Calories per bottle: 320
> Alcohol by volume: 10.0%
> Brewed by: Brooklyn Brewery
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.15
Source: Courtesy of Sierra Nevada
3. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
> Calories per bottle: 330
> Alcohol by volume: 9.6%
> Brewed by: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.14
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Source: tuskandgrainrelease.splashthat.com
2. Tusk & Grain Barrel Aged
Blend No. 02
> Calories per bottle: 353
> Alcohol by volume: 12.9%
> Brewed by: Saint Archer Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.28
Source: hopsunited.com
1. Bell’s Expedition Stout
> Calories per bottle: 383
> Alcohol by volume: 10.5%
> Brewed by: Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
> BeerAdvocate score: 4.26
Beers With the Least Calories
23. Leinenkugel’s Light
> Calories per bottle: 111
> Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
> Brewed by: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.65
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Source: millercoors.com
22. Keystone Premium
> Calories per bottle: 109
> Alcohol by volume: 4.4%
> Brewed by: Coors Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.84
Source: keystonelight.com
21. Keystone Light
> Calories per bottle: 104
> Alcohol by volume: 4.1%
> Brewed by: Coors Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.81
Source: coorslight.com
20. Coors Light
> Calories per bottle: 102
> Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
> Brewed by: Coors Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.03
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Source: geneseebeer.com
19. Genesee Light
> Calories per bottle: 100
> Alcohol by volume: 3.6%
> Brewed by: Genesee Brewing Co./Dundee Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.43
Source: schellsbrewery.com
18. Schell’s Light
> Calories per bottle: 100
> Alcohol by volume: 4.0%
> Brewed by: August Schell Brewing Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.01
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Source: anheuser-busch.com
17. Budweiser Select
> Calories per bottle: 99
> Alcohol by volume: 4.3%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.04
24/7 Wall St.
Source: coronalight-us.com
16. Corona Light
> Calories per bottle: 99
> Alcohol by volume: 3.2%
> Brewed by: Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.95
Source: heineken.com
15. Heineken Light
> Calories per bottle: 99
> Alcohol by volume: 3.3%
> Brewed by: Heineken Nederland B.V.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.34
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnmarie/
14. Yuengling Light
> Calories per bottle: 98
> Alcohol by volume: 3.8%
> Brewed by: Yuengling Brewery
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.84
Source: gianteagle.com
13. Grolsch Light Lager
> Calories per bottle: 97
> Alcohol by volume: 3.6%
> Brewed by: Grolsch Bierbrouwerj N.V.
> BeerAdvocate score: 3.01
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
12. Miller Lite
> Calories per bottle: 96
> Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
> Brewed by: Miller Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.18
Source: walmart.com
11. Milwaukee’s Best Light
> Calories per bottle: 96
> Alcohol by volume: 4.1%
> Brewed by: Miller Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.80
Source: michelobultra.com
10. Michelob ULTRA
> Calories per bottle: 95
> Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.88
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Source: Busch Light Fans / Twitter
9. Busch Light
> Calories per bottle: 95
> Alcohol by volume: 4.1%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.83
Source: naturallight.com
8. Natural Light
> Calories per bottle: 95
> Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.69
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Source: kirin.com
7. Kirin Light
> Calories per bottle: 95
> Alcohol by volume: 3.2%
> Brewed by: Kirin Brewery Company
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.22
24/7 Wall St.
Source: pittsburghbrewing.com
6. I.C. Light
> Calories per bottle: 95
> Alcohol by volume: 4.2%
> Brewed by: Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.50
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/
5. Amstel Light
> Calories per bottle: 95
> Alcohol by volume: 3.5%
> Brewed by: Amstel Brouweij B.V.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.43
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Source: michelobultra.com
4. Michelob ULTRA Amber
> Calories per bottle: 89
> Alcohol by volume: 4.0%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.33
Source: miller64.com
3. Miller 64
> Calories per bottle: 64
> Alcohol by volume: 2.8%
> Brewed by: Miller Brewing Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.79
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Source: anheuser-busch.com
2. Beck’s Premier Light
> Calories per bottle: 64
> Alcohol by volume: 2.3%
> Brewed by: Brauerei Beck & Co.
> BeerAdvocate score: 2.20
1. Budweiser Select 55
> Calories per bottle: 55
> Alcohol by volume: 2.4%
> Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch
> BeerAdvocate score: 1.60
Detailed Findings and Methodology
The amount of calories differs tremendously between the brews on this list. At the extremes, Bell’s Expedition Stout contains 383 calories, or about seven times the calories in Budweiser Select 55, the beer with the least calories at 55.
The brews with the most calories tend to have higher alcohol by volume (ABV) content. And the higher the ABV the more calorically dense the beer. The 23 most caloric beers have at least an ABV of 6.0%. The beer with the highest ABV, Tusk & Grain Barrel Aged Blend No. 2, clocked in at 12.9% ABV and 353 calories.
Brews with the most calories are also often similar in the style of beer. Rich beers like porters and stouts, and even fruity beers, comprise 12 of the 23 most caloric dense beers. Nearly every low-calorie beer, on the other hand, is a light lager.
It is important to note that of the many breweries and brewpubs in the United States, we could only consider a fraction due to the absence of nutritional information. Craft breweries in particular don’t provide calorie counts. This may potentially change by the year 2020 with the Beer Institute recently initiating the Brewers’ Voluntary Disclosure Initiative. The initiative encourages members of the Beer Institute to provide a nutrition label that discloses calorie, carbohydrate, protein, fat, ABV, and other ingredients.
To identify the beers with the most and least calories, 24/7 Wall St reviewed the calories of over 250 beers from a range of sources, most of which from some of the largest beer distributors in the United States. Other beverages that are comparable to beer, including malt liquor, hard cider, hard soda, and non-alcoholic beer, were not considered. Not all breweries included their beer’s calorie count on their site, so for those we relied on CalorieKing, a database that provides the nutritional content for a variety of food and beverages. Beverages with no nutritional information on the manufacturer’s site or CalorieKing were excluded.
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