New Brews Sacrifice Alcohol, Flavor to Save Calories

U.S. brewers are promoting a new class of ultra-low calorie beers that have lower alcohol content than typical mass-marketed full-strength and light brews, the Associated Press reported Oct. 27.

Budweiser has about 150 calories and 5 percent alcohol, while typical light beers have 100 calories and 4 percent alcohol. However, the new Miller Genuine Draft 64 has only 64 calories, while Anheuser-Busch’s Select 55 has just 55 calories. Both contain less than 3 percent alcohol.

Some drinkers say that drinking these beers to get a buzz is counterproductive. “I just have to drink more, and then it’s going to equal the amount of calories in a regular beer, so why not just drink a regular beer?” said Mindy Rotellini, 25, of St. Louis.

But Chris Bethel, 36, said he liked the low calorie count of Select 55. “I’m not a college kid trying to get wasted,” said the Columbus, Ohio resident.

Brewers cut calories and alcohol content by using less malted barley and other grains during fermentation.