Light Low Calorie Beer

[Silentclint]

I want to make a low calorie beer that still has a decent alcohol content, is this possible? I want around 90 calories but still about 4% ABV. Any suggestions?

 

[two_hearted]

Its probably easier to just buy it...

 

[phenry]

Only base malts (2-row with Vienna/Munich possibly), mash low, and use Saison yeast, possibly some Brett. That should finish out pretty darn dry.

 

[jonmohno]

Check out the miller lite recipe in the recipe discussion forum. Good luck. Adding amalyse enzyme towards the end of fermentation to get it real low.
I made a california uncommon that finished and 1.004 It was mainly pale malt and some wheat with s-23 lager yeast. I didnt intend for it so low but its about 5 percent probably like 120 calories just guessing.

 

[DD2000GT]

Not sure if you like wheat beers or not, but I can easily get a 4% beer with those calories using a 60/40 wheat/barley mix.

 

[Bradinator]

Even if you mashed super low, I think the best your going to get at 4%ABV per pint is below 150kcal (according to beersmith). English Mild style beer might work, though it would be a bit thin. I have made a couple 3% session ales that were around 130kcal that turned out pretty decent, though for the extra 20 calories per pint I found the beers substantially more flavourful.

 

[Pappers_]

http://www.singingboysbrewing.com/Drinkability-isn-t-a-word.html

Around 100 calories per 12 ounces and 4+% abv.

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

http://www.singingboysbrewing.com/Drinkability-isn-t-a-word.html

Around 100 calories per 12 ounces and 4+% abv.

That one lists at 134 calories/12oz.

It's physically impossible to brew a 12 oz serving at 4% with 90 calories. The alcohol content alone at that percentage carries more than 90 cal, and when you factor in the other ingredients, it will put you over. Most all of the mega-lager ultra low cal offerings are in the 2.5-3.5% abv range. My suggestion to you would be to brew an english mild ale, or an american wheat beer. Both can be made at low gravities, in the 3%'s, and still offer flavor and enjoyment while sticking to the lower cal requirement.

See below. 96 calories from the alcohol alone, plus the calories from the carbohydrates from the grain used will put you over your number.

The dose of alcohol is calculated by multiplying the volume of an alcoholic beverage by the percentage of alcohol by volume. For example, twelve ounces of beer that is 4% alcohol by volume would have a dose of 0.48 ounces of alcohol. Pure alcohol (100% alcohol) is called "absolute alcohol." Absolute alcohol is alcohol without any water molecules in it. Alcohol produced by distillation contains water molecules that are very hard to remove. The strongest readily available alcoholic beverage, often called "neutral grain spirits" is about 95% absolute alcohol (190 proof). It is possible to manufacture absolute alcohol, also called "scientific alcohol," by synthesis.

One gram of ethyl alcohol yields 7 calories of energy when metabolized by the body. That converts of approximately 200 calories per ounce of absolute alcohol, or about 100 calories per drink equivalent (one-half ounce of absolute alcohol). The total calorie content of an alcoholic beverage includes the calories from the alcohol itself, and calories from other components of the beverage (residual sugars or grains in beers and wines, for example). A typical serving of regular beer yields about 150 calories (about 100 calories from the alcohol and about 50 calories from the residual carbohydrates). A typical serving of light beer has a lower alcohol content and less residual carbohydrates, so the total calorie content could be about 100 calories (about 80 calories from the alcohol and about 20 calories from the residual carbohydrates).

SOURCE:
http://www.drcordas.com/education/toxicagents/bloodalcohollevels.pdf
(all research references listed on document)

 

[Pappers_]

That one lists at 134 calories/12oz.

It's physically impossible to brew a 12 oz serving at 4% with 90 calories. The alcohol content alone at that percentage carries more than 90 cal, and when you factor in the other ingredients, it will put you over. Most all of the mega-lager ultra low cal offerings are in the 2.5-3.5% abv range. My suggestion to you would be to brew an english mild ale, or an american wheat beer. Both can be made at low gravities, in the 3%'s, and still offer flavor and enjoyment while sticking to the lower cal requirement. . . .

+1 on your general point that 4+% abv and lower calories are at cross purposes in homebrewing.

The 134 calories in the beer I linked to is not for 12 ounces, but 16 ounces (a pint). Doing the math, that means the calories would be 101 per 12 ounce serving and the abv for that beer is 4.2%

A huge caveat - that's according to Beersmith, not testing, for either calories or abv.

 

[davefleck]

Why not just pour a half beer of something worthy of your tastebuds?

 

[daksin]

It's always been my philosophy that if I need to watch calories, I should be drinking less beer, and not worse beer.

When I want a light lager though, I'm looking for clean taste and nice flavor, not low calories.

 

[Pappers_]

I agree, I didn't brew the beer I linked to because of calories, but rather to make a light, crisp, dry, clean ale (a sort of cream ale) for friends and family who I thought would enjoy it. Generally, they did.

 

[Silentclint]

All good points and advice, thanks guys!

Cheers,
Clint