09 July, 2026 5 min read
If you're trying to cut back on calories without giving up beer, you're in luck. The UK beer market now offers an excellent selection of low-calorie lagers, alcohol-free beers, and refreshing radlers that let you enjoy a pint without consuming hundreds of extra calories.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that dark beers are always high in calories. In reality, alcohol content (ABV) has a much greater impact on calorie count than colour or style. That's why some stouts contain fewer calories than stronger pale ales or IPAs.
In this guide, we've ranked some of the lowest calorie beers available from Beerhunter, using manufacturer nutritional information where available.
Style: Grapefruit Radler
ABV: 2.5%
Calories: 200 kcal (500ml)
Schöfferhofer Grapefruit is one of Germany's best-known radlers, blending wheat beer with grapefruit juice for a refreshing citrus flavour. Although the alcohol content is relatively low, the fruit juice contributes additional natural sugars, making it significantly higher in calories than many people expect.
Best for: Summer drinking and BBQs.
Style: Pineapple Radler
ABV: 2.5%
Calories: 200 kcal (500ml)
The tropical alternative to the grapefruit version offers plenty of pineapple flavour balanced with smooth wheat beer. Refreshing and easy to drink, but not one of the lightest calorie choices.
Style: Grapefruit Radler
ABV: 2.0%
Calories: 180 kcal (500ml)
A classic Austrian radler combining lager and grapefruit juice. Perfect on warm days, with bright citrus flavours and gentle bitterness.
Style: Irish Stout
ABV: 4.2%
Calories: 139 kcal (330ml)
Guinness often surprises people. Despite its creamy appearance, it contains fewer calories than many premium lagers and strong craft beers thanks to its moderate alcohol content.
Style: Premium Lager
ABV: 4.4%
Calories: 125 kcal (330ml)
A crisp, modern lager that delivers excellent drinkability without feeling overly heavy.
Style: Alcohol-Free Wheat Beer
ABV: 0.5%
Calories: 125 kcal (500ml)
One of the world's best alcohol-free wheat beers, offering classic banana and clove flavours with impressive body and refreshment.
Style: Mediterranean Lemon Beer
ABV: 3.2%
Calories: 115 kcal (330ml)
Sweet citrus flavours make Damm Lemon a favourite during summer. It's slightly higher in calories than many alcohol-free beers but still lighter than many full-strength lagers.
Style: German Radler
ABV: 2.1%
Calories: 105 kcal (330ml)
Made with premium Rothaus Pils and lemonade, this refreshing German radler delivers crisp citrus flavour with modest calories.
Style: Alcohol-Free Lager
ABV: 0.5%
Calories: 87 kcal (330ml)
A true pioneer of alcohol-free brewing, Clausthaler continues to produce one of the most balanced and enjoyable alcohol-free lagers available.
Style: Alcohol-Free Lager
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: 85 kcal (500ml)
A clean Austrian lager with gentle malt sweetness and crisp bitterness that drinks remarkably close to a traditional pilsner.
Style: Alcohol-Free Czech Lager
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: 85 kcal (500ml)
Budvar retains much of the brewery's famous balance, offering delicate Saaz hop aroma and refreshing drinkability.
Style: Alcohol-Free Hoppy Lager
ABV: 0.4%
Calories: 85 kcal (330ml)
Designed for craft beer lovers, Special Effects provides floral hop aromas, gentle citrus character and excellent balance.
Style: Alcohol-Free Pilsner
ABV: 0.5%
Calories: 82 kcal (330ml)
A superb example of how modern alcohol-free brewing has evolved, delivering crisp bitterness and authentic German pilsner character.
Style: Alcohol-Free German Pilsner
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: 78 kcal (330ml)
Light, refreshing and pleasantly bitter, Veltins is an excellent everyday alcohol-free lager.
Style: Alcohol-Free Irish Stout
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: 76 kcal (440ml)
Perhaps the closest alcohol-free beer to its alcoholic counterpart. Rich roasted malt, creamy texture and subtle coffee notes make this one of the standout alcohol-free beers available today.
Style: Alcohol-Free IPA
ABV: 0.5%
Calories: Approximately 75–80 kcal (330ml)
Packed with tropical hop aromas and balanced bitterness, it's proof that low-calorie craft beer doesn't have to sacrifice flavour.
Style: Alcohol-Free Belgian Lager
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: 69 kcal (330ml)
Belgian brewing quality shines through with subtle grain sweetness and a crisp finish.
Style: Alcohol-Free German Pilsner
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: 69 kcal (330ml)
One of Germany's finest alcohol-free pilsners, offering classic bitterness and exceptional refreshment.
Style: Alcohol-Free Pilsner
ABV: 0.3%
Calories: 65 kcal (500ml)
Remarkably low in calories while maintaining the dry, bitter finish that has made Jever famous.
Style: Alcohol-Free Lime Lager
ABV: 0.0%
Calories: Approximately 60–70 kcal (330ml)
A refreshing alcohol-free lager with natural lime flavour that combines low calories with easy-drinking refreshment.
If you're purely counting calories, alcohol-free lagers dominate the rankings. Products such as Budweiser Bud Lime 0.0, Jever Fun, Bitburger Drive, Jupiler 0.0 and Guinness 0.0 all deliver impressive flavour while keeping calorie intake well below that of most full-strength beers.
By comparison, fruit radlers such as Schöfferhofer Grapefruit and Pineapple contain considerably more calories than many drinkers expect due to their fruit juice content, despite having relatively low alcohol levels.
Several factors determine how many calories your beer contains.
Alcohol contains around 7 calories per gram, making it the biggest contributor to a beer's calorie count. Lower ABV almost always means fewer calories.
Sweeter beers and fruit beers often contain additional sugars that increase calories even when alcohol levels are relatively low.
The style itself doesn't determine calories. A dark stout isn't automatically more calorific than a pale lager. In many cases, stronger IPAs contain considerably more calories than Guinness.
For many people, yes.
Alcohol-free beers generally contain between 20 and 90 calories per serving, compared with 130–250 calories for many regular beers.
If you're trying to reduce your weekly calorie intake while still enjoying beer, switching to quality alcohol-free options can make a meaningful difference over time.
Finding the lowest calorie beer in the UK no longer means settling for bland or flavourless drinks. Modern alcohol-free lagers, pilsners and wheat beers have improved dramatically, offering excellent taste while significantly reducing calorie intake.
If your priority is keeping calories as low as possible, alcohol-free beers remain the clear winners. If you prefer traditional beer, choosing lower-ABV lagers and stouts can also help reduce calories without sacrificing enjoyment.
At Beerhunter, you'll find one of the UK's widest selections of imported German, Belgian and European beers, including many of the low-calorie options featured in this guide.
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