Does a decent light beer exist?

[lightning9191]

I don't think Yuengling is bad....of course I'm from Pennsylvania so take it for what it's worth.

[Mugen910]

Is it Peter "mystical meat" Noon?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

Is it Peter "mystical meat" Noon Lite?
Posted via Mobile Device

[D_A]

Amstel Light is only 3.5% ABV. If you end up drinking twice as many of them as say for example Bell's Two Hearted which is about 7% you haven't really saved any calories, you've only sacrificed taste

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

Is it Peter "mystical meat" Noon?
Posted via Mobile Device

Dats me.

Originally Posted by Big Vito

I saw your post before you edited it, you bastage.

[Genetic Defect]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Dats me.

I saw your post before you edited it, you bastage.

I think your still in the meat department

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by Big Vito

I think your still in the meat department

[GreekGodX]

The only decent Light beers IMO are Michelob Ultra and Heineken Light. Heineken Light actually has a decent flavor. I'm assuming you are looking to watch your weight when you drink? IMO just drink what you like but limit it to 2 drink max. That way you can enjoy it and not worry about adding too many extra calories.

[replicant_argent]

Screw it, I'm just gonna drink Guinness and believe that it is lighter. It floats on the Bass, right?

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by D_A

Amstel Light is only 3.5% ABV. If you end up drinking twice as many of them as say for example Bell's Two Hearted which is about 7% you haven't really saved any calories, you've only sacrificed taste

Can't really say what kind of calories they have but all the new Sam Adams Imperial Series beers have around 10% ABV. So, you can drink fewer of them and still get lots of alcohol content.

Personally, I feel if calories are a concern then it's best just to drink hard alcohol straight up. Something like vodka on the rocks with a slice of lime is tasty and has plenty of alcohol content.

[SmokeyJoe]

My favorite was the aforementioned Sam Adams Light (guess you didn't like that?)

I have had to swear off of that... low-carb diet since November. I have lost 70 lbs., but beer has pretty much become a thing of the past.

Best low-carb beer I have found is Budweiser Select. After that would be Michelob Ultra. But unless it is a health necessity - stick with the Guinness! "D

[icehog3]

Guinness is as light as I go.

[Genetic Defect]

Drinking light beer is like eating a soy steak should just drink the NA crap

[macpappy]

Question.

What does these three items have in common: Military Intelligence, Honest politician, and Decent Light Beer?

I agree with the sam adams light...

[SeanGAR]

Burt Grant, when he was alive and running his brewery, made a "celtic ale" that was the best light beer I ever had. Decent hopping, a bit of malt and caramel flavor, yet 99 calories.

This was made in the style of an ordinary bitter, a style with relatively low alcohol content (3.2-3.8%). Examples of this style include Fuller's Chiswick Bitter, Adnams Bitter, Young's Bitter, Greene King IPA (SIC, FACKIN SIC ... what is the matter with these people), Oakham Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (JHB), Brains Bitter, Tetley’s Original Bitter, Brakspear Bitter, Boddington's Pub Draught. This last one is widely available and is 3.8% abv, and should be in the light range of calories.

Another style, "mild ale", is also a British beer that typically has alcohol in the 3-4% range. This style does not travel well and is not widely appreciated this side of the pond. BJCP guidelines lists the following as examples of the style: Moorhouse Black Cat, Gale’s Festival Mild, Theakston Traditional Mild, Highgate Mild, Sainsbury Mild, Brain’s Dark, Banks's Mild, Coach House Gunpowder Strong Mild, Woodforde’s Mardler’s Mild, Greene King XX Mild, Motor City Brewing Ghettoblaster. I don't recognize these names, they may be hard to find.

A Scottish version,. Scottish Lighht 60/- likewise is low calorie (and alcohol) but is not exported to the US. Cask only versions include Belhaven 60/-, McEwan’s 60/-, Maclay 60/- Light.

Some lambic beers are low in alcohol, are decidedly dry, and would fit the light beer category, although they are not normally considered such. Most are in the 5-6% abv range and outside the light beer calorie range, so you need to look at labels. Lambics are usually a very sour funky tasting beer and not everybody likes them.

Berliner Weisse is a low alcohol style that is available in the US last time I checked. It is in the 2.8-3.8% range and very sour, coming from a lactic fermentation. In Germany, they apparently add sugar syrups to the beer (killing the light designation not doubt). Then only one of this style I have found and tried is the Kindl Berliner Weiss. Definitely on the sour side but if you're used to drinking Lambics or sour Flemish ales not bad.

The beers discussed above are beer styles that typically have low alcohol contents and associated low calories, but are not produced using enzymes the way normal light beers are made in the US following Joe Owades's footsteps. For these beers, I have had few that I have liked.

Probably the best I have had was Lightship that Sam Adams made a few years ago. My ratebeer evaluation: Dec 8, 2007. I had this often when it was made. From notes, this has a great character for a light beer, much better than the "new" light beer that they make and almost as good as Burt Grant’s Celtic Ale when he was around to make that one.

As others have pointed out, Guinness on tap or in the widget bottles/cans is actually reasonably light, with calories and alcohol lower than Budweiser (basically the same as Sam Adams Light). Guinness is the only "light" beer besides Boddingtons that I drink regularly these days.

I have made a number of milds and ordinary bitters myself that I have enjoyed, often based on Jamil Zainacheff's recipes. People who want a buzz from drinking complain that these beers don't have much kick .... but that is the point.

So after all this, I would recommend looking around for a mild or ordinary bitter. Boddingtons is pretty tame but drinkable and Guinness, of course, is good for you.

References:
http://www.bjcp.org/docs/2008_Guidelines.pdf
http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/The-Jamil-Show

[marge796]

I like Iron City light. I'm not sure if they even brew it any more though?





Chris....

[cort]

[quote=replicant_argent;432166]Screw it, I'm just gonna drink Guinness and believe that it is lighter. It floats on the Bass, right?[quote]



I think you are on to something here.

I am going to assume for the purpose of this thread that "light beer" is meant as low calorie and has no reference whatsoever to the actual color of the beer. I don't drink lite beer. I usually stick to IIPAs, stouts, some bocks, some helles, you didn't ask what I like so I'll drift back toward the topic now.

Shiner Light isn't bad and the Shiner Espezial Leicht (special light) is pretty good, but I don't think that one is available anymore.

http://beeradvocate.com/articles/248

check out the above article also. According to them the calorie difference between Bud Light and Guiness is only 10 calories. Since Bud Light isn't even beer, and it's only 10 calories, drink what you like. Come on, don't ruin a good smoke with a sh!tty beer. Just saying.

[The Poet]

Why not just drink less? Remember, the beer mug is neither half-full nor half-empty -- it's only the wrong size.