How many calories are actually in alcohol-free beer? Usually fewer than in regular beer — but the difference between one alcohol-free beer and another can be surprisingly large.
Alcohol-free beer calories compared
One of the biggest misconceptions around alcohol-free beer is that all 0.0% and 0.5% beers are nutritionally similar. They’re not.
Our reviews show a wide spread. At the lighter end, 1664 Bière 0.0 is around 15 kcal per 100ml. Madrí Excepcional 0.0 and Estrella Damm 0.0 are around 20 kcal per 100ml, while richer styles can be considerably higher.
| Beer | Style | ABV | Calories /100ml | Approx. /330ml | MyDryBar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1664 Bière 0.0 | Lager | 0.0% | 15 kcal | 50 kcal | Review → |
| Lucky Saint Lager | Lager | 0.5% | ~16 kcal | ~53 kcal | Review → |
| Stella Artois 0.0 | Lager | 0.0% | 18 kcal | 60 kcal | Review → |
| Madrí Excepcional 0.0 | Lager | 0.0% | 20 kcal | 66 kcal | Review → |
| Estrella Damm 0.0 | Lager | 0.0% | 20 kcal | 66 kcal | Review → |
| Bitburger Drive | Pilsner | 0.0% | 22 kcal | 73 kcal | Review → |
| Asahi Super Dry 0.0 | Lager | 0.0% | 25 kcal | 83 kcal | Review → |
| Hawkstone Spa | Lager | 0.3% | 27 kcal | 89 kcal | Review → |
| Leffe 0.0 | Belgian Blonde | 0.0% | 40 kcal | 132 kcal | Review → |
How many calories are in a typical alcohol-free beer?
For a standard 330ml bottle or can, a useful rule of thumb is around 50–100 calories, although the exact figure depends on the recipe.
Package size matters too. A beer listed at 20 kcal per 100ml contains about 66 calories in 330ml, but about 100 calories in a 500ml serving.
Why is alcohol-free beer usually lower in calories?
Alcohol itself is one of the main reasons. It contains roughly 7 calories per gram. Remove most or all of the alcohol from beer and you remove a major source of energy.
But alcohol-free beer can still contain energy from carbohydrates and residual sugars, which is why calorie counts vary even between beers with identical ABVs.
Does 0.0% beer have zero calories?
No. The “0.0” refers to alcohol, not calories.
Madrí Excepcional 0.0 is 0.0% ABV but contains around 20 kcal per 100ml. Asahi Super Dry 0.0 is also 0.0% but is around 25 kcal per 100ml.
Which alcohol-free beers have the fewest calories?
- 1664 Bière 0.0 — around 15 kcal per 100ml
- Lucky Saint Lager — around 16 kcal per 100ml
- Stella Artois 0.0 — around 18 kcal per 100ml
- Madrí Excepcional 0.0 — around 20 kcal per 100ml
- Estrella Damm 0.0 — around 20 kcal per 100ml
Calories are only part of the decision. Our best low-calorie alcohol-free beers guide balances calorie count with taste, drinkability and MyDryBar score.
Alcohol-free beer calories vs regular beer
Alcohol-free beer will often be lighter because regular beer contains substantially more alcohol. But strength, carbohydrates, sugar, brewing style and serving size all affect the final number.
Does lower ABV always mean fewer calories?
No. A 0.5% beer can have fewer calories than a 0.0% beer if its recipe contains fewer carbohydrates or sugars. ABV alone isn’t a calorie counter.
What about sugar and carbohydrates?
Removing alcohol changes flavour, body and mouthfeel. Different brewers solve that problem differently, and some finished beers retain more carbohydrates or sugar than others.
Our Stella Artois 0.0 review records 18 kcal, 4.2g carbohydrate and 0.8g sugar per 100ml, while Leffe 0.0 is a richer 40 kcal per 100ml.
Can switching to alcohol-free beer help cut calories?
It can — if the alcohol-free beer contains fewer calories than the alcoholic beer it replaces.
For example, replacing two 180-calorie beers with two 60-calorie alcohol-free beers would save roughly 240 calories on that occasion.
For the wider health picture, see Is alcohol-free beer good for you?
What is the best low-calorie alcohol-free beer?
MyDryBar looks for the point where low calories and good beer meet. Lucky Saint Lager is a good example: relatively light while also being one of MyDryBar’s highest-rated alcohol-free lagers.
🔥 Don’t choose on calories alone
The best alcohol-free beer is one you actually enjoy. Use calories as one filter alongside style, taste, ABV, sugar, dietary requirements and independent score.
How to choose a lower-calorie alcohol-free beer
- Compare per 100ml, not just “per bottle”.
- Check serving size — 330ml, 440ml and 500ml aren’t directly comparable.
- Look beyond 0.0% — zero alcohol doesn’t mean zero calories.
- Check carbohydrates and sugars if those matter to you.
- Compare taste scores so you’re not sacrificing enjoyment for a handful of calories.
- Recheck packaging because recipes and nutrition can change.
🍺 Find an alcohol-free beer that suits you
Calories are only one part of choosing a beer. Use the MyDryBar Drink Selector to narrow down alcohol-free drinks by your tastes and preferences.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in alcohol-free beer?
Many alcohol-free beers contain roughly 15–30 calories per 100ml, which is approximately 50–100 calories for a 330ml serving.
How many calories are in a pint of alcohol-free beer?
A beer containing 20 kcal per 100ml would contain about 114 calories in a 568ml UK pint. Multiply calories per 100ml by 5.68.
Is 0.0 beer calorie-free?
No. 0.0% refers to alcohol content. Beer can still contain calories from carbohydrates and sugars.
Is alcohol-free beer lower in calories than normal beer?
Often, yes. Alcohol is calorie-dense, so removing most or all of it can substantially reduce calorie content.
Which alcohol-free beer is lowest in calories?
Among the examples in this guide, 1664 Bière 0.0 is particularly light at around 15 kcal per 100ml.
Does alcohol-free beer make you gain weight?
It still contributes calories, but replacing a higher-calorie alcoholic beer with a lower-calorie alcohol-free option can reduce total intake.
How do I calculate calories in a whole can?
Multiply calories per 100ml by the can size divided by 100. For example, 20 × 3.3 = 66 calories in a 330ml can.
