Enjoying a drink after a hard day's work is one of life’s simple pleasures, but do you know how many calories there are in each pint of beer? It’s a common question to be asking if you’re counting calories for weight loss or fitness.
There is a huge variation in calories between different types of beers, and it’s not always related to whether they are light, dark, hoppy, creamy or otherwise. Alcohol and residual sugars are the key factors in determining how calorie dense a particular beer is.
Why Do Calories in Beer Differ?
The two sources of calories in beer are:
Alcohol - Alcohol has a caloric density of about 7 calories per gram.
Residual sugars - During fermentation, not all sugars are consumed by the yeast. The remaining malt sugars (about 4 calories per gram) contribute to the final calorie count.
Calories and ABV
As a result, a beer with a higher ABV will generally be more energy dense than a lower strength beer. Also, a beer with higher unfermented residual sugars will be higher in calories. So, for the question “how many calories in a pint of beer?", the most relevant figure to look at first is the strength.
Calories in Popular Pints
Here are some approximate numbers to give you an idea. These are for a standard UK pint of 568ml, but will vary slightly between draft and bottled versions.
How many calories are in a pint of Stella Artois?
- 224–227 calories in a pint of Stella Artois
- Slightly above average for a 4-5% ABV lager
How many calories are in a pint of Guinness?
- Around 210 calories in a pint of Guinness
- Lower than most lagers, due to lower ABV.
A typical 4–5% Lager
- 180-230 calories, depending on exact strength and sugar level.
- Most standard lagers will have between 180 and 230 calories per pint.
Dark Beer is Not Always High Calorie
As the above example demonstrates, darker beers (stouts) are not necessarily more calorific than pale lagers. Some stouts, like Guinness, have relatively low ABV, which results in a lower calorie count per pint.
Instead, it's the strength and residual sugars, not the colour, that really determine how many calories are in your pint.
Calories Compared to Food
To give some context, here are a few comparisons:
- One pint of Stella Artois (225 calories) is equivalent to 1 slice of pepperoni pizza.
- Two pints of Guinness (420 calories) is equivalent to a small meal.
- 3 pints in a night can easily be over 600–700 calories.
As you can see, it does add up after a few beers, and that’s before you get to the pub snacks or post pint kebab.
Drink Responsibly, Without Going Overboard on Calories
If you are getting a little more calorie-conscious but don’t want to miss out on a pint with your mates, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Opt for lower-ABV beers, which will almost always be lower in calories.
- Try half pints to limit intake while still being able to enjoy a beer.
- Alternate with water to keep pace and stay hydrated.
- Be mindful of food, many pub snacks have more calories than a pint.
- Making some small changes can have a big impact, without taking the joy out of your pint after work.
Advice from Hop Union Brewery
Being aware of how many calories are in a pint of beer lets you appreciate your brew even more, and make a more informed choice about which beer is right for you.
Whether you like crisp lagers, full-bodied ales or something lighter, there is sure to be a beer for you to keep the calories down.
