Browsing through Facebook groups and various beer forums dedicated to this beverage, on average, once a week someone asks a question about the calorie content of beer . While we all know that alcohol (especially in excess) is not beneficial for health, and beer itself isn’t a diet product, if we want to lose—nomen omen—beer belly, we don’t want to completely eliminate our favorite beverage from our diet. At this point, I would also like to point out that I do not intend to dwell on the question of whether dry calorie counting makes sense in the face of current knowledge about dietetics and human nutrition. I’ll focus on the practical question that really brought you here: how many calories are in beer – from regular lagers, through non-alcoholic beers, to craft IPAs, porters , RISs, and sour beers.
How many calories are in beer – in short (TL;DR)
If you’re just here for a moment and just want to know how many calories there are in a standard 0.5L bottle or can of beer, here’s a quick answer.
To put it simply:
- Light full 4–5% – approx. 200–250 kcal / 0.5 l
- Typical dark beer/stout ~5% – usually just above 200 kcal/0.5 l (often closer to the upper limit)
- Non-alcoholic beer 0.0–0.5% – approx. 80–150 kcal / 0.5 l
- Cormorant 1 in 100 (approx. 1% alc.) – approx. 95 kcal / 0.5 l
- “Regular” IPA – most common approx. 220–400 kcal / 0.5 l (depending on type and extract)
- Baltic Porter – approximately 350–450 kcal / 0.5 l
- Strong RIS and extreme beers – from approx. 400 kcal to around 700+ kcal / 0.5 l for the most extractive versions
- Sour beers (sour, gose, pastry sour) – from about 150 kcal for light sours, to around 300–400 kcal for pastry sours
- Grodzisk beer – approx. 200 kcal / 0.5 l
Later in the text, I break it down into the first factors: where do calories in beer come from, how many calories does non-alcoholic beer have , how does West Coast IPA differ from Hazy IPA in terms of calories, and why pastry stout is practically a dessert in a glass.
Is beer fattening?
So will one beer a day negate the effort and hectoliters of sweat poured in the gym? So how much beer can I have without risking exceeding the caloric limit? Which beer has the fewest calories and which is a calorie bomb? The answers to these questions are not at all simple.
Most online resources treat beer as synonymous with a light, highly attenuated lager (also known as a full-bodied pale ale). In practice, this means that a statistical table will tell you that a “half-liter bottle of beer” is about 250 calories —and that’s it. However, if you’re drinking craft beer, where the world of styles is much more extensive, such averaging does more harm than good.
In this article, I want to answer the question of how many calories beer has, not just in general, but depending on the style . At the same time, remember that from a weight perspective, it’s the energy balance of the entire day that counts. Beer can be either a small addition or a brick that disrupts a carefully laid plan—it all depends on how many of those bricks you add.
Where do the calories in beer come from?
Without going into too much detail, alcohol and carbohydrates, including sugars, are mainly responsible for the energy value of beer. Other nutritional values, such as protein and fat, constitute a negligible part of the energy profile of beer.
To most accurately calculate the caloric content of a particular beverage, we would need to know at least:
- amount of alcohol,
- initial extract,
- final extract (we can also calculate it knowing the two above),
- (optional) amount of post-fermentation additives.
As I wrote above, the two main sources of calories in beer are alcohol and carbohydrates. We have the alcohol content listed on the label (note that by law it can be 0.5% higher or lower for beers up to 5.5% ABV and 1% for stronger beers). By calculating the difference between the final and initial extract, we can estimate the amount of residual sugars.
It should be noted, however, that alcohol is given by volume and sugars by weight . Fortunately, there are tools on the web that do this kind of calculation for us and we don’t have to do the calculations by hand.
In short, it can be said that:
- the most caloric beers will be strong and sweet ,
- the least caloric – light, dry and without any additives .
More information on the caloric content of alcohol can be found in the materials of the National Institute of Public Health and the National Center for Nutrition Education .
Table: how many calories are in beer (selected styles and examples)
The table below summarizes approximate calorie values based on the examples and ranges described in the text. All numbers are taken from the article’s content – these are not laboratory measurements, but rather comparative benchmarks.
| Style / Example | kcal / 0.5 l | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Žatecký 0.0% | 60 kcal | The lowest-calorie beer in Poland (12 kcal / 100 ml). |
| Non-alcoholic beer (0.0–0.5%) | 80–150 kcal | Market standard. |
| Miłosław Non-Alcoholic IPA | ~110 kcal | A very favorable result. |
| Cormorant 1 in 100 (approx. 1%) | ~95 kcal | Light and hoppy. |
| Light full 4–5% | 200–250 kcal | Classic |
| Grodzisk beer | ~200 kcal | Polish champagne, low in carbon. |
| Bitter / ESB | ~200 kcal | Low power, drinkable. |
| Belgian dubbel/tripel/quadrupel | 300–500 kcal | Strength + high extract. |
| IPA (various substyles) | 220–400 kcal | Very wide range. |
| Brut IPA | >300 kcal | The driest IPA. |
| West Coast IPA (approx. 16°P) | >300 kcal | Dry, bitter. |
| Hazy IPA 18°P (approx. 5% alc.) | >350 kcal | Low alcohol + high extract. |
| DDH Double IPA | ~400 kcal | Sweet, full body. |
| Sour beers | 150–400 kcal | Lightest ~150, pastry sour ~400+. |
| Gelato (5.5–5.8% alc., 19°P) | ~375 kcal | A fruity classic. |
| Deli Store (25°P) | ~500 kcal | Pastry sour in all its glory. |
| Baltic Porter | 350–450 kcal | Poland’s brewing treasure. |
| RIS / imperial stout | 400–650 kcal | High extract = high kcal. |
| Lilith (Golem) | ~475 kcal | RIS 24°P. |
| Buzdygan Turborozkoszy (30°P) | >600 kcal | Ultra-extractive and sweet. |
| Fury of Fervor (33°P) | ~666 kcal | “Devilish” level. |
| Cornus Lupus (36.6°P) | ~740 kcal | The heaviest brew — 3× light beer. |
How many calories does non-alcoholic beer have?
Let’s start roughly. Not enough to begrudge yourself beer, but alcohol in general? For people with a predisposition to gaining weight, losing weight is a real, constant war with their own body. I bow to all the warriors. I myself, when I lost more than 40 kilograms in the pre-Kraft era, did not drink beer, and its place was taken by wine, whiskey and vodka. Despite containing “empty calories”, their advantage is a low glycemic index and sugar level.
At this point, we still need to determine what non-alcoholic beer is. According to Polish law, this term can be used to describe a beverage with an alcohol content of less than 0.5%. What about low-alcohol beer? According to the law, there is no such thing (anything above 0.5% is simply beer), while drinks up to 1.2% alcohol must have the full composition listed (just like juices or other soft drinks), so they are conventionally called low-alcohol.
Beers above 1.2% ABV don’t need to have their macronutrients, caloric content, or even full ingredients listed on the label. A list of allergens is sufficient (hence the often laconic “contains barley malt” warning).
How many calories does non-alcoholic beer have in practice?
- Most non-alcoholic beers available on the Polish market, such as Bavaria, Lech Free or Okocim, contain between 4 and 6 grams of carbohydrates per 100 ml, which, when combined with other energy sources, adds up to between 20 and 30 kcal per 100 ml.
- This means that in a can or a 330 ml bottle of non-alcoholic beer we will have on average about 80 kcal , and in a half-liter bottle – from 100 to 150 kcal .
- The lowest-calorie non-alcoholic beer available in Poland is Žatecký 0.0% , which has 12 kcal per 100 ml, or only 60 kcal in a half-litre bottle .
In the regional segment, the most advantageous is Miłosław Bezalkoholowe IPA produced by Browar Fortuna, whose half-liter bottle contains only about 110 kcal . The non-alcoholic version of the classic Czarny will already provide approx. 150 kcal in 500 ml .
Special attention should be paid to non-alcoholic beers with added fruit. Their use alone raises the caloric content, as each fruit contains sugar, plus such beers are usually sweetened. Even more deceptive are “specialty” beers like ginger beer.
Entering the segment of beers up to 1.2%, it is worth mentioning that its most popular representative – Kormoran 1 na 100 – in a 500 ml bottle contains only approx. 95 kcal . Of course, we are talking about the pure, hoppy version – not the fruity one.
If you want to delve deeper into styles, attenuation methods, and production methods, you can find more about non-alcoholic beers in a separate article on BBL dedicated specifically to this topic.
How many calories does IPA have?
The easiest way to put it would be to write: it depends. After forty years of the beer revolution, IPA has become the default craft beer style. The calorie content of individual variants varies from about 220 to even 400 kcal in 500 ml .
Below, I’m breaking it down into the main sub-styles so you can consciously answer the question of how many calories are in the IPA beer you’re holding in your hand.
Brut IPA
Putting aside the fact that rarely anyone brews Brut IPAs anymore, this most potent of the IPA sub-styles should theoretically be the least caloric. If we assume that the stylish Brut is almost completely attenuated, then with an initial extract of 16.5°P we will obtain over 8.5% alcohol .
This type of beer will provide us with about 315 kcal in 500 ml – for this strength, it is still a very dry and relatively calorie-efficient IPA.
Classic American and West Coast IPA
The classic West Coast IPA is also a fairly heavily attenuated variant, but not as much as the Brut IPA mentioned above. Dry, strongly bitter beers in this style are also regaining popularity in a Polish market saturated with sweeter options.
Modern West Coast IPAs typically have between 15 and 16.5°P of initial extract and 6 to 7.5% ABV . There are also versions signed simply as American IPA or Classic American IPA, which are a little less dry.
The estimated caloric content of a 500 ml can of such liquor is just over 300 kcal in 500 ml.
- The value of approximately 288 kcal comes from calculations about the legendary, first widely available IPA in Poland – Atak Chmielu from the Pinta brewery.
- Golem Brewery, in turn, in its West Coast IPAs – Carouselambra and Meadows of Heaven – achieved 7% of 16°P , which means approximately 307 kcal in a half-liter can .
Summary (West Coast / Classic American IPA):
West Coasty from Golem – approx. 307 kcal / 0.5 l
“Regular” West Coast IPA – just over 300 kcal/0.5 l
Hop Attack – approx. 288 kcal / 0.5 l
New England IPA, Hazy IPA and Vermont IPA.
Among those most popular IPA varieties on the market, it is very easy to fall into the caloric trap by looking only at the alcohol content.
A beer with 5% ABV at 15°P will be significantly lower in calories than one with the same alcohol content obtained from an extract of 17 or 18°P . It’s also important to pay attention to additives: non-fermentable sugars (like lactose and the increasingly popular maltodextrin) and fruit pulp are also sources of calories.
Therefore – without full knowledge of the composition of the beer – we can only assume in good faith that these are beverages produced in accordance with tradition, i.e. from water, malt (and in the case of this style also unmalted cereal flakes), hops and yeast.
Another issue is the beer’s labeling. New England IPA, Hazy IPA, and Vermont IPA are often used interchangeably, with the latter term appearing to be falling into disuse. They denote a beer with low bitterness, a powerful hop aroma and a juicy mouthfeel. Increasingly, the terms DDH IPA (double dry-hopped), TDH IPA (triple dry-hopped) or even QDH IPA (quadruple dry-hopped) are also being used to show the enormity of the hops thrown into the aroma.
In the case of this group of styles, it is best to pay attention to the given initial extract :
Deceptively low-alcohol (approx. 5%) Hazy IPAs with 18°P extract can have even over 350 kcal in 0.5 l.
The calorie content of a typical sixteenth shouldn’t differ significantly from West Coast .
Double IPA
The real conundrum begins with double IPAs. In this case, we know nothing from the alcohol information alone.
On the one hand, we have very sweet drinks , with 6-6.5% alcohol content obtained from 18°P – the caloric content of beer is in the range approx. 350 kcal . In the same style, however, from the same extract we can also get similarly caloric, but more dry and alcoholic items, in which over 8% of alcohol was extracted from 18°P. Nutrient content different, and calorie content similar.
In the case of beers with an extract of up to 20°P , the calories in a bottle of beer will soar to the magical limit ok 400.
In summary, the caloric range of an IPA beer with the same alcohol content can be as high as almost 150 kcal in 500 ml, depending on the substyle! A seven percent Brut IPA will have about 250 kcal , while a sweet DDH Double IPA will have about 400 kcal .
How many calories does a Baltic porter have?
Fortunately, Baltic porters don’t have the same turbulence as IPAs. Most classic representatives of the style known as Poland’s brewing treasure fall within the 18-22°P range and 8-10% ABV range, with a few exceptions. Their energy value oscillates between 350 and 450 kcal.
There are, of course, more extractive porters on the market. The award-winning Porter Noster from the Czarna Owca brewery has an extract of 22.5°P and approximately 440 kcal per 500 ml .
Much heavier caliber are imperial porters – the most caloric of the bunch – with a total of over 500 calories. A minimum of this much also has the legendary Imperium Prunum from Kormoran brewery, but there the energy value of the plums must be added.
Summary (porters):
Imperial Porters – over 500 kcal / 0.5 l , with even more additions
Classic Baltic porters – approx. 350–450 kcal / 0.5 l
Porter Noster – approx. 440 kcal / 0.5 l
Imperial Stout (RIS)
The strength and initial extract of an imperial stout are usually slightly higher than that of a Baltic porter, but – as with Double IPA – it is worth mentioning that we are talking about beers without any additives .
The classic RIS is 24°P , although the range can be from 22 to even over 30°P . Beers without sweet additives not included in the extract can have about 400 to 650 kcal in 500 ml.
- Classic Lilith from the Golem brewery ( 24°P, 10% alcohol ) in 500 ml contains about 475 kcal .
- However, with a very similar alcohol level ( 10.5% ), Buzdygan Turborozkoszy from the Harpagan brewery will provide the body with over 600 kcal , thanks to the fact that its initial extract is 30°P .
- The most famous Polish imperial stout – Malec Alfa from the Artezan brewery – has changed over the years. Its first versions were around 550 kcal, while the latest versions were closer to 600 kcal.
For pastry stout beers, there is really no upper limit. If the additives have not been fermented, there is no obligation to count them in the base extract, so it is difficult to judge anything on specific examples. The nutritional value of beer in this category, and the answer to the question of how many calories it contains , isn’t straightforward. The sweetest representatives can easily reach 800 kcal per bottle .
Sour beers
Some of the most commonly brewed beers are various sour beers. Among them, we can distinguish the classic Berliner Weisse, Gose or Polish lambic imitations, as well as all kinds of fruit beers soured in a kettle or by adding lactic acid, and the hit of 2020 – pastry sour , i.e. sweet and sour beers.
Due to the variety of substyles, the calorie range here is quite wide: from about 150 kcal to up to 400 kcal .
- The lightest beers will be those with an extract of around 8°P , without added fruit. Such delicate hoppy sours or traditional gose will rarely exceed 200 kcal per bottle of beer.
- These are close to the market average – around 300 kcal .
The history of Polish craft beer has also seen some real sour powerhouses:
- Theta Acid from Pint – approx. 490 kcal at 10.2% alcohol .
- Freeze-distilled Klofta from the SzałPiw brewery – the basic version had about 670 kcal .
We finally come to pastry sours. These beers are mainly popular in Poland through the Gelato series from Funky Fluid and Deli Store from Pinta.
- The first Deli Store had only 5.6% alcohol at a whopping 20°P , which means that a medium-strength beer provided us with as much as 400 kcal (compared to a pilsner of the same strength – 245 kcal ).
- Later Deli Store versions had 7.7% alcohol , but at 25°P their energy value was 500 kcal per can .
- In the case of Gelato, the most popular versions have between 5.5% and 5.8% alcohol obtained from 19°P , which gives 375 kcal per 500 ml .
- Double Gelato versions deliver more than 400 kcal in an 8% ABV beer, while iced options with much higher calories are still waiting in line.
Unfortunately, I do not have data on the non-alcoholic version of Free Gelato. For people on a diet who like this type of beer, however, they will be a good choice.
Classic styles
Knowledge of the caloric content of classic beers is actually the only one that does not fall into the category of this secret. Numerous scientific studies and popular science inquiries show that traditional light full wine , in which the alcohol content is around 4-5% , contains between 200 and 250 kcal , which our body absorbs in a half-liter bottle.
English styles like Bitter or ESB are extremely unpopular in Poland, but if we can make one, it won’t be to the great detriment of our daily caloric limit. The caloric content of one pint of such a drink will be around 200 kcal.
In the case of Belgian-style beers, such as dubbel, tripel or quadrupel , the energy value of the bottle will be higher and – as always – depends on the extractive power of the item. It ranges from 300 to as much as 500 kcal.
The most classic and native Polish style is, of course, Grodziskie beer , called Polish champagne, which not only contains very few calories , but also carbohydrates and can successfully replace wine on a reducing diet. Available information tells us that a bottle of Grodziskie beer is only about 200 kcal.
If you are looking for official, average calorie values for classic drinks, it is worth taking a look at the calorie tables of public health institutions or popular nutrition databases – but treat all numbers as indicative.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about calories in beer
A standard full lager usually has 4-5% ABV approx. 200–250 kcal in 0.5 l . This is the most common range for “regular beer” in Poland – but remember that craft, stronger and sweeter beers can significantly exceed these values.
Most non-alcoholic beers have approx. 20–30 kcal per 100 ml , That is approx. 100–150 kcal in 0.5 l . Better examples, like Miłosław Bezalkoholowe IPA, can go down to around 110 kcal in a half-liter bottle .
Žatecký 0.0% has 12 kcal per 100 ml, or only 60 kcal in a 500 ml bottle. Furthermore, the lowest calorie beers are usually non-alcoholic , low-alcohol (around 1% alcohol, like Kormoran 1 in 100), and very light, highly attenuated beers like Grodzisk beer (around 200 kcal / 0.5 l). If you’re asking how many calories are in the beer that least “spoils” the reduction , the answer will most often point to these styles.
Beer itself doesn’t have the magic power to make you fatter than other alcoholic beverages – it’s the calorie count and what’s happening around you (eating, snacking, number of servings) that count. The difference is that beer is usually consumed in larger quantities than a glass of wine or vodka. Therefore, it’s easier to “inadvertently” consume more calories. You can check the details, for example, on MedLine Plus .
One beer a day doesn’t have to kill your weight loss if you include it in your daily calorie intake. Half a liter of light, full-bodied beer is approx. 200–250 kcal , so that’s how much you have to “fit” into your plan. However, if one beer a day is just the tip of the iceberg (pizza, chips, evening snacking), then the problem is the whole , not the fact that it’s beer.
Post-script
It is important to know that calories are not everything, and the values given in this article are indicative only and do not constitute medical or dietary advice. Rather, they are a curiosity that can be summarized: the more initial extract (Plato), the more calories. To this must be added any sugars and non-fermentable additives.
So what kind of beer is worth drinking to gain the least amount of weight? Of course, our Polish treasure – Grodzisk – as well as all highly attenuated, light beers and carefully selected non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beers. Strong, extractive, and sweet beers should be avoided, especially if you treat them as a “small dessert” rather than a substantial liquid meal.
If you have metabolic diseases or other health problems, the question of whether and how much alcohol you can drink is a topic for discussion with your doctor – especially since official public health organizations link alcohol not only with calories but also with the risk of many chronic diseases.
Not just a foodie, but also a self-taught chef who cooks and tests recipes from around the globe. A traveler and connoisseur of great dishes across countries and cultures. Certified beer sensory specialist. Owner of a contract craft brewery renowned for wild, experimental brews. A former homebrewer with deep know-how in brewing techniques and beer styles. Loves pushing flavor boundaries—both on the plate and in the glass. His motto: “Go big or go home.”