It’s easy to dismiss light beer in a world where heady IPAs and huge imperial stouts get all the attention. But that would mean dismissing the fact that people drink light beers far more than any craft beer. It’s not even close. Light beers are the three most widely enjoyed beers in all of America. We love light beer too. Even if sometimes we don’t want to admit it in front of our craft-beer-loving friends.
And our love of light beer is not without its merits. Light beer is, well, lighter. It has fewer calories, lower ABVs, and doesn’t leave you with a massive hangover the next day if you’re just having a few. All of that is a big advantage for light beer in general.
So, what then are the best light beers in America? We know from sales last year that the top three beers in America were Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite respectively. But what do the masses think? We went over to Ranker to get an answer to that very important beer question. Interestingly, people’s tastes don’t exactly align with their spending. Still, a list of ten beers emerged that are worth our time and money when it comes to staying on the lighter side.
10. Dos Equis
This one feels a bit like dirty pool. Dos Equis, while delicious, isn’t a light beer. Mostly the calorie count here is too high at 130 (most light beers are in the 80-110 range). Still, there are few us that’d turn down an ice cold Dos Equis on a hot day.
9. Michelob Ultra
Michelob Ultra is the lightest of the bunch with just 85 calories per bottle but don’t call it a diet beer. It still has a 4.2 percent ABV, so it’s going to get you nice and tipsy without filling you up. How’s that not a good thing?
8. Yuengling Light
Yuengling Light is actually a lighter lager than Michelob. It clocks in a 3.8 percent ABV, which is Berliner Weisse territory. Translation, you can drink this one all day and not risk waking up the next day like an extra on The Walking Dead.
7. Corona Light
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Corona and Corona Light holds a sweet spot in beer culture. The clear glass bottle with a lime wedge is one of Mexico’s best tourism tools. Who doesn’t want to escape to a Mexican beach every time they pop that lime into the sudsy Corona?
6. Coors Light
Coors Light at sixth? Coors Light got robbed. Robbed! This is a light beer that definitely deserves a top three ranking. Rocky Mountain glacier water, smooth amber suds, and an amazingly accessible price point make Coors Light a very solid American beer.
5. Amstel Light
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The Dutch slide into the top five with the tasty Amstel Light. The beer clocks in at a very low 3.5 percent ABV making it very drinkable and very not hangover-inducing. The Dutch brew also has a little more heft than the light American counterparts. So while you’re getting very low ABVs, you’re also getting a little more tastewise.
4. Heineken Light
Heineken Light also hails from The Netherlands but leans more towards the American light beer style. The ABVs vary here from 3.3 to 4.2 percent depending on which state you’re in. So, make sure to check the label as that’s a big difference. If you don’t check, your mornings might get a little dicey.
3. Bud Light
The King of Beers at number three feels like a good spot. Bud Light’s sales are undeniable. It’s a great beer for an easy day or night of drinking. The 4.2 percent ABV means you’ll be able to get a decent buzz on without getting too weighed down. Another bonus here is that you can literally find Bud Light everywhere, making this one of the most accessible and easy-to-drink beers in America.
2. Sam Adams Light
Damn. Sam Adams outta left field. The independent brewer is a national icon these days. The four percent ABV is countered by a higher calorie count at 119. It’s also a hefty beer than all the other lights on the list. If you dig on Sam Adams, this is the light just for you.
1. Miller Lite
Miller Lite feels like a classic beer. There’s something about the can design and effervescent taste of the brew that just feels like nostalgia in a can. It’s the kinda of beer that you want to drink all day. And that’s saying a lot of any beer.
