While we’re not in the habit of endorsing “diet culture” or labelling higher calories as unhealthy, it’s always useful to be informed.

Beer often gets a bad reputation when it comes to calories — and the infamous “beer belly” doesn’t help. But while beer does contain calories (we know this well at Beerwulf), it’s not necessarily as bad as many people think.

Like most things in life, it’s about balance. Beer is a water-based drink, and a classic 5% beer isn’t significantly more calorific than fruit juice or cow’s milk.

How many calories are in beer?

The answer depends on strength and style. Stronger beers generally contain more calories, while lighter beers tend to contain fewer.

That’s why understanding how many calories in beer you’re drinking helps you make an informed choice.

One thing worth noting: while beer labels must show alcohol percentage and allergen information, calories aren’t mandatory, which makes tracking beer calories a little trickier.

How many calories are in a pint of lager?

A pint of standard 5% lager will have around 239 calories, so equal to 150g of chicken breast according to Men's Health.

Of course, each beer style has a different ABV and brewing method. For example, it is highly likely that a strong spicy Quadrupel will contain more calories than a standard strength lager.

So if you’ve ever wondered how many calories in a pint, ABV is a good place to start.

Beer calories by brand (examples)

To give you a clearer idea of beer calories by brand, here are some estimated values for popular styles:

• Newcastle Brown Ale – 230 calories

• Brixton Reliance Pale Ale – 182 calories

• Strongbow Original Cider – 180 calories

• Apfelräuber Cider – 260 calories

• Affligem Tripel – 370 calories

• La Chouffe Blonde d’Ardenne – 312 calories

• Fourpure Session IPA – 180 calories

As you can see, pale ale calories and session styles tend to sit lower than stronger Belgian beers.

How many calories are in a pint of Guinness?

You might be surprised to know that a pint of Guinness, or 568ml, has 210 calories. People often expect darker beers to have a higher calorie count, however, with an ABV of 4.2%, it's on the light side.

In general, the higher the ABV, the more calories a beer is going to have. So if you are looking to reduce your calories, we recommend sticking to classic lagers and session beers (which also are easy on the day after as an added bonus).

And with that knowledge, you can only imagine the calories in the world's strongest beer, Snake Venom. The beer comes with a warning on the label to not consume more than one in any day as, not only does one 275ml bottle cost £50, but it contains a whopping 2025 calories.

Calories in beer vs wine

Beer is not necessarily more calorific than any other alcoholic drinks, but we consume more of it than stronger ones. Especially when you compare a fresh, easy-drinking beer with a full-bodied red wine.

So, for example, the average pint of 568.26ml (or thereabouts depending on your pouring skills) is more than three times the average glass of wine at 175ml - so naturally, it adds up!

Looking for lower-calorie beer alternatives?

A large proportion of calories in beer come from alcohol. That’s why low- and no-alcohol beers tend to be much lower in calories.

They’re brewed like regular beer, so they still contain some carbohydrates and sugars — but overall, calorie content is usually significantly reduced.

If you’re curious, you can read more about alcohol-free beer here and how it’s made.

Final thoughts on beer calories

Beer doesn’t have to be the calorie villain it’s often made out to be. Understanding how many calories in a pint (and how alcohol strength affects it) puts you in control.

With a bit of knowledge and moderation, there’s always room to enjoy a great beer.