Quick Answer
Yes, Bud Light Seltzer does contain calories, though fewer than regular beer. A 12 oz can of Bud Light Seltzer contains 100 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates. The seltzer is also gluten-free and contains less than 1 gram of sugar.
Calorie and Nutrition Facts for Bud Light Seltzer
Bud Light Seltzer is a hard seltzer made by Anheuser-Busch. It contains cane sugar, natural fruit flavor, citric acid, natural flavors, and sodium citrate. Here are the nutrition facts for a 12 oz can of Bud Light Seltzer:
| Nutrition Facts | 12 oz Can |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Carbohydrates | 2 g |
| Sugar | Less than 1 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
As you can see, a 12 oz can of Bud Light Seltzer contains 100 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates. It contains minimal sugar and no fat or protein.
Calories Compared to Regular Beer
Bud Light Seltzer contains far fewer calories than regular beer. Here is a comparison of the calories in 12 oz of Bud Light Seltzer vs. Bud Light beer:
| Beverage | Calories (12 oz) |
|---|---|
| Bud Light Seltzer | 100 |
| Bud Light Beer | 110 |
Regular Bud Light beer contains 110 calories per 12 oz, while Bud Light Seltzer only has 100 calories. So the seltzer version has 10 fewer calories than Bud Light beer.
Other popular regular beers have even more calories than Bud Light. For example:
– Heineken: 142 calories
– Corona: 148 calories
– Guinness: 153 calories
So Bud Light Seltzer has between 30-50% fewer calories than these regular beers. The lower calorie and carb count makes seltzers a popular alternative for health-conscious drinkers.
Calories by Bud Light Seltzer Flavor
Bud Light Seltzer comes in a variety of fruit flavor options. However, the calorie count remains the same at 100 calories per 12 oz can regardless of flavor.
The available Bud Light Seltzer flavors include:
– Black Cherry
– Lemon Lime
– Strawberry
– Mango
– Apple Crisp
– Grapefruit
– Watermelon
– Peach
– Pineapple
Bud Light frequently releases limited-edition seltzer flavors as well. But again, all flavors contain 100 calories per 12 oz can.
So regardless of whether you prefer fruity flavors like strawberry or citrus flavors like grapefruit, you can enjoy any Bud Light Seltzer flavor guilt-free at just 100 calories per can.
Bud Light Seltzer Nutrition Facts Label
Here is an image showing the official Bud Light Seltzer nutrition facts label:
As you can see, the label confirms that a 12 oz serving contains 100 calories, 25 calories from fat, and 2g total carbohydrates. It also shows the seltzer is gluten-free and contains less than 1g of sugar.
Does the ABV% Impact Calories?
ABV stands for alcohol by volume and indicates the alcohol percentage in a beverage.
Bud Light Seltzer has an ABV of 5%. This is the same alcohol content as regular Bud Light beer.
The ABV% does not impact the calorie count. Regardless of alcohol percentage, Bud Light Seltzer contains 100 calories per 12 oz can.
Here is a breakdown of how ABV% compares across some popular seltzers and beers:
| Beverage | ABV% | Calories (12 oz) |
|---|---|---|
| White Claw | 5% | 100 |
| Truly | 5% | 100 |
| Bud Light Seltzer | 5% | 100 |
| Bud Light Beer | 4.2% | 110 |
| Miller Lite | 4.2% | 96 |
As you can see, the ABV% doesn’t correlate directly with calorie count. Bud Light Seltzer has the same ABV as White Claw and Truly but fewer calories than Bud Light beer, which has a lower ABV.
So the takeaway is that ABV% has no impact on the 100 calories in a Bud Light Seltzer. It’s the malt, hops, yeast and other ingredients that contribute more calories to regular beer.
Carb and Sugar Content
We’ve established that Bud Light Seltzer contains 100 calories per can, but let’s take a closer look at the carb and sugar content.
Each 12 oz can contains 2 grams of carbohydrates and less than 1 gram of sugar.
This carb and sugar content is much lower than regular beer. For comparison, here are the carb and sugar counts in some popular beers:
| Beverage | Carbs (g) | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Bud Light Seltzer | 2 | Less than 1 |
| Bud Light Beer | 6.6 | 0.7 |
| Miller Lite | 3.2 | 0.8 |
| Corona | 14 | 0 |
Bud Light Seltzer has 80-90% fewer carbs and little or no sugar compared to beer. This makes it a good option if limiting carbs and sugar intake.
The low carb and sugar content is due to Bud Light Seltzer being made from cane sugar and natural fruit flavor as opposed to grains like barley and wheat used in beer. For health-conscious consumers monitoring carbs and sugar, the nutrition facts make seltzer an appealing alternative.
Gluten Free
Bud Light Seltzer is labeled as gluten-free. This is another advantage it has over regular beer for anyone following a gluten-free diet.
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Beer contains gluten because it is brewed from these grains. However, since Bud Light Seltzer does not contain grains, it does not contain gluten.
Being gluten-free makes Bud Light Seltzer safe for those with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. There are also people who simply prefer to avoid gluten in their diet even if they do not have an allergy.
So if you follow a gluten-free diet or want to reduce gluten intake, Bud Light Seltzer gives you an option you can enjoy guiltfree.
Keto-Friendly?
The keto diet involves strictly limiting carb intake, often to under 50g daily. Beers are generally high in carbs and not keto-friendly.
With just 2g of carbs and no sugar, Bud Light Seltzer appears at first glance to be keto-approved. However, there are a few important caveats.
First, the nutrition info lists 2g carbs per can. But most keto experts recommend counting net carbs instead by subtracting fiber. Bud Light Seltzer has 0g fiber. So the net carbs are also 2g, which is still low but not zero.
Second, alcohol itself can briefly take you out of ketosis since your body prioritizes metabolizing the alcohol over other macros.
So while Bud Light Seltzer is very low carb, it may not be 100% keto-compliant depending on your sensitivity. Consuming it in moderation is key, and be sure to account for the 2g net carbs and 100 calories if closely tracking macros.
Bud Light Seltzer and Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF) involves alternating periods of eating and fasting, often on a 16:8 schedule of 16 hours fasting and 8 hours eating.
Alcohol does break a fast since the calories initiate a metabolic response. However, some IF followers allow up to 50 calories during their fast, arguing it still elicits many of the same benefits as 0 calories.
At 100 calories per can, Bud Light Seltzer exceeds the 50 calorie threshold. But it may be less disruptive to your fasting than higher calorie beers.
As always, moderation and your personal preferences come into play. Having one or two Bud Light Seltzers during your feeding window is unlikely to sabotage your progress. But downing multiple seltzers throughout your fast will overwhelm benefits.
Bud Light Seltzer Flavor Rankings
With so many flavor options to choose from, you may wonder which Bud Light Seltzer flavors taste best. Here is a helpful ranking from best to worst seltzer flavors according to consumer reviews:
| Ranking | Flavor |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mango |
| 2 | Strawberry |
| 3 | Lemon Lime |
| 4 | Black Cherry |
| 5 | Grapefruit |
| 6 | Pineapple |
| 7 | Watermelon |
| 8 | Apple Crisp |
| 9 | Peach |
According to most reviews, Mango is the clear favorite with its sweet tropical flavor. Strawberry comes in second with its ripe berry taste.
On the other end, Peach ranks lowest for its artificial peach candy flavor. Apple Crisp gets low marks for tasting more like apple juice than crisp.
Of course taste preferences are subjective, so try out all the flavors and see which you enjoy most!
Bud Light Seltzer vs White Claw
White Claw is the top-selling hard seltzer brand. So how does Bud Light Seltzer compare?
Here is a side-by-side comparison:
| Attribute | Bud Light Seltzer | White Claw |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 100 per can | 100 per can |
| Carbs | 2g | 2g |
| Sugar | Less than 1g | 1g |
| ABV | 5% | 5% |
| Price | ~$15 per 12 pack | ~$15 per 12 pack |
| Flavors | 9 flavors | 12 flavors |
The two seltzers are very similar when it comes to the key stats of calories, carbs, sugar, and alcohol content. White Claw offers slightly more flavor variety, while Bud Light has strong brand recognition.
Overall, it comes down to personal taste preference. Try them side-by-side to compare carbonation level, flavor, and mouthfeel. Both are solid low calorie seltzer options.
Is Bud Light Seltzer Healthy?
Bud Light Seltzer is healthier than regular beer and many other alcoholic drinks. The pros are:
– Low calorie (100 per can)
– Low carb (2g per can)
– Low sugar (less than 1g per can)
– Gluten-free
However, even though it’s low in calories for alcohol, it should still be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. Some cons to consider:
– Lacks nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
– Can interfere with ketosis or fasting goals when consumed in excess
– Risk of negative effects if over-consumed, including impaired judgment
The US Dietary Guidelines define moderate drinking as 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. One Bud Light Seltzer would represent one alcoholic drink.
So the answer is yes, Bud Light Seltzer can be part of healthy lifestyle when consumed in moderation and accounted for in your diet goals. But it should not be considered a health drink.
Bottom Line
To summarize key points:
– Bud Light Seltzer contains 100 calories and 2g carbs per 12 oz can, with less than 1g sugar
– It has far fewer calories than full-strength beer
– All flavors contain the same 100 calories regardless of ABV%
– With only 2g net carbs and no gluten, it fits low carb and gluten-free diets more easily than beer
– It ranks moderately keto-friendly and won’t completely break a fast, but moderation is key
– Flavors like Mango and Strawberry rate best for taste
– It has similar nutrition stats to White Claw but more brand recognition
– While not a health drink, it’s a healthier alcohol option when consumed responsibly
So if you’re looking for a low calorie spiked seltzer that doesn’t skimp on flavor, Bud Light Seltzer is worth trying. Just be mindful of alcohol content if paying close attention to your diet. Enjoy Bud Light Seltzer as an occasional, guilt-free treat.
