When it comes to beer, one of the most common nutritional concerns is the carb content. For people watching their carb intake or following a low-carb diet like keto, the number of carbs in beer can be an important factor in choosing what to drink. Blue Moon Belgian White is a popular Belgian-style wheat beer brewed by Blue Moon Brewing Company. But how many carbs does it contain? Let’s take a detailed look at the carb count and other nutritional information for Blue Moon Belgian White.
A Brief Overview of Blue Moon Belgian White
Blue Moon Belgian White is an unfiltered Belgian-style wheat beer that was first brewed in 1995 in Denver, Colorado. It was created to replicate the flavor of traditional Belgian witbier styles. Some key features of Blue Moon Belgian White include:
- Brewed with white wheat and oats for a hazy, cloudy appearance.
- Topped with orange slices and sometimes other fruits like lemon or lime.
- Moderate alcohol content around 5.4% ABV.
- Medium body with a smooth, slightly sweet taste.
- Hints of coriander and orange peel flavors.
Blue Moon Belgian White has grown from a niche craft beer to one of the most popular Belgian-style ales in America. It’s widely available nationwide and often served with an orange slice garnish.
Nutrition Facts for Blue Moon Belgian White
Here are the basic nutrition facts for Blue Moon Belgian White according to the company:
- Serving size: 12 oz (355 ml)
- Calories: 153
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Fat: 0 g
Based on these nutrition facts for a 12 ounce serving, Blue Moon Belgian White contains 13 grams of carbohydrates. It also provides 153 calories, 1.5 grams of protein, and no fat.
Carb and Calorie Content in Different Serving Sizes
Here’s how the carb and calorie content breaks down for different serving sizes of Blue Moon Belgian White:
| Serving Size | Carbs (g) | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 12 ounces (355 ml) | 13 | 153 |
| 1 pint (473 ml) | 17 | 204 |
| 1 liter | 34 | 408 |
As you can see, the carb content scales up depending on the serving size. A 12 ounce serving contains 13 grams of carbs, while a 1 liter serving (about two pints) contains 34 grams of carbs.
Carb Content Compared to Other Beers
Compared to other popular beer styles, Blue Moon Belgian White is moderate in carbs:
- Bud Light – 5 grams of carbs per 12oz serving
- Guinness Draught – 10 grams of carbs per 12oz serving
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 14 grams of carbs per 12oz serving
- Blue Moon Belgian White – 13 grams of carbs per 12oz serving
- Samuel Adams Boston Lager – 18 grams of carbs per 12oz serving
So in the beer world, Blue Moon lands around the middle-of-the-road for carb content. It has a few more carbs than light beers like Bud Light, but fewer carbs than heavier beers like Samuel Adams Boston Lager.
Factors Affecting Carb Content
When estimating the carb content of any beer, there are a few factors to consider:
1. Beer Style
Some beer styles are higher in carbs than others. For example:
- Light lagers and pilsners tend to be very low in carbs (around 5 grams per serving).
- Wheat beers and Belgian styles are moderately higher in carbs, around 10-15 grams.
- Thicker stouts and bocks can have 20 grams of carbs or more per serving.
2. Added Adjuncts
Beers brewed with added sugars, fruits, grains or other adjuncts will raise the carb content. So a fruit beer for example may have more carbs than a basic lager.
3. ABV Content
Generally speaking, the higher the alcohol content (ABV), the more residual sugar is left behind after fermentation resulting in more carbs. So a strong 8% ABV beer likely has more carbs than a 4% ABV version.
4. Serving Size
Pay attention to serving size – a 12oz glass of beer has less carbs than drinking directly from a 32oz or 64oz growler!
Tips for Tracking Carbs When Drinking Beer
Here are some tips for tracking your carb intake from beer when following a low-carb or ketogenic diet:
- Stick to lighter beer styles like lagers, pilsners, and some pale ales that are lower in carbs.
- Be careful with pint servings – multiple pints can quickly add up in carbs.
- Alternate low-carb beers with straight liquors like whiskey, vodka sodas, etc.
- Check online resources like MyFitnessPal for beer nutrition info.
- When in doubt, overestimate your carb intake to stay under limits.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid beer calories.
Nutrition Facts for Other Blue Moon Beers
Blue Moon Belgian White isn’t the only beer option from Blue Moon Brewing Company. Here’s a look at the carb counts for some of their other popular beer styles:
| Beer Name | Carbs (g) per 12oz |
|---|---|
| Blue Moon LightSky Wheat | 7 |
| Blue Moon Mango Wheat | 16 |
| Blue Moon Spiced Amber | 18 |
| Blue Moon Valencia Grove Amber | 19 |
Their fruit-flavored wheat beers tend to be higher in carbs, while the LightSky version is extremely low carb at only 7 grams per 12oz serving.
Does Blue Moon Belgian White Fit a Keto or Low-Carb Diet?
So can you drink Blue Moon Belgian White on a low-carb or ketogenic diet?
With 13 grams of net carbs per 12oz serving, a single Blue Moon Belgian White fits within a daily carb allowance of around 50g for most keto diet plans. However, be mindful of your overall carb intake for the day.
Drinking multiple servings of Blue Moon Belgian White in one setting is likely to push you over a normal keto carb limit. You also need to be aware of your alcohol tolerance, as over-consumption can lead to carb cravings.
Here are some tips for drinking Belgian White and other beers on keto:
- Limit yourself to 1 beer max per day, tracking carbs.
- Drink plenty of water before, during, and after.
- Eat lower-carb foods the rest of the day.
- Time it around when you are most active.
- If weight loss stalls, abstain from beer for a period.
Ultimately, an occasional Blue Moon Belgian White fits keto, but shouldn’t become a daily habit. Prioritize the lowest carb beers like lagers, lights, and some IPAs.
Low-Carb Beer Alternatives to Blue Moon
If you want to enjoy the flavor of a Belgian witbier like Blue Moon but with fewer carbs, here are some recommended low-carb beer options under 5g net carbs:
- Michelob Ultra
- Bud Select 55
- Miller Lite
- Coors Light
- Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty IPA
- Lagunitas DayTime IPA
- Brooklyn Special Effects
- Left Hand Brewing Light Beer
There are also some newer low-carb craft beers like Outer Range Brewing’s Lights Out Vanilla Golden Ale. Look for “low-carb” labels when shopping for beer.
Making Your Own Low-Carb Belgian White
You can also try making a lower carb version of a Blue Moon style Belgian witbier at home. Some tips:
- Use a lower-carb yeast strain like Saflager S-23.
- Replace some barley malt with flaked oats.
- Use glucose or other simple sugars for bottling rather than dextrose.
- Cut orange peel garnish into small, thin slices.
- Consider adding asked root, coriander or lemongrass instead of orange.
Experiment with grains, yeasts, hops and spices when homebrewing to create a custom Belgian white ale to suit your carb needs.
The Verdict on Carbs in Blue Moon Belgian White
To wrap it up, here’s the key takeaways on the carb content in Blue Moon Belgian White:
- A standard 12oz serving contains 13g net carbs and 153 calories.
- Blue Moon is moderate in carbs compared to other beer styles.
- Factors like ingredients, ABV, and serving size impact final carb amount.
- An occasional Blue Moon can fit into a keto diet, but don’t overdo it.
- Look for low-carb beer alternatives at 5g carbs or less if needed.
Armed with this knowledge of the carb count, you can enjoy Blue Moon Belgian White and other beers more mindfully. Just be sure to account for the carbs in your daily dietary totals if weight loss or ketosis is your goal.
Conclusion
Knowing the carb content of the beers we drink is important, especially for people monitoring carbohydrate intake. Blue Moon Belgian White has a moderately high carb count at 13 grams per 12oz serving. In the context of a keto or low-carb diet, an occasional Blue Moon Belgian White can fit within daily limits, but should be consumed mindfully and in moderation. Following the tips in this article will allow you to enjoy quality beers like Blue Moon while still being mindful of your carbohydrate consumption.
