For people watching their carb intake or following a low-carb diet like keto, knowing the carb content of different beers can be helpful. Budweiser’s Platinum lager is a popular light beer option, but how many carbs does it contain? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a close look at Bud Platinum’s nutritional information, carb content, and how it compares to other low-carb beer options. Whether you’re counting carbs or just curious, read on to find out everything you need to know about the carb count in Budweiser Platinum beer.
What is Budweiser Platinum Beer?
Budweiser Platinum is a light lager produced by Anheuser-Busch. It was first introduced in 2010 as a lower-calorie version of Budweiser’s classic American-style lager. Bud Platinum is brewed with a blend of barley malt, rice, water, hops and yeast. It has a light, crisp taste with subtle fruit notes.
Some key facts about Budweiser Platinum:
- Alcohol Content: 6% ABV
- Calories: 137 calories per 12 oz serving
- Carb Content: 8.7 grams carbs per 12 oz
- Categories: Light Lager, Low-Calorie Beer
Bud Platinum is marketed as a good choice for beer drinkers looking for a refreshing taste with reduced calories and carbs compared to regular Budweiser. While not quite as low in carbs as ultra-light beers, it does have significantly fewer carbs and calories than full-strength lagers.
Nutrition Facts for Bud Platinum
To understand how many carbohydrates are in Bud Platinum, let’s take a look at the full nutrition facts for a 12 oz serving:
| Nutrition Facts | 12 oz Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 137 |
| Protein | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8.7 g |
| Sugar | 0.7 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
As you can see, a 12 oz serving of Bud Platinum contains 8.7 grams of carbohydrates. The majority of the carbs come from the grains used to brew the beer, including barley malt and rice. The beer also contains a very small amount of natural sugar at 0.7 grams per serving.
So in total, there are 8.7 net carbs in a standard bottle or can of Bud Platinum beer. This carb content makes it one of the lighter carb options among popular lager beers.
Bud Platinum Carb Count per Serving
Looking at the carb count per serving provides a clear picture of how many carbs you’ll get from different amounts of Bud Platinum:
- 12 oz serving (1 bottle or can): 8.7g carbs
- 16 oz pint: 11.6g carbs
- 24 oz large can: 17.4g carbs
- 40 oz “forty” bottle: 29g carbs
The carb content scales up or down directly with the serving size. So for a 16 oz pint, you’d consume around 11.6 grams of carbs, and a large 24 oz can would have about 17.4 grams. Even a 40 oz bottle still only contains 29 grams of total carbs.
This serving information makes it easy to accurately track your carb and calorie intake from Bud Platinum no matter how much you drink.
Bud Platinum Carbs Compared to Other Beers
To put Bud Platinum’s carb content into context, let’s see how it compares to some other popular beer brands and styles:
| Beer Type | Carbs (12oz Serving) |
|---|---|
| Bud Platinum | 8.7g |
| Regular Budweiser | 10.6g |
| Miller Lite | 3.2g |
| Corona Extra | 14g |
| Guinness Draught | 12.8g |
| IPA (Dogfish Head 60 Min) | 15.4g |
Compared to full-calorie lagers like regular Budweiser and Corona, Bud Platinum contains significantly fewer carbs. Its 8.7g of carbs per serving is roughly 20-40% lower than most standard lagers.
Among light beers, Bud Platinum does have more carbs than ultra-light options like Miller Lite (3.2g carbs), but fewer carbs than leading low-carb beers like Michelob Ultra (2.6g). So it ranks on the lower-carb end of popular light lagers.
Finally, Bud Platinum contains far fewer carbs than heavier beers styles like IPAs, stouts and ales. So if limiting carb intake is your goal, Platinum is a better choice than craft beers and imports.
Tips for Tracking Carbs When Drinking Bud Platinum
If you’re watching your overall carb intake, here are some useful tips for tracking and reducing carbs when drinking Bud Platinum:
– Pay attention to serving sizes – the carb counts are for 12oz servings. Pour into a measured glass or can to track servings accurately.
– Skip the beer battered foods! Avoid carb-laden snacks like fries, chips or pretzels to keep overall carbs low.
– Alternate with non-carb drinks like sparkling water to pace yourself. The fewer beers you drink, the fewer carbs you’ll consume.
– Opt for light beer whenever given a choice between regular and light brews. Light lagers like Platinum generally save you 5+ grams of carbs per drink.
– Be mindful of higher ABV beers like IPAs which tend to pack more carbs per serving due to higher alcohol content and added grains.
– Use low-carb meal planning and eat lighter the rest of the day. Just 8-12g of carbs per beer adds up quickly.
Does Bud Platinum Fit a Keto Diet?
The ketogenic or “keto” diet aims for ultra-low daily carb intake – usually 20-50g total per day. With nearly 9g carbs per bottle, can Bud Platinum fit into a keto lifestyle?
The answer is it depends. Here are some factors to consider:
– Stick to 1 serving max if aiming for under 20g total carbs. More than 1 beer likely pushes you over a very low-carb limit.
– Plan other keto meals carefully. Focus on low-carb proteins, healthy fats, and green veggies to save remaining carb “budget”.
– Drink early and pace yourself. Spread carb intake evenly across the day on keto, so the beer carbs don’t dominate.
– Choose lower carb mixers like soda water instead of juice, or drink Platinum on its own. Avoid adding extra sugary carbs.
– Consider an even lower carb beer like Michelob Ultra (2.6g carbs) if drinking more than 1-2 beers. Budget carbs carefully.
So while not the most keto-friendly beer, Platinum can potentially fit into a well-managed low-carb keto diet, especially if limited to a single serving. Focus on keeping net carbs under 20g each day.
Low-Carb Alternatives to Bud Platinum
If limiting carbs is your top concern and you want to explore options beyond Bud Platinum, here are some great low-carb beers with even fewer carbs to consider:
Michleob Ultra
With just 2.6g carbs, Michelob Ultra is the classic low-carb light beer choice. It’s a solid option if you’re strict about carb counts.
Miller Lite
Miller Lite contains only 3.2g of carbs, making it another nice light lager for a low-carb lifestyle.
Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty
This moderately-hopped IPA manages just 3.6g of carbs thanks to added monk fruit extract. A tasty low-carb craft beer option.
Brooklyn Special Effects
Weighing in at just 3.2g carbs, this innovative non-alcoholic craft lager is perfect if you want to cut carbs AND alcohol.
Busch Light
At only 3.2g carbs per 12 oz, Busch Light beats Bud Platinum as an option for low-carb drinkers on a budget.
So if you really want to minimize carbs, these light lagers and IPAs all edge out Bud Platinum slightly with under 4g per serving.
The Bottom Line
So how many carbs are in Bud Platinum? A 12 oz serving contains 8.7g of carbohydrates, primarily from cereal grains used in brewing. While not the lowest-carb beer around, Bud Platinum is relatively low in carbs compared to many regular lagers and craft beers.
It can fit into a low-carb diet like keto in moderation, but hardcore keto adherents may want to choose lighter options like Michelob Ultra or Miller Lite. Regardless of your diet, it’s always smart to account for “beer carbs” if weight loss or blood sugar management are your health goals.
