Keystone Light is one of the most popular economy light beers in the United States. It is produced by the Molson Coors Brewing Company and is advertised as a light lager with a smooth, refreshing taste. But many people wonder – is Keystone Light actually a low carb beer?
What is Keystone Light?
Keystone Light belongs to the economy beer segment, which means it is priced lower than premium beer brands. Economy beers achieve lower costs by using cheaper ingredients like rice or corn rather than barley malt. They also have lower alcohol content – Keystone Light contains 4.1% ABV.
The “light” designation means the beer has fewer calories and carbohydrates than regular Keystone beer. Light beers reduce calories and carbs through two main methods:
– Using a lower gravity brewing process to produce a lower alcohol content
– Adding more water to dilute the beer and reduce calorie density
So Keystone Light is brewed to be a lighter, more drinkable version of Keystone at a budget-friendly price point.
Nutrition Facts for Keystone Light
Here are the nutrition facts for a 12oz can of Keystone Light:
| Calories | 92 |
| Carbohydrates | 3.2 g |
| Protein | 0.8 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
As you can see, a 12oz serving contains only 92 calories and 3.2 grams of carbohydrates.
How does this compare to other light beers? Here are the carb counts for some popular light brews:
– Bud Light – 6.6g carbs
– Miller Lite – 3.2g carbs
– Coors Light – 5g carbs
– Michelob Ultra – 2.6g carbs
So Keystone Light is on the lower end for carbs compared to other mainstream light lagers. Michelob Ultra has the least amount of carbs, but Keystone Light beats out Bud Light, Miller Lite, and Coors Light.
Is 3.2g of Carbs Considered Low Carb?
What constitutes a low carb beer? There is no official definition, but most sources consider a beer low carb if it contains:
– 5 grams of carbs or less per 12oz serving
– Under 100 calories per 12oz serving
With 3.2 grams of carbs and 92 calories per serving, Keystone Light falls into the low carb beer category according to these guidelines.
It has around half the amount of carbs compared to regular 4-5% abv lagers, which normally have 6-10 grams of carbs. Non-light beer brands like Budweiser, Corona, and Guinness all have double the carbs or more versus Keystone Light.
So while it’s not the absolute lowest carb option, Keystone Light definitely qualifies as a low carb beer relative to regular full-calorie beers.
How Many Carbs are in a Keystone Light 30 Pack?
Keystone Light is very commonly sold in 30 packs containing 12oz cans. Here’s a breakdown of the total carbs in a 30 pack:
– Carbs per 12oz can: 3.2g
– Cans per 30 pack: 30
– Total carbs per 30 pack: 3.2 * 30 = 96g
So a 30 pack of Keystone Light contains around 96 grams of total carbohydrates. For comparison:
– Bud Light 30 pack = 198g carbs
– Miller Lite 30 pack = 96g carbs
– Coors Light 30 pack = 150g carbs
Again, this shows Keystone Light 30 packs have lower total carbs than leading competitors. Miller Lite ties it at 96g per 30 pack.
Tips for Enjoying Keystone Light on a Low Carb Diet
Here are some tips if you are watching carbohydrate intake but still want to enjoy an occasional Keystone Light:
– Stick to 1-2 cans per day max to keep within low carb limits
– Be diligent about counting carbs from other meals and snacks
– Substitute Keystone Light for higher carb alcoholic drinks
– Avoid mixers like juice, soda, or beer cocktails which spike carbs
– Alternate with straight liquors like whiskey, vodka, tequila which are zero carbs
– Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
– Eat a low carb diet the rest of the day to account for the beer carbs
Moderation is key – you can drink Keystone Light on a low carb diet, just be mindful of your overall carb limit for the day.
Low Carb Diet Benefits
Why do people follow low carb diets in the first place? Here are some of the top benefits:
– Reduces blood sugar and insulin levels
– Leads to weight and body fat loss, especially around the midsection
– Decreases triglycerides and improves cholesterol
– Helps control appetite and reduce calorie intake
– May reduce risk factors for diabetes and metabolic syndrome
– Ketogenic diets are used therapeutically for conditions like epilepsy
Low carb diets have been shown in many studies to have powerful health benefits. That’s why people are conscious of carbs from all sources including drinks like beer.
Should You Choose Keystone Light for Weight Loss?
Alcohol in general is high in calories, so beer is not the optimal choice if weight loss is your main goal.
However, among alcoholic beverages, light beer is one of the better options calorie-wise. Keystone Light only has 92 calories per 12oz serving.
For comparison, here are calories of some other drink choices:
| Bud Light | 110 calories |
| Miller Lite | 96 calories |
| Coors Light | 102 calories |
| 5 oz Red Wine | 125 calories |
| 1.5 oz Vodka | 100 calories |
| 1.5 oz Whiskey | 105 calories |
Among the light beers, Keystone Light and Miller Lite are tied for the lowest calorie options. And light beer has fewer calories than a typical glass of wine or shot of liquor.
So if you are going to occasionally drink alcohol during a diet, Keystone Light is a good lower calorie choice. But for maximum weight loss it’s best to limit or avoid alcohol altogether.
Low Carb Alternatives to Keystone Light
If you want to cut carbs more, here are some even lower carb alternatives to Keystone Light:
– **Michelob Ultra** – 2.6g carbs, 95 calories
– **Bud Select 55** – 1.8g carbs, 55 calories
– **Miller 64** – 2.4g carbs, 64 calories
– **Busch Light** – 3.2g carbs, 95 calories
– **Natural Light** – 3.2g carbs, 95 calories
– **Coors Peak** – 2.6g carbs, 99 calories
These “extra light” beers have marginally fewer carbs and calories than Keystone Light. Michelob Ultra and Bud Select 55 are the winners when it comes to the lowest carb and calorie light beers.
Besides light beer, you can also consider:
– **Hard seltzers** like White Claw – 2g carbs, 100 calories
– **Dry wines** like Pinot Grigio – 3g carbs, 120 calories per 5oz
– **Distilled liquors** like vodka, whiskey, tequila – 0g carbs
While these drinks are not beer, they are low carb alcoholic beverages. Always drink in moderation.
The Bottom Line
Keystone Light does qualify as a low carb beer, with 3.2 grams of carbs and 92 calories per 12oz serving. While not the lowest carb option, it still fits a low carb lifestyle in moderation. It has fewer carbs and calories than full calorie beers and many other alcoholic drinks.
If weight loss is the goal, be mindful of overall alcohol consumption. But an occasional Keystone Light can fit into a low carb nutrition plan when accounted for. Enjoy responsibly and in combination with low carb eating for the rest of your meals.
