If you have diabetes, drinking is safe in moderation, but you have to pay attention to alcohol’s effect on your blood sugar as part of your blood sugar management strategy.
Alcoholic beverages, including regular beer, tend to be high in carbohydrates. And carbohydrates can cause blood glucose levels to surge.
So, the best beer for diabetics tends to be on the lighter side. Usually, that means they’re lower in standard alcohol content as well as carbohydrates.
But as this list will demonstrate, that’s not always the case. Light beers come in various styles with different alcohol contents.
Whether you prefer lagers, Saisons, or IPAs, there’s a low-carb beer for you. Below, we list 13 of our favorite beer brands, all perfect for diabetic drinkers.
Lagunitas Daytime IPA
- ABV: 4%
- Carbs: 3g
Most IPAs are heavy, with high alcohol content and high carbs. That makes it hard to enjoy them when you’re watching your blood sugar.
Lagunitas Daytime IPA is different. It’s a light IPA, so it’s a safer beer for people with diabetes.
But just because it’s light doesn’t mean this beer sacrifices flavor. On the contrary, mild, crisp, and bright grass, lemon, and grapefruit notes linger after every sip.
The flavor is mild compared to other IPAs, but it’s certainly more complex than most typical light beers.
That makes Lagunitas Daytime IPA easy to drink and enjoy, even if you need to watch your carbohydrates.
Coors Light
- ABV: 4.2%
- Carbs: 5g
Coors Light by Coors Brewing Company is a classic that you’ll find at almost every game, show, and backyard BBQ. It’s a popular choice on hot days and long nights, with a light, refreshing, and mild flavor.
Compared to other light options, its carb content is a little high. But it’s still below Bud Light, which boasts 6.6 grams of carbs per bottle despite the similarity in flavor and style.
Coors Light is favored by many because it has a very mild flavor and light mouthfeel, making it easy to drink. But, it’s not for everybody.
As this tasting panel from the Daily Meal shows, some find Coors Light to taste “sweaty or horsey,” which doesn’t sound all that pleasant.
But if you like a refreshing pilsner-style beer, Coors Light remains a classic.
Devil’s Backbone Bright Tangerine
- ABV: 4.8%
- Carbs 2g
If you like sweet and fruity brews but need to watch your sugar intake, Devil’s Backbone Bright Tangerine from Surly Brewing Company is your perfect pick.
Brewers infuse blonde ale with fresh, ripe tangerines, creating a dry but bright flavor. If you could bottle the feeling of spring fading into summer, it would be this beer.
Surly Brewing Co. also removes the gluten from the finished product, making Devil’s Backbone Bright Tangerine safe for many on a gluten-free diet.
And, its extremely low carb count makes it ideal for those with diabetes or blood sugar concerns.
Despite its light and low-carb nature, this beer is full-bodied and satisfying. It hardly seems like a light beer at all, which is surprising, given its carb count!
Bud Light Platinum
- ABV: 6%
- Carbs: 4.4g
Most light beers, by their very nature, have a low ABV percentage. Bud Light Platinum is one of few exceptions.
For a light beer, Bud Light Platinum has an exceptionally high alcohol percentage at 6%, which means you can drink less of them before feeling an effect.
In terms of taste, this beer isn’t extraordinary. It’s light, refreshing, and easy to drink, as long as it’s ice cold.
Consider it a good activity beer, an ideal companion for golf or camping. If you’re looking for a light beer with complex or exciting flavors, though, you should look elsewhere.
Busch Light
- ABV: 4.3%
- Carbs: 3.2g
Anheuser-Busch might be most famous for its Budweiser line, but it actually owns over 100 brands. Busch is one of them.
Busch Light is a mild, pilsner-style beer with corn-like aromas and a light barley flavor.
Fans say they prefer Busch Light to Bud Light or Bud Light Platinum because it doesn’t have a sweet finish but still goes down smooth.
For an affordable, easy-to-drink, light, and refreshing beer, Busch Light is a great option. It’s not going to blow your mind flavorwise, but you could easily knock back a few of them.
Shiner Ruby Redbird
- ABV: 4%
- Carbs: 3g
Shiner Ruby Redbird features the famous Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit in its brewing process, creating a bold, fruit-forward brew.
When you first take a sip, a kick of ginger will hit your taste buds, followed by tart grapefruit flavors.
It’s so fruity that some argue it’s closer to a flavored seltzer than a proper beer, but Shiner Ruby Redbird is the real deal.
Brewed with 2-row and Munich Malts, this beer is an authentic American-style lager. So, it’s ideal for those who want a sweet and fruity beer but just can’t risk the extra sugar content.
Dogfish Slighty Mighty IPA
- ABV:4%
- Carbs:3.6g
Dogfish Head unlocked the secret to light beers with big flavor by using Monk Fruit.
Rather than relying heavily on malts, which increase carbohydrate and calorie content, Dogfish uses zero-calorie, super-sweet Monk Fruit in its brewing process.
Despite its light nature, this beer features all of the hop aromas you expect in an IPA. It also has the quintessential bitter flavors IPA-lovers have come to expect.
Under the bitterness, though, are tropical flavors like pineapple, coconut, and citrus fruits.
Together, this creates a beer that’s balanced, refreshing, and drinkable; it’s easy to enjoy more than one.
Shiner Light Blonde
- ABV: 4.2%
- Carbs:3.4g
If you want a beer that’s slightly more complex than your average American-style lager but still refreshing and crisp, look no further than Shiner’s Light Blonde.
This seasonal, Kosch-style beer is only available in spring, but if you can find it, it’s worth a try.
Shiner Light Blonde is light-bodied, slightly hoppy, and subtly sweet. It’s also highly carbonated, making it perfectly bubbly and refreshing on a warm spring day.
Better still, Shiner Light Blonde doesn’t have any post-beer after taste. Instead, it has a clean finish, making it perfect for a springtime picnic or day on the lake.
Allagash Saison
- ABV 6.1%
- Carbs: 4.8g
Saisons come to us from the French-speaking area of Belgium, where farmers brewed pale ale during the quieter winter months.
In the summer, the farmers would serve their brews to their seasonal help, known as Saisonniers.
For this reason, Saisons are known to be refreshing and satisfying after a hard day’s work. Allagash’s Saison is no exception.
Citrusy and just a little bitter, this saison features a spicy taste and tropical scent. It’s full-bodied with a bright finish, making it filling and refreshing at the same time.
It’s not a beer you’ll want more than one or two of at a time, but at 6.1% ABV, that’s probably fine!
Kona Light Blonde Ale
- ABV: 4.4%
- Carbs: 4g
Kona Light Blonde Ale provides a tropical take on the typical light brew. Light and full of spritz, this beer is ideal for drinking with fresh grilled fish on a beach at sunset.
But even if soft Hawaiian sands are out of reach, this beer is worth a try. It features caramel malts and a touch of mango, making it fruity, juicy, and fresh.
Enjoy it in your backyard or at the local watering hole. Even if you’re nowhere near Hawaii, you’ll soon find yourself relaxed and at ease, Aloha-style.
Corona Premier
- ABV: 4%
- Carbs: 2.6g
Corona Premier is a light beer favorite thanks to its bready taste and sweet floral nose.
At only 2.6 grams of carbohydrates, it’s safe for those watching their sugar intake. And, it’s shockingly refreshing on a hot day, especially with a twist of lime and a pinch of salt.
It’s not a complex beer, but it’s easy to drink and available almost everywhere beer is sold.
Saint Archer Gold Light Lager
- ABV: 4.2%
- Carbs: 2.6g
Saint Archer Gold Light Lager comes from sunny, southern California. The golden brew is as relaxed and easy to drink as the surf culture that created it.
Inspired by Helles lagers, traditional German brews, this light beer has more body and taste than you’d expect. It’s almost creamy on the tongue and very lightly carbonated.
The flavors taste a bit like freshly cut grass, white grapes, and pears. It’s perfect for a warm afternoon on the beach or at the pier.
Saint Archer Gold Light Lager pairs best with a grilled panini or sweet shellfish. So, even if you’re far from California’s beaches, be sure to try it alongside West Coast favorites.
Amstel Light
- ABV: 3.5%
- Carbs: 5g
Amstel Light is world-renowned but divisive. Some people love it, and others can’t stand it.
Those partial to Amstel Light describe it as rich, full, and earthy, despite being low carb. However, those who dislike Amstel say it’s medicinal and full of funk.
For those who like it, Amstel Light is a step-up from many other light beers. It’s medium-bodied with sweet honey malt flavors and moderate carbonation.
Its complexity makes it interesting to drink, rather than a one-note, light-bodied beverage.