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Beer, wine and spiritsUSDA SR LegacyFDC 168749

Calories in light beer

USDA FoodData Central record for “Alcoholic beverage, beer, light” — per 100 g, per every USDA serving size, and next to the other beer, wine and spirits rows.

The short answer

Light beer: 29 kcal per 100 g. 1 can or bottle (12 fl oz) (354 g) is 103 kcal with 0.7 g of protein. Source: USDA FoodData Central record 168749, "Alcoholic beverage, beer, light".

Per 100 g

NutrientPer 100 gShare of energy
Energy29 kcal100%
Protein0.2 g3%
Fat0 g0%
Carbohydrate1.6 g22%
Alcohol75%

Light beer is 29 kcal per 100 g in USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). Of that energy, about 3% comes from protein, 0% from fat and 22% from carbohydrate, and 75% from alcohol. That works out to 0.7 g of protein per 100 kcalessentially not a protein source.

Per serving

The serving sizes USDA lists for this record, priced from the per-100 g figures above. Nothing here is rounded to a “portion” — the gram weight next to each label is what the calories are computed from.

ServingWeightCaloriesProteinFatCarbs
100 g100 g290.2 g0 g1.6 g
1 fl oz30 g90.1 g0 g0.5 g
1 can or bottle (12 fl oz)354 g1030.7 g0 g5.7 g

Compared with other beer, wine and spirits

Foodkcal / 100 gProtein / 100 gPer serving
Regular beer430.5 g153 kcal · 1 can
Light beer290.2 g103 kcal · 1 can or bottle (12 fl oz)
Table wine830.1 g123 kcal · 1 serving (5 fl oz)
Red wine850.1 g125 kcal · 1 serving (5 fl oz)
White wine820.1 g121 kcal · 1 serving (5 fl oz)
80-proof spirits (vodka, gin, rum, whiskey)2310 g97 kcal · 1 jigger (1.5 fl oz)

Other tables in beverages

The same numbers for the foods this one usually shares a plate — or a shopping list — with.

Questions about light beer

How many calories are in light beer?
Light beer: 29 kcal per 100 g. 1 can or bottle (12 fl oz) (354 g) is 103 kcal with 0.7 g of protein. Source: USDA FoodData Central record 168749, "Alcoholic beverage, beer, light".
How much protein is in light beer?
Light beer has 0.2 g of protein per 100 g and 0.7 g per 1 can or bottle (12 fl oz) (354 g). That is 0.7 g of protein per 100 kcal — essentially not a protein source.
Where do these calorie figures come from?
USDA FoodData Central record 168749, “Alcoholic beverage, beer, light” (SR Legacy, FDC SR Legacy 2018-04 + FNDDS 2024-10-31). Energy is USDA nutrient 1008 (Energy, kcal); protein, fat and carbohydrate are read from the same record. USDA data is in the public domain, and the FDC ID above links straight to it.

How calorie.one logs it

Type “light beer” into calorie.one and the app matches this exact record — “Alcoholic beverage, beer, light” — estimates the grams, and shows the line with its USDA label. You correct the amount; the per-100 g figure is never guessed. That split between recognition and arithmetic is the whole methodology. For the numbers in context, read Alcohol calories: beer, wine and spirits by the drink.

Related reading

Count with real numbers

Log “light beer” by typing it or photographing the plate; calorie.one looks it up in this same database and shows the line. Free, no ads.