Raise a glass if you’re ready for the weekend: or more specifically, St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
If you’re watching your weight, though, it can be hard to find a brew that won’t contribute to a gut and still…tastes like a beer.
So we consulted the experts for the best way to satisfy your thirst at the bar for under 200 calories a glass. According to Chris Swersey, the technical brewing projects coordinator at the Brewers Association who monitors beer and health for the Association, stouts are a good option. You might think they’re high in calories because they’re dark and full-flavored. “But beers in this style actually tend to be relatively lower in alcohol and carbohydrates than other craft styles, and therefore lower in calories,” he says.
We found seven that strike the balance between calories and taste, and enlisted our TIME colleagues to participate in a brew-off. Overall, we were pretty impressed with these “lighter” beers. “The good news for beer drinkers is that there are plenty of craft brewed Irish dry stout style beers that are low in calories, and great alternatives to the usual imports,” says Swersey. Click on for the results of the taste-test. Cheers!
(MORE: Happy Oktoberfest! Tapping into the Health Benefits of Beer)
