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by 
A decade or so ago, the "light beer" world was about as exciting as the world of "low-fat potato chips" or "gluten-free cookies." In fact, light beers called themselves "lite," as if exchanging a "gh" for a "t" could act as some marketing slight of hand to distract you from what these beers actually were: weaker substitutes.
Light—excuse me—Lite beers continued to hold popularity throughout the craft beer boom of the 2000s, but as one camp separated by drawn battle lines. Lite beers came from big "macro" breweries—Goliaths of the industry. Non-lite beers (double IPAs, saisons, porters) came from scrappy "micro" breweries, underdog Davids.
And, David, for the most part, prevailed. Or, is in the process of prevailing, rather. Craft beer sales continued to grow, even though overall beer sales dropped in 2019, according to the Brewers Association.
Onward chugs craft beer—which brings us back to low-calorie, "light" offerings. Within the last five years, craft breweries have turned their expertise toward beer styles previously considered too mass-market to touch. Namely, light beers.
It might surprise you that many of these lower-calorie beers actually taste really, really good. But it shouldn't, largely because the craft breweries making them now have a solid track record of fine-tuning delicious offerings. So, by now, any style they touch largely turns to gold.
And that means that right now, we're living in the golden age of light craft beer. These 10 picks are proof.
This here is your introductory craft light beer. It pours and tastes like Miller Lite—golden yellow and super-crisp—but without the cloying aftertaste. If Miller Lite is refreshing, this is refreshing-er.
4.3% ABV, 120 calories (for comparison, here and throughout, Miller Lite is 4.2% and 96 calories)
This straightforward light lager from a Wisconsin craft brewing stalwart has a little more backbone to it than your typical Bud Light. That's because the Bud cuts it's barley with rice. New Glarus doesn't and adds a slight pop provided by Noble hops. Simple. Crisp. Smoooooooth.
4.2% ABV, 130 calories
In 2016, Dogfish Head released SeaQuench Ale, a game-changing gose brewed with black limes and sea salt that drank light at 4.9% ABV and 140 calories.
Two years later, spurred by the success of SeaQuench, the brewery pushed further into the lighter side with a 4% ABV, 95-calorie ... India Pale Ale. The IPA, sweetened a touch with monkfruit, still stands as one of the most widely available, wildly dynamic light beers.
4% ABV, 95 calories
The New York brewers famous for their demonically delicious Pumking Imperial, do have a softer side. Yet even though this beer is more than half the ABV of that now-iconic pumpkin beer, it's definitely not boring. You can credit the combo of Citra and Mosaic hops, two varieties which you'll often find in many strong IPAs.
4 % ABV, 110 calories
This Oregon brewery built its reputation with help from their legendary Black Butte Porter. This beer may be that beer's polar opposite—fuzzy-sunshine-yellow in color, peppy in flavor, and easygoing. You'd drink Black Butte on a Sunday night to reflect upon a weekend well spent. And you'd have spent the weekend drinking WOWZA!
4% ABV, 100 calories
Unless you've been living underneath a fermentation vessel, you've tasted a Bell's Two Hearted Ale. This version pulls way back on the original's 7% ABV, folds in some Galaxy hops, and nearly halves the calories. Plenty of beers go well with grilled foods. This here beer pairs perfectly with the act of grilling.
3.7% ABV, 110 calories
The itty-bitty ABV on this beer may make you scoff. Is this really even beer? But for such a meager calorie count you'll be shark-attacked by how much flavor resides within the drink. It's luscious, and slightly peppery, with a tinge of citrus.
2.7% ABV, 81 calories
Yeah, wild, right? This can delivers a kick of ooooooooweeeeee with a little big of mmmmmhhhhmmm at the end. It's sour-tart, slightly sweet, and powerfully refreshing. Lots of flavor for not that many kcals.
4.2% ABV, 126 calories
People forget about Guinness and you shouldn't forget about Guinness. Just because it's a stout doesn't mean that it's rich in calories. In fact, Guinness Draught has the exact ABV and calories as the last beer. Crazy, huh? Don't you forget it.
4.2% ABV, 126 calories
Technically, any beer less than 0.5% ABV is considered "non-alcoholic." Near-beer used to taste awful. Now, under the direction of highly skilled craft breweries like Brooklyn, they can taste amazing. This one has a zip of hops, with an even follow-through of malt.
Paul is the Food & Nutrition Editor of Men’s Health. He’s also the author of two cookbooks: Guy Gourmet and A Man, A Pan, A Plan.
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