5 Charlotte low-calorie craft beers that taste better than Bud Select 55
Summer is almost here, which means you might be thinking more about the amount of calories you’re drinking on those beautiful brewery patios.
No worries. I’m here to offer you some choices at local Charlotte breweries that’ll reduce your chances of expanding that beer belly.
Let it be known, though, that breweries operate differently than restaurants. Brewing establishments aren’t required to publish how much calories are in their craft beer and some brewers I talked to didn’t know the exact calorie count.
For fewer calories, stick to the brews that have a low ABV (alcohol by volume) level, the brewers said. A 3-4.5% level is best to drink for a full afternoon out at a brewery, but if you love them strong — in the +7% range — just drink one … maybe two if you did your morning workout.
A look at some of the lower-calorie options at local breweries:
Legion Brewing – The Carolina Sparkle Party Berliner Weisse
Calories: 125
ABV: 4%
The Carolina Sparkle Party Berliner Weisse uses a “traditional Kettle Sour brewing method with a hint of Brettanomyces to add depth and tartness to this light German Wheat Beer,” according to the website. Sparkle Party has a refreshing, lemony-citric fruit taste with no hoppy bitterness.
Soon, Legion will be making “Beermosas” by adding orange juice to the Sparkle Party, so you can just stick with a few of these and skip that high calorie brunch meal.
NoDa Brewing – Par 4 Session IPA
Calories: ??
ABV: 4%
Par 4 Session IPA is a newer brew in the NoDa Brewing line of beers and it’s the lowest ABV beer they currently serve. Par 4 is made with nearly four pounds of select West Coast hops per barrel and mashed with oats to have a smooth, balanced body. Starting in mid-May, you can pick up Par 4 in cans before going to play some disc golf.
Birdsong Brewing — Doin’ Thyme Witbier
Calories: Fewer than 200
ABV: 4.3%
Doin’ Thyme Witbier is a Belgian-style witbier with fresh thyme, lemon peel and coriander, and it’s under 200 calories. Another option is the ever-popular Jalapeno Pale Ale that has slightly more than 200 calories.
Going to @knightsbaseball tonite? Doin' Thyme Wit is in the Crafts Of The Queen City Bar #cltbeer @birdsongbrewing pic.twitter.com/nASaOOyA9F
— Crown Town Craft (@CrownTownCraft) April 29, 2016
Triple C Brewing — Golden Boy Blonde Ale
Calories: ??
ABV: 4.5%
The Golden Boy Blonde Ale conveniently comes in summer-friendly four-packs of 16-ounce cans. Also, the Light Rail Pale Ale (ABV 4.5%) is another lighter offering to choose in the taproom.
A post shared by Triple C Brewing Co. (@triplecbrewing) on Mar 22, 2016 at 8:19am PDT
Sugar Creek Brewing – White Ale
Calories: About 160
ABV: 4.9%
The Sugar Creek White Ale six-pack is perfect for the pool and has approximately 160 calories per 12 ounce serving. (Master brewer Todd Franklin also estimates 11 grams of carbohydrates and about 70 calories from carbs.) The Sugar Creek beer engineers add a pinch of yeast right before the bottle is closed, kick starting a second fermentation process.
Looking for the perfect beer for summer? Now in bottles, growlers & pony kegs-> https://t.co/Yo2zI8qfcT pic.twitter.com/WrEQONsz23
— Sugar Creek Brewing (@sugarcreekbrew) May 7, 2016
So remember: Drink in moderation and choose a lower-ABV craft beer if you’re looking for fewer calories. And mix in some zero-calorie waters during your craft beer drinking afternoon to keep you hydrated and fill you up.
Photo: Courtesy of Sugar Creek Brewing Company
This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 12:12 AM with the headline "5 Charlotte low-calorie craft beers that taste better than Bud Select 55."