How many grams of sugar in a bud light

Posted: Feb 6, 2019 11:53 AM CST

NEW YORK (AP/CBS 58) — Bud Light is touting that it doesn't use corn syrup, but that doesn't make it nutritionally much different from its

competitors.

The best-selling beer in the U.S. ran a medieval-themed Super Bowl ad on Sunday night that mocked rivals Miller Lite and Coors Light for using the sweetener. Social media chatter over the ad got a boost when the National Corn Growers Association expressed its disapproval in a tweet.

MillerCoors has taken issue with the ad beginning an ad campaign of their own in the New York Times Tuesday morning. The MillerCoors ad clarifies the distinction between "corn syrup" which they use in their beer and "high fructose corn syrup" which they don't use in their beer. MillerCoors has named the debacle a "corntroversy". 

Sweeteners and starches can be used in the fermenting process to make beers, even if little remains in the end product. In fact, 12-ounce cans of Bud Light and Miller Lite list zero grams of sugar, while Coors Light lists 1 gram. Each has around 100 calories, with carbs ranging from about 3 to 7 grams.

Bud Light uses rice instead of corn syrup in its fermenting process, but does it matter what type of starch or sweetener is used?

Harry Schuhmacher, editor of Beer Business Daily, said the fermenting aids used to make lighter beers might result in slight differences in taste, but they generally serve the same purpose.

"You could use doughnuts if you wanted," he said.

Garrett Oliver, brewmaster for Brooklyn Brewery, said corn and rice are used in fermenting to lighten the overall character and flavor of beers, but he agreed that there was not much difference in the ingredients used for that purpose. He said the Bud Light ad seems to play into the unhealthy image of high-fructose corn syrup.

Corn syrup isn't exactly the same as table sugar or the high-fructose corn syrup used in many packaged foods, but that distinction is beside the point, because there's very little sugar content remaining in any light beer, said Bonnie Liebman of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

"The real problem is that many people don't think about the calories in alcoholic beverages," she said.

So why might rice be a superior ingredient than corn syrup for making beer? A Bud Light representative said in a statement that different recipes create different flavors, and that rice provides a "clean, crisp taste." The statement says it's up to consumers "to decide what beer is right for them."

Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch makes other beers that list corn syrup as an ingredient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bud Light Next?

At zero carbs, 80 calories and 4% ABV, Bud Light NEXT is a super crisp light beer with the stats for those who have long desired a beer that breaks the barriers of a traditional lager and offers the sessionability and stats of a seltzer.

How did you make a beer with zero carbs?

Does a magician ever share their secrets? Never!​
What we can share is - Through advances in techniques and technology, we have brewed a beer with zero carbs and a refreshing, super crisp flavor that we know you’ll love. Made with quality ingredients, including malted barley and rice.

What does Bud Light NEXT taste like?

Bud Light NEXT is super crisp, light and refreshing with unexpected amounts of flavor for being zero carbs.

Is Bud Light NEXT a beer or a hard seltzer? What makes Bud Light NEXT different from hard seltzer?

Bud Light NEXT is a brand-new super crisp, zero-carb beer, brewed with the tradition and legacy of Bud Light but created for a generation that wants a more interesting, equally refreshing, and lower carb and calorie beer option.​

What are the ingredients in Bud Light NEXT?

Water, Malt, Rice, Natural Flavors

Is Bud Light NEXT made with artificial ingredients and flavoring?​

We would never compromise on quality ingredients or taste to give people the super crisp, light, zero-carb beer that they have been waiting for.

Is it made for people who are dieting?​

No. We introduced Bud Light NEXT to meet the evolving tastes of our consumers, who lead highly active and on-the-go lifestyles and desire more interesting, equally refreshing drink with lower carbs and lower calories.​​

The simple answer is no, beer does not contain sugar. This is surprising to many people because beer has a reputation as a beverage that will pack on the pounds and stretch out your waistline, creating the dreaded beer belly. But if we look at how the drink is made, you’ll understand why beer’s sugar content is nonexistent. 

Beer is made from water, grain, hops, and yeast. The grain — which is usually malted barley — is the source of the sugar. On its own, it’s quite sweet. This is where the yeast comes in; these microorganisms enable the fermentation of the sugars in the malted barley, forming alcohol. The hops add the bitterness that is characteristic of beer. 

So, does beer have sugar in it? This process shows us that the sugar in beer is actually turned into alcohol. So beer doesn’t have sugar exactly, but it does have carbohydrates.

Take a quiz

Find out what you can do with our Health Assistant

If you’re considering another alcoholic beverage to replace beer, wine might be at the top of your list. If so, you might be wondering how the amount of sugar in wine compares to beer sugar.

While we’ve already established that beer doesn’t contain sugar, the same can’t be said for wine. A single serving of standard table wine has just over a gram of sugar in it. However, there are many varieties of wines, so their sugar levels vary. The sweeter the wine, the greater the sugar content.

If we look at the way wine is made, this disparity in sugar levels makes more sense. Wineries make wine by fermenting grapes. If the skins are left on, we get red wine. White wine is the result when they only ferment the grape juice. This fermentation process will use most of the sugar present in the grapes.

However, some wines are much sweeter than others. This is because the winemaker can add sugar to change the taste of the wine. Dessert wines, for example, contain eight grams of sugar in a single serving. Similarly, a white Zinfandel Rosé can clock in at five grams of sugar per serving.

So if you’re comparing how much sugar is in a can of beer versus a glass of wine, you’ll find the beer has less sugar.

While the sugar content in beer is zero, other alcoholic drinks can contain a lot of sugar, especially mixed drinks and liqueurs. The former includes popular choices like daiquiris, margaritas, and piña coladas. Some mixed drinks even have soda added to them, which can affect your teeth. As a result, mixed drinks can contain as much as 30 grams of sugar in just one serving. The liqueurs also contain sugar added by the distiller to enhance the flavor and taste.

Consuming sugar in large quantities can easily lead to weight gain, which can lead to certain medical conditions. Many people tend to enjoy several drinks in a sitting, consuming large amounts of sugar without even realizing it.

This high intake of sugar can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. People with this condition have blood sugar levels that are too high for their insulin production to control. The development or worsening of this kind of diabetes is one of the most serious dangers of consuming too much sugar.

Sure, you can, but should you? Generally, the purpose of a diet is to cut the calories you’re consuming. Earlier, we discussed the amount of sugar in beer and found that this alcoholic beverage contains none — but that doesn’t mean it’s low in calories.

The reality is that beer contains quite a few calories, owing to its large amount of carbohydrates. Beer contains a relatively small percentage of alcohol because not all the carbohydrates are fermented. In contrast, liquors like vodka and gin contain no sugar and fewer carbohydrates because almost all of them are fermented.

If you’re watching your calorie intake, it’s important to factor in liquid calories. In fact, drinking a few beers a day can add hundreds of unnecessary calories.

Some people practice certain diets to support different goals and needs besides weight loss. It’s important to follow a healthy, balanced diet when you’re pregnant. However, pregnancy usually brings cravings for certain foods. Alcohol isn’t good for a developing baby, so it’s best not to drink beer during pregnancy — or any other alcoholic drink.

Interestingly, some studies have shown contradictory information regarding moderate alcohol intake and periods. Several studies found no definite connection between moderate alcohol intake and the regularity of a person’s cycle. However, clear research has indicated that binge drinking and chronic alcohol abuse can interfere with a cycle’s regularity. For these reasons, along with others, some people choose to avoid alcohol entirely.

Is there a lot of sugar in beer?

Is Bud Light OK diabetic?

What beer has the least amount of sugar?

Does light beer have a lot of sugar?