If you’re diabetic and craving a beer, there are several factors to consider before reaching for a can or bottle.
Not only can consuming too much alcohol cause blood sugar to drop, but it can also interfere with medications like insulin and Metformin.
In general, sugar free non-alcoholic beers are a better option for diabetics because they do not contain alcohol. However, it’s essential to note that not all non-alcoholic beers are low in sugar, so make sure to choose those that are sugar-free and low in carbohydrates.
My favorite tasting non-alcoholic beer for diabetics is Partake Brewing Pale Ale. It has zero sugar, zero carbs, and just 10 calories a can. This makes it suitable for diabetics looking to avoid sugar, alcohol, and high carbs. Plus, it tastes amazing and is exactly what you’d expect from a crisp and refreshing pale ale.
Here are my recommendations for the best non-alcoholic beers for diabetics that taste good even without sugar. Every non-alcoholic beer on this list has less than one gram of sugar per serving and less than four grams of carbs per serving:
1. Partake Brewing Pale Ale
I often feature this sugar free, zero alcohol Partake Brewing Pale Ale in our articles because I adore it – I would even consider it as one of the best light beer for diabetics!
I’ve done a full tasting review of Partake Brewing Pale Ale that you can read here.
TL:DR: It doesn’t taste watery like other non-alcoholic beers, but it is not the most full-bodied NA beer either.
Instead, it has a crisp mouthfeel that leaves you feeling satisfied with each sip. I love the notes of orange zest and grapefruit as well.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
2. Bitburger 0.0
Bitburger 0.0 is a German lager with zero traces of alcohol and zero sugar added. It’s a great-tasting lager made in accordance with the German Purity Laws, so it is brewed with only four ingredients: water, malted barley, hops, and yeast.
Taste-wise, I like that it has a nice note of hops and subtle bitterness. The carbonation is just right and a touch of sour fruitiness.
Like many non-alcoholic German beers, it leans heavier on the wheat and barley and has 5.09 grams of carbohydrates per 100mL. If you’re watching your carb intake, the other non-alcoholic beers on the list have fewer carbohydrates.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States) and Dry Drinker (within the UK).
3. Budweiser Zero
For a zero-alcohol, zero-sugar beer that you can easily pick up on your way home, I recommend going for Budweiser Zero.
While I find that it is not the most flavorful alcohol-free beer, it wins in terms of convenience, with many supermarkets in the United States stocking it.
It tastes just like the regular Budweiser, which is a good thing if that’s what you’re after. If not, you might not be impressed by the taste profile.
However in a pinch, Bud Zero is a good sugar free option when you’re looking for a drink suitable for diabetics.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
4. Estrella Galicia 0.0
The Spanish lager Estrella Galicia 0.0 is the alcohol-free (and zero sugar) version of the brewery’s signature lager.
Brewed in the northwest of Spain, Estrella Galicia 0.0 was first released in 2011. It is crafted using a method called ‘interrupted fermentation,’ allowing the yeast to ferment for a maximum of 12 hours.
The aroma is what you’d expect from a European lager, and it pours a pale golden-yellow color. Taste-wise, I found it to be fairly malty with just a touch of bitterness.
While I don’t think the taste stands out significantly from other non-alcoholic lagers, it is a pretty decent alcohol-free and sugar-free lager.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States) and Dry Drinker (within the UK).
5. Drop Bear Beer Co. New World Lager
Another excellent diabetic-friendly beer comes from the UK’s Drop Bear Beer Co. A 330mL bottle of New World Lager contains 25 calories, 1.3 grams of carbohydrates, and 0.3 grams of sugar.
In terms of taste, the prominent flavor is biscuity malts, followed by caramel that contributes to an earthy, floral taste. Additionally, I can detect notes of lemon and grapefruit.
Although marketed as a lager, the bitterness in this beer might make it more appealing to fans of IPAs or British bitter beers.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Dry Drinker (within the UK).
Can Diabetics Drink Non-Alcoholic Beers?
Yes, diabetics can drink non-alcoholic beers, but I recommend choosing alcohol-free beers that are sugar-free and low in carbohydrates.
Even though non-alcoholic beers have little to no alcohol, they do contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates, as you probably know, are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and cause blood sugar levels to spike.
In other words, drinking non-alcoholic beer is similar to consuming other carbs like bread or biscuits. You don’t want to consume too much in one day, and you want to pick the option with the least amount of carbs.
If you have Type 1 diabetes, make sure to count the calories from the beer and adjust your food intake accordingly. You should also keep track of the carbs in the beer when determining how many units of insulin to take.
If you have Type 2 diabetes, make sure to fit the carbs from the beer into your “carb allowance” for the day.
Also Read: Know The Pros And Cons Of Non-Alcoholic Beer
Are All Non-Alcoholic Beers Safe For Diabetics?
Not all non-alcoholic beers are safe for diabetics. One of things you need to watch out for is the added sugar. These non-alcoholic beers will also contain more carbohydrates in the form of sugar than regular beer.
Adding sugar to beer might seem like an odd decision, but brewers do so to enhance the taste of the non-alcoholic beers, because flavor notes will get lost during the alcohol removal process.
While adding sugar might make sense from a flavor standpoint, it spells trouble for people watching their sugar and carbohydrate intake.
Finding non-alcoholic beers that are low in sugar and carbohydrates can be a long and tedious process. That’s why I’ve put together this helpful guide for you. Keep reading to see our recommended non-alcoholic beers that are safer for diabetics.
Also Read: 53 Best No-Sugar Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Tasted & Reviewed
Non-Alcoholic Beer And Metformin
If you have Type 2 diabetes, then you’re likely taking Metformin as an oral medication to lower your blood sugar levels.
When you’re taking Metformin, you have to avoid alcohol because alcohol lowers your blood sugar. If you consume alcohol while taking this medication, your blood sugar levels will drop to a dangerously low level.
Since some non-alcoholic beers have small traces of alcohol (up to 0.5% ABV), you should err on the side of caution and avoid low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beers when taking Metformin. We also highly recommend checking with your doctor first before consuming any alcohol-free beer.
Also Read: Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Diabetics You’ve Never Heard Of
What Is The Best Non-Alcoholic Drink For A Diabetic?
Water is always the best non-alcoholic drink for a diabetic, but we know that’s not what you want to hear from us!
Besides sugar free alcohol-free beers, we were excited to find Hoplark Teas and recommend them as another non-alcoholic drink for diabetics.
Hoplark makes non-alcoholic craft teas and seltzers that are hopped and crafted like beer. They have all of the hoppy flavors of an IPA without calories, sugar, or alcohol
They taste amazing and come in several flavors, including the Double Dry Hopped with Simcoe and Citra hops, tropical hibiscus, chamomile flowers, and others.
Check out our reviews of the different Hoplark HopTeas: The Green Tea One review, The Really Hoppy One Review, The Calm One Review, and The Mile-High-Biscus One Review.
Conclusion
If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and you’re looking for a sugar free non-alcoholic beer for diabetics, then I recommend picking one of the four recommended zero-alcohol and zero-sugar beers.
Alternatively, check out Hoplark for a hoppy non-beer alternative.