How Many Calories Does Michelob Ultra Have? (4 Beers Analyzed)

If you are part of the growing group of beer drinkers who want to be more conscious of their health, it is no surprise you have heard of Michelob Ultra. Since its launch in 2002, Michelob Ultra has taken the beer world by storm, targeting those who want to enjoy a beer but are also careful about what they put in their body. If you are an athlete or want to be more conscious of your calorie intake, we’ll tell you about the number of calories in Michelob Ultra below. In short;

Michelob Ultra (4.2% ABV) has 95 calories per 12 fl. oz, with 2.6 grams of carbs. Michelob Ultra Pure Gold, the organic version, has 85 calories. Michelob Ultra Amber Max, which is the same beer, but gluten-free, has 99 calories. Lastly, there are the Michelob Ultra Infusions, which each have 95 calories.

However, there is more to know about the nutrition facts of these beers. If you want to learn more about the calories, nutrition facts, and all other information to choose the best beer for you, continue reading.

How Many Calories In Michelob Ultra (4.2% ABV) (Explained)?

Michelob Ultra has 95 calories per 12 fl. oz (355 ml), consisting of 2.6 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein, and 0 grams of fat. A 16 fl. oz bottle (473 ml) has 130 calories, with 4 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, and 0 grams of fat.

As expected from a lager, this beer is brewed with barley, rice, hops, and water. However, what is surprising, is the fact that Michelob does not add any sugars, like glucose, corn syrup, or rice.

This is surprising as light lagers are generally brewed with fewer hops and barley, leaving the product before fermentation (also called the wort) with less natural sugars. These sugars are essential in fermentation, as they are eaten by the yeast and then converted into alcohol.

To aid the process, many thus choose to add some form of sugar. For Michelob Ultra, this clearly wasn’t necessary. Omitting the sugar does not result in fewer calories than its competitors, but Michelob Ultra does end up having a lower carb count.

Additionally, the company that owns Michelob Ultra, Anheuser-Busch, works with over 700 US-based farmers to create their products. With Anheuser-Busch being the largest user of hops for brewing in the world and the largest end-user of rice, this is a big deal.

How Many Calories Compared To Other Light Lagers?

Let’s compare Michelob Ultra to other light lagers. Indeed, with the brand positioning itself as more health-conscious than other brands, they must have fewer calories too, right? Wrong.

With 99 calories per 12 fl. oz, they have the same amount as most other light beers on the market. The only light beer with slightly more calories is Bud Light, with 110 calories per 12 fl. oz.

Additionally, Michelob Ultra has an ABV of 4.2%, which is precisely on par with other light lagers. The only widely sold light beer with a lower ABV is Heineken light, which has 3.3% ABV (and added glucose).

Thus, if you’re only choosing Michelob Ultra because of the calories, feel free to grab another light lager instead.

However, Michelob is probably the best option if you are also concerned about the carb count. Michelob Ultra has 2.6 grams of carbs per 12 fl. oz, whereas its counterparts have double, sometimes triple, that amount.

For example, there are 7 grams of carbs in Heineken Light, 6.6 grams in Bud Light, 5 grams in Coors light, and 3.2 grams in both Miller Light and Busch Light.

How Many Calories In Michelob Ultra Pure Gold (3.8% ABV)?

Michelob Ultra Pure Gold has 85 calories per 12 fl. oz, made up of 2.5 grams of carbs, 0,5 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat.

Per 16 fl. oz, you’re looking at 113 calories, 3.3 grams of carbs, 0.8 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat.

Interestingly, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold is the first nationally available, USDA-certified, organic beer on the market. It was launched in 2018 and was initially only brewed in one of the 12 Anheuser-Busch breweries. After all, to produce a USDA-certified organic beer, you need a USDA-certified brewery. For Anheuser-Busch, their brewery in Cartersville, GA, was the first.

It is challenging to compare Michelob Ultra Pure Gold with its competitors simply because there aren’t many organic light beers that are widely available. There is, however, Coors Pure, which has the same ABV of 3,8%. It has slightly more calories and carbs than Michelob Ultra Pure Gold. The exact facts for Coors Pure are 92 calories per 12 fl. oz, 3.5 grams of carbs (no added sugar), 1.2 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat.

Thus, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold would be the better option if we are looking at calories and carbs only. If it also tastes better is up to you to decide.

How Many Calories In Michelob Ultra Amber Max (4% ABV)?

Speaking of unusual properties in beer, apart from an organic light beer, Michelob Ultra also has a gluten-free option. Michelob Ultra Amber Max has an ABV of 4%, with 99 calories, 4.8 grams of carbs, and 0 grams of fat and protein per 12 fl. oz.

Per 16 fl. oz, this ends up being 132 calories, with 6.4 grams of carbohydrates and still 0 grams of fat and protein.

To be gluten-free, barley and hops needed to be avoided. As a result, this beer is made with oats and rye, both gluten-free options. Another interesting ingredient in Michelob Ultra Amber Max is blue agave. As this beer is both a light lager and gluten-free, it only makes sense they added those added sugars in the form of agave to give the beer some of its flavors back. This does, however, result in a higher amount of carbs.

If you’re not allergic to gluten and only have a slight intolerance, it might be interesting to know that lagers are lower in gluten than other beers, especially light lagers. This is because some gluten-containing grains like barley and hops are replaced with rice or corn, both gluten-free. Still, with gluten intolerance, enjoy these beers at your own risk.

How Many Calories In Michelob Ultra Infusions (4% ABV)?

Michelob Ultra has also jumped on the bandwagon of flavored light beers. Their version is called Infusions and is flavored with lime and prickly pear cactus. This beer has 95 calories and 4.8 grams of carbs per 12 fl. oz.

In comparison, Bud Light Peels beers range from 116 – 149 calories per 12 fl. oz, depending on the flavor you get. These beers also have a significantly higher amount of carbs; between 8 – 16 grams of carbs, and a slightly higher ABV at 4.2%.

Samuel Adams’ closest equivalent, Porch Rocker, has 140 calories with 10 grams of carbs, and an ABV of 4.5%