The Blue Moon Brewing Company’s Belgian White is a popular beer across the United States. Blue Moon is a subsidiary of MillerCoors, a major brewing company in the United States and Canada. Its bold, hoppy flavor and easy drinkability have made it a huge hit among many devoted drinkers. Because of this beer’s enormous popularity, many wonder how many carbs and calories are in a standard bottle of Blue Moon. You’ve come to the right place if you consider yourself part of that group.
A standard 12 fl. oz can (or 355 mL) of Blue Moon Belgian White Ale has 168 calories and 14.1 grams of carbs. As a European-style ale, it’s heavier in calories and carbs than many lagers that American drinkers are familiar with.
This is far from the whole story when it comes to the Belgian White’s calories. If you want to know all about this tasty beer, read on! By the end of this article, you’ll have a full blue moon’s worth of knowledge about this popular craft-style beer.
How Many Calories In Blue Moon Belgian White (5.4% ABV)? Explained
Blue Moon Belgian White has 168 calories in each standard-sized 12oz bottle. This includes 14.1 grams of carbohydrates and 1.9 grams of protein, an unusually high volume of protein compared to other beers.
This beer’s higher carb and protein count is a product of the same process that gives it its name. Belgian-style white ales are so named because of their cloudy, opaque appearance. This comes from the various microscopic suspended wheat and yeast proteins present in the beer, which make the beer look hazy or white when chilled.
The presence of these proteins also accounts for the higher calorie count of this beer.
Compared with other beers, Blue Moon Belgian White is more calorific than MillerCoors’ other bestselling beers like Miller and Coors. It’s definitely far more calorific than any of the brewing company’s light lagers or low-alcohol alternatives.
Blue Moon’s ingredients include malted barley, white wheat, orange peel, coriander, and oats. This is a diverse range of ingredients compared to many other American beers but is fairly standard for the witbier style. Belgian white beers are usually flavored with orange peel and herbs rather than hops, accounting for this beer’s distinctive flavor. It’s definitely more full-bodied and flavorsome than other American beers, far more so than most lagers or light lagers on the market. Of course, that comes with a higher calorie count, which is always worth remembering before you reach for your next Blue Moon Belgian White.
How Many Calories Compared To Other American Beers?
Blue Moon, as a beer produced by major brewer MillerCoors, can be compared with other macrobrewed beverages. Its 168 calories put it far ahead of even the heaviest American lagers, like Budweiser at 145 calories or Corona Extra at 148. We’ve also included some European-style beers like Hoegaarden and Hefeweizen for reference.
| Shock Top | 167 Calories |
| Budweiser | 145 Calories |
| Hoegaarden | 176 Calories |
| Pyramid Hefeweizen | 145 Calories |
| Spotted Cow | 150 Calories |
As you can see, the 168 calories in Blue Moon Belgian White is far heavier than American lagers and heavier than similar beers like Spotted Cow or Pyramid Hefeweizen. However, it is not as calorific as Hoegaarden, another popular beer of the style, which boasts a whopping 176 calories per bottle.
How Much Sugar In Blue Moon Belgian White?
It is difficult to answer this question precisely because United States alcohol labeling regulations do not require manufacturers to list the sugar content of their beverages.
However, given that Blue Moon Belgian White is brewed using ingredients high in sugar, like fruit, it’s worth looking at whether this beer can have any sugar in it. Indeed, its bright, citrus-forward flavor suggests some amount of fructose in the beer for a start.
Although sugary ingredients, including orange peel, are used to make Blue Moon Belgian White, much of this sugar is used up in the process of turning the ingredients into beer. It is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide, so this beer has little to no sugar in it.
However, Blue Moon Belgian White is usually served with an orange garnish. A slice of orange will add a few grams of sugar to your beer.
Is There Fat In Blue Moon?
As a general rule, you can assume that your favorite beer contains no fat. There are few, if any, fatty ingredients in the brewing process. Fat is generally not a major consideration in a beer’s nutrition information.
As a side note, fats in beer have a negative effect on the beer’s head. The fat will prevent a foamy head from forming, affecting the beer’s taste and making it go flat faster.
Is Blue Moon Belgian White Keto-Friendly/Low Carb?
The real answer to this question depends on your own personal health goals. However, you can safely assume that Blue Moon’s flagship beer is probably not a great choice for a low-carb diet.
Typically, low-carb diets restrict daily carb intake to 100-150 calories. This low calorie count means that the 14.1 grams of calories in a bottle of Blue Moon Belgian White will take up more than 10% of your daily carb allocation. That won’t tip you over the limit at the end of the day, but you’d likely need to stop at one. It’s also worth noting that adding a slice of orange to your Blue Moon can increase the carbohydrate content, if not by much.
However, if you’re looking at a keto diet, your carb intake will be far more restrictive. Keto diets demand that you get the overwhelming majority of your daily calories from protein and fats. Keto diets can have a daily carb allowance of 20-50 grams. At the low end, a single Blue Moon would take up more than two-thirds of your carb allowance for the day.
Is Blue Moon Belgian White A Healthier Beer?
Whether Blue Moon is a healthy beer for you depends on your own health goals. If you’re aiming to cut carbs and calories, a carb-heavy, calorific ale might not be the best place to turn.
As a high-ABV ale, Blue Moon Belgian White is going to be high in calories and carbs. Most of the calories in beer come from the alcohol content, so Blue Moon’s calorie count is correspondingly high.
If you’re looking for a similar alternative, Blue Moon Brewing offers a similar beer in a lighter style, the Light Sky. This is a 4.0% ABV beer with only 95 calories, so it might be worth considering.
