How Many Calories In Guinness? (Explained)

With the average beer drinker becoming more health-conscious, we are also requesting to know more about how our beer is made and what exactly is in it. Guinness is often perceived as a high-calorie beer, as a result of its creamy mouthfeel, and strong taste. Luckily, this isn’t entirely true, depending on the version that you’re drinking. In a nutshell;

Guinness Draught has 125 calories, while the Foreign Extra Stout has 194 calories per 12 fl. oz. Moreover, the Hop House 13 Lager has 124.25 calories, Baltimore Blonde has 167 calories and Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Beer has 114 calories per 12 fl. oz. Guinness 0 is the lowest in calories, with 57 per 12 fl. oz.

However, there is more to know about the nutrition facts of these beers. Continue reading to find out more about the calories and ingredients of these beers as well as how many carbs, fat, and protein they have. If you’re looking to find the best beer for you, we’ll also compare the beers to their counterparts.

Guinness Draught

Let’s start with the most common Guinness variety; Draught. This stout beer has 125 calories per 12 fl. oz, and 167 calories per 16 fl. oz. This is relatively low for beer and stouts. To compare, Black Rock Irish Stout sets you back 153 calories, Carlow O’Hara’s Irish Stout has 130 calories, and Porterhouse Oyster Stout has 139 calories per 12 fl. oz.

Guinness draught also has 9.4 grams of carbs per 12 fl. oz, and an ABV of 4.2%.

But if the beer is this low in calories, you might be wondering why it is so creamy and rich? This is the result of how it is carbonated. Lagers, and beer in general, are carbonated with carbon dioxide, which gives quite large bubbles. The result is a crisp, fizzy mouthfeel.

However, Guinness draught, along with many other stouts, is carbonized using a 25/75% mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The latter produces bubbles that are much smaller, which results in a creamy texture. No need to actually add cream!

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

guinness extra stout in hand with other beers in background

This stout is hoppier in flavor and was originally known as the West India Porter. It has 194 calories per 12 fl. oz, which means it has 259 calories per 16 fl. oz. Clearly, you’re paying for the extra flavor and ABV in calories.

It also has 15 grams of carbs per 12 fl. oz, leaving you with 20 grams of carbs per 16 fl. oz.

As mentioned, this beer has a higher ABV than draught, at 5.6%, which is partially what causes these higher numbers. However, this beer is also more full-bodied with strong notes of dark chocolate and caramel. This is unsurprising, considering they prepare the barely in three different ways; malted, roasted, and plain.

Although Draught is arguably their most loved beer, it wasn’t the first beer to be brewed by the company. In fact, it was only introduced in 1959, 200 years after the brewery first opened. The first brew was a porter that is unfortunately no longer sold. However, the Foreign Extra Stout is based on the same recipe. Thus, it is as close to the original that you can get.

Guinness Hop House 13 Lager

Named after Guinness’ former hop storage building, this lager has 35 calories per 100 ml. This translates to 124.25 calories per 12 fl. oz, and 165.55 per 16 fl. oz. With lagers averaging around 140-145 calories per 12 fl. oz, this Guinness version is definitely on the lower end. For example; Heineken has 142, Budweiser 145, Stellar Artois 140, and Miller High Life 141.

These beers, however, also have a higher ABV. Guinness Hop House 13 Lager has 4.1%, whereas the previously mentioned lagers range from 4.6% to 5%.

It also has 3 grams of carbs per 100 ml, which converts to 10.65 grams per 12 fl. oz, and 14.19 grams per 16 fl. oz. This is about on par with other lagers, perhaps even a little lower.

This lager is made with water, malted barley, yeast, and hops. Lots of hops. This leaves quite a strong taste, but it isn’t too bitter. It has a crisp finish with hints of apricot and peach.

Guinness Baltimore Blonde (5% ABV)

Guinness Baltimore Blonde has 167 calories per 12 fl. oz. which converts to 223 calories per 16 fl. oz. It also has 14 grams of carbs per 12 and 19 grams of carbs per 16 fl. oz.

This beer is a little difficult to compare to others, as it was a collaboration between brewers at St. James’s gate in Dublin and those at the Latrobe Brewery in Pennsylvania. Still, the closest would be (American) pale lagers, so let’s have a look at some of those.

Stella Artois has 140, Miller High Life has 141, and Budweiser has 145 calories per 12 fl. oz. They also have 14, 12, and 11 grams of carbs respectively. Clearly, this Baltimore Blonde beer is higher in calories and carbs than its counterparts.

Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Beer has 114 calories per 12 fl. oz, and 152 calories per 16 fl. oz. There are also 8.5 grams of carbs per 12 fl. oz, leaving you with 11.3 grams per 16 fl. oz. The ABV is 4%.

This coffee/beer hybrid can’t really be compared to any other commercially available beers, as it is such an interesting mix. However, a little digging finds that some craft coffee beers show a large variety. Founders’ Breakfast Stout has 270, Oskar Blues Hotbox Coffee Porter has 192 and Surely Brewing CO’s Coffee Bender Brown Ale has 140 calories.

Guinness naturally has coffee and chocolate flavors, but these are amped up for this brew. Along with barley, hops, yeast, and water, there is also actual coffee and natural coffee flavors added. Guinness uses nitrogen for this brew too, making it as creamy as you’re used to with Guinness Draught.

Guinness 0.0%

This alcohol-free Guinness has 57 calories per 12 fl. oz, and 76 calories per 16 fl. oz.

Without the alcohol, Guinness clearly has a much lower calorie content, with (supposedly) the same flavor and appearance as you’d expect from Guinness; hints of coffee and chocolate and a dark, ruby red color that almost looks black.

Although the calorie content is clearly lower, the carbs are about the same. There are two (potential) reasons for this.

Firstly, apart from the usual suspects, like barley, hops, and yeast, Guinness adds fructose to this beer. We suspect just taking the alcohol out of Guinness means it also lacks flavor, which is why this additional sugar is added.

Second, fermentation is the process of natural sugars transforming into alcohol because of the addition of yeast. Since this (almost) doesn’t happen with alcohol-free beer, the natural sugars in the beer don’t turn into alcohol and therefore stay in the beer as sugar, adding to the carb count.