Mens_HealthUSA_December_2016

70 MensHealth.com | December 2016

Peathegee Inc/Blend Images LLC/Gallery Stock (bartender), RYAN O. (beers)

Drink the

Beer, Lose

the Gut

You don’t have to give up

brews if you’re trying to watch

your weight. And these days,

you don’t have to settle for

a traditional light beer either.

Yes, forsaking all beer is one way to eliminate

extra calories from your diet. It’s also a great

way to eliminate happiness from your life. In the

dark days before craft beer, you might’ve held

your nose and joylessly drained a can of Stale

Ale. Now, mercifully, breweries are coming up

with beers that not only block the bloat but also

have a key trait that too many brews lack: flavor.

These so-called “session beers” are perfect for

guys who choose their drinks for the taste and

not just the buzz. Because they have a lower

percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV), session

beers can have hundreds of calories less than

some IPAs. We had Greg Engert of the D.C. craft

beer destination ChurchKey pick his top 10.

Then we tried ’em all. These are our favorites.

This 150-calorie ale has a clean,

refreshing taste; Engert compared

the smell to “peppery spice and

fresh-cut grass.” It has 40 to 50 more

calories per bottle than a typical

light beer would, but the flavor is so

satisfying that you’ll only need one.

Enjoy it with an equally light meal,

such as a simple roasted chicken

and sautéed spinach.

“Tart, authoritative, smooth—this

beer has everything,” said one

tester. That’s huge, considering the

fac t that a 12- o unc e b ot tle has a

mere 81 c al o r ies. I t ’s dr y, c r isp, and

a little sour (in a good way).

The brews shown above aren’t your only options. ChurchKey’s Greg Engert also likes De la Senne Taras

Boulba (4.5% ABV), DC Brau Brau Pils (4.6%), Fir e ston e Walke r Pal e 31 (4.9%), Founders All Day IPA (4.7%),

Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca (4.8%), Mahr’s Bräu Leicht (2.8%), and Stillwater Yacht (4.2%).

Best Overall

Best 125-Calorie Beer

Best Under 100 Calories

Prairie

Birra

4.5% ABV

Allagash

Little

Brett

4.8% ABV

Jester

King

Le Petit

Prince

2.8% ABV

The backbone of this stuff is Bret-

tanomyces yeast, which makes the

hoppiness pop and carries what

Engert dubs “earthy funk.” One

taster described Little Brett as “fruity

and cider like.” Bring it out with

your leftover turkey—and leave the

Beaujolais nouveau in the fridge.

Weight Loss

Beers to

Your Health

Don’t close the bar:

Over time, lack

of sleep can lead to

weight gain and

increased alcohol

use, studies show.