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Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Have Calories?

A typical non-alcoholic beer contains between 50 and 100 calories per 12-ounce can, even with the alcohol removed. Where do those calories come from? Things like residual malt sugars left over from fermentation. But there is an exception: our Roadie Original, a zero-alcohol, zero-calorie malt-based brew made in America without fermentation.

For everyone’s education, here is a full breakdown of where the calories in non-alcoholic beer come from, how the major brands compare, and why only one malt-based brew gets to zero calories.

Where Do the Calories in Non-Alcoholic Beer Come From?

Most non-alcoholic beers are made the same way as regular beer. Brewers ferment malted grains with yeast, which converts sugars into alcohol. The alcohol is then removed through vacuum distillation, filtration, or arrested fermentation (stopping the yeast from consuming all the available sugars.)

Hard to believe, but alcohol itself is pretty calorie-dense at 7 calories per gram, so removing the alcohol removes a decent amount of calories. But the residual malt sugars and carbohydrates that give beer its body, sweetness, and mouthfeel remain in the liquid. Those carbohydrates carry roughly 4 calories per gram, and they are why a "non-alcoholic" beer is not quite a "non-caloric" beer.

In some cases, brewers add back sugars or flavoring after dealcoholization to compensate for lost flavor, which can push calorie counts even higher.

How Many Calories Are in Popular Non-Alcoholic Beers? 

(Calorie counts are per 12-ounce serving and based on published nutrition information.)

Is There a Non-Alcoholic Beer With Zero Calories?

Yes. Roadie Original is a zero-alcohol, zero-calorie, malt-based brew, the first one made in America. Roadie gets to zero by skipping the step that creates calories in traditional beers: fermentation.

Instead of brewing a full-strength beer and removing the alcohol, Roadie is brewed with malted barley and hop extract, without fermentation. No fermentation means no alcohol is ever produced and no residual sugars are left behind. The result is a crisp brew with classic American beer taste, 0.0% ABV, zero calories, and zero sugar.

Do Calories in Non-Alcoholic Beer Add Up?

They can. Non-alcoholic beer is built for occasions where one is rarely the number, including backyard sessions, road trips, long afternoons at the lake. At 50 to 100 calories per can, a six-pack of a typical non-alcoholic beer carries 300 to 600 calories. The same six cans of a zero-calorie brew like Roadie carry none.

That difference is one reason a new category is emerging between traditional non-alcoholic beer and sparkling waters: super-light brews built for drinkability, where you can drink one after another all day long without the calories or the bloat.

Frequently Asked Questions: General

Does non-alcoholic beer have calories? Yes. Most non-alcoholic beers contain 29 to 100 calories per 12-ounce serving, primarily from residual malt sugars and carbohydrates.

Why does non-alcoholic beer have calories if the alcohol is removed? The calories come from carbohydrates and sugars created during brewing, not just the alcohol. Removing alcohol does not remove the malt sugars that remain in the liquid.

What non-alcoholic beer has the least calories? Roadie Original is crafted to contain zero calories, making it the lowest-calorie, unfermented malt-based alternative available. Among traditional non-alcoholic beers, Michelob Ultra Zero is among the lowest at roughly 29 calories per can.

Does non-alcoholic beer have sugar? Most do. Residual malt sugars typically remain after dealcoholization, and some brands add sugars back for flavor. Roadie Original is crafted without fermentation, meaning no heavy fermentation sugars are created, and has no added sugar — meeting the standards for a zero-sugar nutritional label.

Does non-alcoholic beer have carbs? Yes, most non-alcoholic beers contain 10 to 20 grams of carbohydrates per can. Roadie Original is crafted to contain less than one gram of carbs.

How is Roadie Original zero calories? Roadie Original is brewed with malted barley and hop extract, but without a fermentation step. Because we skip the fermentation step, alcohol is not produced during brewing, meaning we don't need industrial processing to strip it away, and we naturally avoid the calorie-dense residual sugars and grain concentrates sometimes left behind in traditional non-alcoholic beers.

Roadie is an alcohol-free super light brew from Los Angeles, made for moments when a beer is just right, but alcohol or calories are not. Brewed with real malted barley and hops and created without fermentation, Roadie is light, crisp, 0.0%, zero calorie, and made for the open road. 

 Learn more at roadiebrew.com.

Frequently Asked Questions: Alcohol

DISCLAIMER: This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice, representation, or a solicitation to provide legal services. Open container, lookalike beverage, public consumption, and traffic laws are highly nuanced, subject to localized municipal ordinances, and vary significantly by state, county, and city. Because these laws change frequently and are subject to varying local law enforcement interpretations, the brand makes no representations or warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the legal summaries provided herein. Reading or interacting with this content does not create an attorney-client, advisory, or contractual relationship of any kind. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal counsel in your specific jurisdiction. Before transport or consumption, you assume all liability for verifying and complying with the active vehicle and roadside regulations in the jurisdictions where you operate.

Driving Safety Notice: While Roadie Original is a 0.0% ABV unfermented beverage, it may be mistaken for a traditional beer container by observers or law enforcement at a glance. Additionally, some state and local jurisdictions enforce open container laws triggered strictly by lookalike packaging, brand names, or specific ingredients (such as malt and hops), regardless of the beverage’s actual alcohol content. Consuming any lookalike beverage while actively operating a motor vehicle can result in roadside confusion, unexpected traffic stops, citations, or distracted driving inquiries. We strongly advise against physical consumption while a vehicle is in motion. Please keep your eyes on the 

Can You Drink an Unfermented, 0.0% ABV Malt-Based Beverage While Driving?

In many U.S. states, it is legal to drink a 0.0% ABV unfermented beverage while driving. However, because laws in some jurisdictions are triggered strictly by a product’s beer-like appearance or malt ingredients rather than alcohol content, consuming a brew behind the wheel can still result in local roadside restrictions or distracted driving inquiries, and other unwanted law enforcement attention.

A zero-alcohol malt-based brew like Roadie, which contains 0.0% alcohol, generally falls outside those laws. That said, laws vary by state, a handful of states treat non-alcoholic brews differently, and an officer who sees you sipping from what looks like a beer can may still pull you over to check.

Here is what the law actually says, where the gray areas are, and why this question is pretty important:

What Counts as an Alcoholic Beverage Under the Law?

Under federal regulations, a beverage must contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume to be classified as non-alcoholic. This is the important line that separates two very different products:

• Non-alcoholic beer (up to 0.5% ABV): Most "non-alcoholic" beers legally contain trace alcohol, sometimes up to half a percent. They are brewed as beer and then dealcoholized (a process where the alcohol is removed.)

• Zero-alcohol brew (0.0% ABV): Crafted without fermentation, Roadie is designed to achieve its zero-alcohol profile. As stated on the label, Roadie has an alcohol by volume of 0.0%.

Many state open container laws mirror the federal 0.5% definition. An unfermented 0.0% brew is, in most states, not considered an alcoholic beverage.

But There Are Grey Areas:

Laws are not uniform across all 50 states, and a few things are worth knowing before you crack one behind the wheel:

Some states treat unfermented malt brews differently. While most open container laws rely on a 0.5% ABV limit, some state and local rules are triggered strictly by a product’s ingredients (like malted barley), simply by its beer-like appearance, or even its name. In these areas, zero-alcohol, unfermented malt brews can still face technical roadside restrictions, regardless of their 0.0% ABV.

Appearance matters. Because a Roadie could possibly be mistaken for a traditional beer, sipping it while driving can give an officer reasonable suspicion to stop you. The stop itself is legal even if the beverage is also legal. In many jurisdictions, even an unfermented, 0.0% ABV brew may still be subject to strict lookalike, ingredient, or local open container rules, meaning drinking it behind the wheel can result in unwanted law enforcement attention or actual citations.

Local and employer rules may differ. As you can imagine, commercial drivers, rideshare drivers, and drivers under company policy may face stricter rules than state law requires.

Please check your state and local laws as well as your workplace policies. This article is general information, not legal advice. Open container and consumption laws change, and the safest move is to confirm the rules where you drive.

Why Would Anyone Drink a Brew While Driving?

Because the ritual is the point. The long drive, the open road, the cold can in the center console, that experience has always been tied to beer, and alcohol made it off-limits. A cold, crisp, zero-alcohol, zero-calorie brew puts the ritual back within reach without impairment, because there is nothing in the can that can impair you.

Roadie was built for exactly this. It is brewed with malted barley and hop extract, without fermentation, delivering classic American beer taste with 0.0% alcohol and zero calories. It was born for your center console.

Can Non-Alcoholic Beer Get You Drunk or Affect a Breathalyzer?

No, not in terms of physiological impact. Studies show that blood alcohol levels remain at or near zero even after drinking multiple cans. Because Roadie is unfermented it doesn't cause impairment. As stated on the label, Roadie has an alcohol by volume of 0.0%.

Frequently Asked Questions: Driving

Is it legal to drink non-alcoholic beer while driving? It depends on the state and local laws. Many traditional non-alcoholic beers are produced through fermentation and fall under strict open container laws that restrict any beer-style beverage behind the wheel, regardless of its final alcohol content.

Roadie is different because it is crafted entirely without fermentation. However, because our packaging may look like a traditional beer can, drinking it while driving can lead to roadside confusion or unwanted law enforcement attention. To prevent any misunderstandings or driving distractions, we always recommend prioritizing safety and savoring Roadie responsibly.

Can a police officer pull you over for drinking a non-alcoholic beer? Yes. If an officer sees you drinking from what appears to be a beer can, they may stop you to investigate. The beverage may be legal, but the stop is too.

Will non-alcoholic beer show up on a breathalyzer? No, because drinking it does not cause impairment. Even standard non-alcoholic beers (under 0.5% ABV) have been shown in studies to leave blood alcohol at or near zero.

What is the difference between non-alcoholic beer and a 0.0% brew? Traditional non-alcoholic beer can contain up to 0.5% ABV because they are generally brewed like conventional beer and then dealcoholized. A 0.0% ABV malt-based brew like Roadie is crafted entirely without fermentation, meaning it skips the process that creates alcohol in beer, so no dealcoholization is required.

Do you have to be 21 to buy Roadie? Roadie contains 0.0% alcohol. However, some states and individual retailers require ID for products that resemble beer or contain certain ingredients like malt and hops. Check with your local retailer.

DISCLAIMER: This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice, representation, or a solicitation to provide legal services. Open container, lookalike beverage, public consumption, and traffic laws are highly nuanced, subject to localized municipal ordinances, and vary significantly by state, county, and city. Because these laws change frequently and are subject to varying local law enforcement interpretations, the brand makes no representations or warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the legal summaries provided herein. Reading or interacting with this content does not create an attorney-client, advisory, or contractual relationship of any kind. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal counsel in your specific jurisdiction. Before transport or consumption, you assume all liability for verifying and complying with the active vehicle and roadside regulations in the jurisdictions where you operate. 

Driving Safety Notice: While Roadie Original is a 0.0% ABV unfermented beverage, it may be mistaken for a traditional beer container by observers or law enforcement at a glance. Additionally, some state and local jurisdictions enforce open container laws triggered strictly by lookalike packaging, brand names, or specific ingredients (such as malt and hops), regardless of the beverage’s actual alcohol content. Consuming any lookalike beverage while actively operating a motor vehicle can result in roadside confusion, unexpected traffic stops, citations, or distracted driving inquiries. We strongly advise against physical consumption while a vehicle is in motion. Please keep your eyes on the road and prioritize safe and responsible driving habits

What Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Taste Like?

Non-alcoholic beer tastes like beer. It’s malty, hoppy, and crisp, but the closeness of the match depends on how it is made. Brews that are dealcoholized after fermentation can carry faint off-flavors from the removal process, sometimes described as wort-like or watery. Brews made without fermentation skip that step entirely, so the taste is cleaner and what is brewed is what you taste. The best alcohol-free options today are good enough that most drinkers literally can't tell the difference.

Here is what to actually expect from a glass on non or zero alcohol brew, why some taste better than others, and what makes the difference.

Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Taste Like Real Beer?

A well-made one does. Non-alcoholic beer is built from the same core ingredients as regular beer (malted barley and hops) so it carries the same backbone of flavor: grainy malt sweetness, hop bitterness, and a crisp, carbonated finish. What it lacks is the warmth and body that alcohol itself contributes, which is why some alcohol-free brews can taste lighter or thinner than their full-strength counterparts.

The gap has closed dramatically in the last few years. Better brewing methods, improved hop extracts, and brands building specifically for the alcohol-free category have raised the bar in the category. Many drinkers now report they can't tell any difference in a blind taste test.

Why Do Some Non-Alcoholic Beers Taste Better Than Others?

It comes down to how the alcohol is removed or kept out. There are two main approaches, and they produce somewhat different results in the final beverage.

Dealcoholization: Most non-alcoholic beers are brewed as normal beer, then have the alcohol removed through heat or vacuum distillation. This works, but the process can strip away aromatics and leave behind a cooked or wort-like note that some drinkers pick up on.

Brewing without fermentation: A smaller set of brews are built without a fermentation step. Because skipping the fermentation step means there isn't a removal step, there are no off-flavors introduced by stripping alcohol out. The result is a cleaner, crisper taste.

Roadie takes the second path. It is brewed with malted barley and hop extract, without fermentation, which is why it delivers a crisp, classic American beer taste without the off-notes that can come from dealcoholization.

What Does Alcohol-Free Beer Taste Like Compared to Regular Beer?

The closest comparison for most alcohol-free brews is a light American lager that is clean, crisp, and easy-drinking rather than rich or heavy. You get the familiar shape of a beer: a malt-forward start, a touch of hop bitterness, and a dry finish. What you give up is the heat and the heavier mouthfeel that comes with alcohol.

For a lot of people, that is the point. A lighter, cleaner profile is what makes an alcohol-free brew something you can drink all day long without the bloat or the buzz.

How Do the Most Popular Options Compare on Taste?

Frequently Asked Questions: Taste

Does non-alcoholic beer taste good?: The best ones do. Quality varies widely by brand and brewing method, but alcohol-free brews have improved sharply in recent years, and many drinkers now rate them as comparable to full-strength beer.

Why does some non-alcoholic beer taste watery? Usually because the alcohol was removed after brewing, a process that can also strip out body and aromatics. Brews made without fermentation avoid this and tend to taste cleaner.

Does alcohol-free beer taste like the real thing? A well-made one comes very close. Roadie is brewed with malted barley and hop extract for a crisp, classic American beer taste, with zero alcohol and zero calories.

What is the cleanest-tasting non-alcoholic beer? Brews made without fermentation tend to taste cleanest because no alcohol is stripped back out. Roadie is brewed this way.

Does non-alcoholic beer taste sweet? Some do. In dealcoholized brews, sweetness is sometimes a natural byproduct of the alcohol-removal process, and other times brewers intentionally add sugars back to achieve certain characteristics. A brew made without fermentation, like Roadie, has no residual fermentation sugars and finishes dry rather than sweet.

Alcohol-Free vs. Non-Alcoholic Beer: What's the Difference?

"Alcohol-free” and “non-alcoholic” are not the same thing. In the United States, a non-alcoholic beer can legally contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume. An alcohol-free brew is labeled as such when it meets the strict standards for a 0.0% ABV designation. Most of the well-known brands in the category are non-alcoholic, not alcohol-free. 

Roadie Original is alcohol-free: a 0.0% ABV, zero-calorie, malt-based brew brewed in America without fermentation.

The Alcohol-Free vs. Non-Alcoholic labels look interchangeable on the shelf. Legally and practically, they are not. Here is the difference and why it matters to drinkers:

What Does Non-Alcoholic Mean?

Under U.S. federal regulations, a beverage labeled "non-alcoholic" must contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. That threshold exists because most non-alcoholic beers are made by brewing a regular, full-strength beer and then removing the alcohol through vacuum distillation, filtration, or arrested fermentation.

Those removal methods are effective but not exactly perfect. Trace alcohol (anywhere from 0.3% to just under 0.5%) typically remains. That is why brands in this category often carry the "<0.5% ABV" mark on the can, and why their labels say non-alcoholic rather than alcohol-free.

For most people, that 0.5% ABV limit in traditional NA beers (about the same trace amount found in a ripe banana) is meaningless. But for anyone looking to minimize trace alcohol as much as possible, a strict 0.0% ABV label is rather a big deal. Choosing an unfermented alternative makes that standard easy to trust.

What Does Alcohol-Free Mean?

Alcohol-free means 0.0% ABV. In the U.S., a product is labeled alcohol-free when it meets the compliance standards for a 0.0% ABV designation, setting it apart from traditional non-alcoholic beers.

There are two ways to get alcohol-free. The first is to dealcoholize a beer so thoroughly that nothing detectable remains, which is difficult and expensive. The second is to craft a brew without fermentation.

Roadie takes the second road. It is brewed with malted barley and hop extract, without fermentation. Fermentation is the step that produces alcohol, so skipping it means there is no removal step and naturally avoids the residual fermentation sugars, which is how Roadie is also zero-calorie.

Alcohol-Free vs. Non-Alcoholic: Side by Side

Note that 0.0% brands differ on calories: Heineken 0.0 (Original) and Budweiser Zero are alcohol-free but still carry 50 to 70 calories. Roadie is the first unfermented, malt-based brew brewed in America that is both alcohol-free and calorie-free.

Why the Difference Matters

For those looking to minimize. For many people, whether navigating personal wellness goals, lifestyle choices, or simply wanting to minimize trace alcohol as much as possible, having a reliable 0.0% ABV unfermented option removes the guesswork entirely.

For driving. Open container laws in many states apply to beverages containing 0.5% ABV or more. A 0.0%, unfermented brew sits outside that line in many states (more than with a traditional NA brew), though laws vary. For example, some states have restrictions based on a product’s name, specific ingredients (like malt and hops), or because the packaging may be mistaken for traditional beer by observers, which may mean Roadie is treated like alcohol for certain purposes. 

For taste expectations. Dealcoholized beers can carry off-flavors from the removal process. A brew made without fermentation never goes through that process, so what is brewed is what you taste.

A Note on Labels Outside the U.S.

Definitions vary internationally. In the United Kingdom, "alcohol-free" means 0.05% ABV or less, while in much of Europe, beverages up to 0.5% can be labeled alcohol-free. If you are reading a can brewed overseas, the same words may mean different things. In the U.S., 0.0% is the alcohol-free standard.

Frequently Asked Questions: ABV

Is non-alcoholic beer really alcohol-free? Usually not. Non-alcoholic beer in the U.S. can contain up to 0.5% ABV, and most do contain trace alcohol. Alcohol-free means 0.0%.

What beers are truly 0.0% alcohol? Roadie, Heineken 0.0 (Original), and Budweiser Zero are labeled 0.0% ABV. Roadie is uniquely crafted entirely without fermentation to naturally meet the standards for a zero-calorie, 0.0% ABV malt beverage brewed in America, without requiring any heavy post-processing.

Is Roadie non-alcoholic or alcohol-free? Roadie is alcohol-free with 0.0% ABV. It is brewed without fermentation, so alcohol is not produced during brewing.

Why do some 0.0% beers still have calories? Most 0.0% ABV beers are brewed as regular beer and dealcoholized, leaving malt sugars behind — this can be an intentional choice, or simply a byproduct of dealcoholization. Roadie skips fermentation entirely, eliminating both the alcohol and the residual sugars. So Roadie is always zero alcohol, zero calories.

Does alcohol-free beer taste like real beer? A well-made one does. Roadie is brewed with malted barley and hop extract (the core ingredients of beer) and delivers a crisp, classic American beer taste.

Roadie is an alcohol-free super light brew from Los Angeles, made for moments when a beer is just right, but alcohol or calories are not. Brewed with real malted barley and hops and created without fermentation, Roadie is light, crisp, 0.0% ABV, zero calorie, and made for the open road.