The 12 Best Light Beers for Summer 2026

Light beer used to mean watery beer. Not anymore. The new generation of light lagers and craft-light brews actually taste like something, and they're built for the way most of us drink in summer — long days, hot sun, and a sixth beer that needs to feel like the first. Here are the 12 best light beers for 2026.

What Counts as a Light Beer

A light beer is anything under about 110 calories and 4.5% ABV per 12 oz. The category covers macro lights (Bud Light, Coors Light), Mexican light lagers, low-cal craft brews, and a new wave of "ultra-low" carb beers under 5g per can. We tasted across all four categories.

Best Overall

1. Michelob Ultra

The runaway champion. 95 calories, 2.6g carbs, and a clean grain-forward flavor that doesn't taste like nothing. The macro light that craft drinkers don't apologize for ordering.

2. Modelo Especial

Technically not "light" but a low-cal pilsner workhorse at 145 calories. We're including it because it's the perfect cookout beer — crisp, balanced, and pairs with anything. If you can spare the calories, choose this over a true light beer.

3. Coors Banquet

Old-school golden lager that somehow still drinks lighter than its 147-calorie label suggests. The cowboy beer. Great on a dock, great in a stubby bottle, great straight from the can.

Best Mexican Lights

4. Corona Premier

Corona's lower-cal version. 90 calories, 2.6g carbs, all the citrus brightness of regular Corona without the heaviness. Add a lime and you have the perfect afternoon beer.

5. Pacifico Light

Newer to the U.S. market and underrated. Pacifico's signature crispness at 100 calories. Better than Corona Light by a meaningful margin if you can find it.

6. Tecate Light

The cookout-grill staple. 110 calories, hits notes of fresh-baked bread, and goes down faster than you'd think. Pair with carne asada or just hand it to whoever shows up first.

Best Craft Light

7. Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing Light

A 100-calorie hazy IPA with real hop flavor. The first low-cal craft beer that tastes like a craft beer. If you've been ordering Michelob Ultra and missing the hops, this is the upgrade.

8. Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA (NA)

Yes, non-alcoholic. Yes, it belongs on this list. 70 calories, real hop character, and the ability to drink a second one without going to bed at 7 PM. The afternoon-shift answer.

9. Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty

An IPA at 95 calories, 3.6g carbs, and 4% ABV. Tropical hop flavor with a light body that won't slow you down. The sleeper craft pick — see also our best summer beers roundup for more low-ABV craft picks.

Best Macro Lights

10. Miller Lite

The original light beer, still one of the best. 96 calories, 3.2g carbs, and a touch more bitterness than Bud or Coors Light. The pilsner-leaning macro pick.

11. Bud Light

The most-ordered beer in America for a reason. Cheap, clean, dependable, and pairs with literally any food. The bar standard.

12. Yuengling Flight

100 calories, 2.6g carbs, and the kind of smooth maltiness that's hard to find at this calorie point. America's oldest brewery's answer to the ultra-light category.

Light Beer for Different Occasions

• Beach day: Stick to Michelob Ultra, Corona Premier, or Pacifico Light. The lower the carbs, the less it slows you down in the heat.
• Cookout: Modelo or Coors Banquet for the grill, plus Bud Light or Miller Lite for crowd-pleasing volume.
• Boat or dock day: Hazy Little Thing Light or Slightly Mighty if you want flavor; Athletic Run Wild for the captain.

For the cooler that holds them all properly, see our Yeti alternatives roundup. For the games to play while you drink them, our best outdoor drinking games has the full rotation.

How to Stock Light Beer for a Party

For a typical summer cookout, plan 5-6 light beers per person across a four-hour window. Mix two macro lights (Bud Light + Michelob Ultra), one Mexican light (Corona Premier), and one craft option (Slightly Mighty or Hazy Little Thing Light). Always over-pack — extras keep, and running out is worse than over-ice.

FAQ

What's the lowest-calorie beer that tastes good?

Michelob Ultra (95 cal) and Corona Premier (90 cal) are the consensus picks. Below 90 calories, most beers start to taste like seltzer. Athletic Run Wild (70 cal, NA) is the lowest-cal option that still drinks like a real beer.

What's the difference between light beer and "ultra" light beer?

Light beers are typically 95-110 calories per 12 oz. Ultra-light or "Premier" / "Ultra" beers are under 95 calories with carb counts under 3g. The flavor difference is noticeable — true light beers have more body, ultra-lights are closer to seltzer.

Are light beers actually better for you?

They have fewer calories and carbs, which matters if you're tracking macros. Alcohol content varies — most light beers are 4.0-4.5% ABV, which is only slightly less than a regular beer. Don't confuse "light" with "low-alcohol."

What's the best light beer for a beach day?

Michelob Ultra or Corona Premier for hot days when you want to stay hydrated. Add a solid lake day packing list and a wet bag for the cans, and you're set.

Why does light beer go better with hot weather?

Lower alcohol content means less dehydration; lower carbs and calories mean less "slowing down." Light beer stays drinkable through a 4-hour afternoon in a way a 7% IPA never will.