Bud Light is turning 40 next year. To celebrate, the brand is launching a zero-carb version of its iconic brew, Bud Light NEXT. Anheuser-Busch’s new beer will be a first for any of the major brewers.

In an interview with CNN Business, Andy Goeler, the Vice President of Marketing for Bud Light, called Bud Light Next the “next generation of light beer for the next generation of beer drinkers.”

According to the company, Bud Light Next will contain only 80 calories, an ABV of 4% and, of course, no carbohydrates. No and low carb beverages have become more popular than ever as the keto diet and other low carb lifestyles continue to gain traction.

Hard seltzer has skyrocketed in popularity over the last year and a half thanks, in large part, to their overwhelmingly no and low carb profiles. As a result beer brands have been moving away from heavy, calorie-dense brews and are instead pushing low carb and low calorie options to cash in on the trend. “It’s a big consumer trend we see across many consumer industries,” Goeler said of the low-carb movement.

Goeler believes Bud Light Next “is another pillar in providing the right products for the right consumers.” He explained, “Today’s consumers have got options of low calorie and low carb products, this is another entry to have something that goes all the way to zero carbs.”

Anheuser-Busch may have been the first of the big brewhouses to create a zero carb beer but competitors of America’s largest brewery are close behind, churning out low carb options at a rapid pace.

Molson Coors launched Blue Moon LightSky last year. The brew boasts 95 calories, 3.6 grams of carbs and an ABV of 4% per serving. According to Nielsen, LightSky was 2020’s best-selling new beer. The beverage company even invested millions of dollars into new equipment at two of its facilities to keep up with consumer demand for key products including LightSky as well as its portfolio of hard seltzers. Last week Molson Coors announced Blue Moon LightSky Tropical Wheat will be launching next year. The pineapple and orange peel flavored beverage will contain 3.4 carbs and 95 calories.

Yuengling launched a new low-carb brew called Flight last year as well. Coming in at only 2.6 carbs, 95 calories and an ABV of 4.2%, Flight is a worthy competitor in the carb-conscious category.

Another of the alcohol giants, Constellation Brands, debuted Corona Premier in 2018. The beer contains just 2.6 carbs, 90 calories and an ABV of 4%.

Anheuser-Busch likely won’t let a little competition scare them. After all, the company is home to several additional low-carb beers of its own including Michelob Ultra, Budweiser Select, and Budweiser Select 55, to name a few. The beverage behemoth also owns many popular hard seltzer brands including Bud Light Seltzer, Bon V!v Spiked Seltzer, Cacti, Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer and Natural Light Seltzer, among others–all of which feature no or low carbs.

Bud Light Next will hit shelves nationwide early next year. AB InBev’s no-carb brew has the potential to pioneer an entirely new category in the beer market and we already can’t wait to see what comes next.

Shirani Jayasuriya
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