Healthy Beers Don’t Have To Taste Bad

Wine sales are up but beer sales are way down.  Budweiser lost 30-percent of its sales volume from 2006 to 2010, while Michelob and Milwaukee's Best have lost more than half of their sales for the same period.  Since 2005, sales of the top 20 brands have dropped by 10 million barrels to 149 million barrels a year.

These numbers have beer manufacturers scrambling to come up with healthy alternatives.  One thing I found is just because the calories are on the label as 90 or 64, does not mean it is a "healthy beer."  So before you grab a bland 64, 52 or (less than tasty) Ultra, check out the list of the healthy beers compiled by the Huffington Post that actually are full of flavor.

Yuengling Light Lager - America's oldest brewery.  This winner is full flavor and light on calories

New Planet 3R Raspberry Ale- not too sweet, gluten free and loaded with extra antioxidants.

Abita 'Purple Haze' - color comes from real raspberries.  Need I say more?

Guinness Draught- packed with phenois, low carbs and calories.  Full flavor and my favorite that is available almost everywhere.

Left Hand Good Juju- great taste with a hint of fresh ginger.

Sam Adam's Light Lager- Light but without sacrificing flavor.

New Belgium Blue Paddle- fruity / herbal aroma, slightly bitter.

Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA- the most exotic on the list

Butte Creek Organic India Pale Ale- free of all chemicals and additives.  Very healthy.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale- heaps of hops and hints of orange blossom.  This should also be easy to find.

Most of these brews can be purchased locally at Sam The Beer Man in Binghamton or sometimes can be found at the following pubs and eateries:  The Ale House in Vestal and Amici Pub and Pizzeria, across from the B-Mets in Binghamton.