Cider is a popular drink, especially in the fall. But if you’re watching your weight, it’s important to know the calorie content of what you’re drinking.
Not all ciders are created equal. The number of cider calories can vary quite a bit depending on the alcohol content and how much sugar is added. Let’s take a look at how cider stacks up against other drinks, what low-calorie options are available, and what factors influence those cider calories.
Cider Calories: The Basics
How many calories are in your glass of cider? A typical cider with an alcohol content of 4% to 5% ABV contains around 210 calories per serving.
Where do those calories come from? Both the alcohol and the sugar in the drink. The higher the alcohol and sugar levels, the higher the number of calories.
Here are a few things that influence the calorie count of your cider:
- Alcohol content (ABV). Alcohol has 7 calories per gram, so the higher the ABV, the more calories.
- Sugar content. Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram, so sweeter ciders will have more calories.
- Dry vs. sweet ciders. Dry ciders might have less sugar, but they could have more alcohol, which would affect the calorie count.
Cider vs. Other Alcoholic Beverages
How does cider stack up against other alcoholic drinks when it comes to calories?
Cider vs. Beer
Cider usually has more calories than beer, but that can vary depending on the brand. In the UK, average beers have 40 calories per 100ml, while cider has about 47.
Beer tends to have less sugar and fewer carbs than cider.
Cider vs. Wine and Spirits
Red wine can have a similar number of calories as cider, or even more, with around 214 calories in a 250ml serving.
Hard liquor, like rum or whiskey, has fewer calories per serving. But watch out for mixed drinks! Sugary mixers can really pump up the calories. A rum and cola can have 160+ calories, and a margarita might pack around 455 calories.
Low-Calorie Cider Options
If you’re watching your calorie intake, the good news is that some cider brands offer lower-calorie options.
Exploring Low-Calorie Brands
Several cider brands specifically market themselves as low-calorie drinks. For example, Alska 28 contains only 123 calories per can, which the manufacturer says is a 50% calorie savings and a 90% sugar savings compared to competing brands.
Craft Ciders
Sometimes, craft ciders weigh in lower on the calorie scale than mainstream options. Crafty Nectar No. 7, for instance, has 159 calories per pint.
Considerations
Keep in mind that lower-calorie ciders may not taste quite as robust or flavorful as their full-calorie counterparts. Still, if you’re trying to cut calories, they may be a good option.
How to make informed choices
If you’re watching your calorie intake, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a cider:
- Read the label. Always check the nutritional information to find the calorie, sugar, and alcohol content.
- Consider the alcohol content. Lower alcohol content generally means fewer calories.
- Pay attention to serving sizes. It’s easy to overpour!
- Opt for dry ciders. Drier ciders typically have less sugar than sweeter varieties.
Putting It All Together
As we’ve seen, the calorie count in cider can vary quite a bit, depending on whether you’re drinking hard cider or apple cider, and on the ingredients the manufacturer used. The biggest factors affecting the calorie count are the alcohol and sugar.
When choosing a cider, it’s important to consider your dietary needs and tastes. But you can enjoy cider in moderation as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.