Light beer (sometimes spelled lite beer) is a beer, usually a pale lager, that is reduced in alcohol content or in calories compared to regular beers.[1] Light beers may be chosen by beer drinkers who wish to manage their alcohol consumption or their calorie intake; however, they are sometimes criticised for being less flavourful than full-strength beers, or for tasting or actually being watered down.[2][3]
After some scattered fits and starts, light beer began to be mass marketed and accepted by American consumers in the early to mid-1970s, following two years of test marketing and promotion. This was followed by a nationwide rollout of Miller Lite in 1975 (then known merely as "Lite Beer from Miller").
Reduced calorie/reduced alcohol "light beer" is distinct from "light lager", which was a historical term that distinguished pale or golden lagers with lighter body (such as German Helles beers) from the traditional amber lagers and other inherently darker beers.
- ^ Villa, Keith (2011). "Light beer". In Oliver, Garrett (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Beer. Oxford University. pp. 546–7. ISBN 9780199912100.
- ^ The Alström Bros (October 3, 2001). "Light Beers". BeerAdvocate.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
- ^ Byers, Stephen R. (September 11, 1977). "Light beers pack a different punch". Milwaukee Journal. p. 1.