light beer

noun

plural light beers

1

: a beer with a lower calorie content than usual

Certain light beers … contain fewer than 100 calories per bottle or can.

—Hristina Byrnes

Brewing industry legend Joseph Owades, a biochemist by trade, is credited with inventing light beer. The first product, released in 1967, was Gablinger's Diet Beer.

—Chris Foran

2

: a beer having a light body (see body entry 1 sense 6a) and a lower-than-average percentage of alcohol : a sessionable beer

… this cream ale is designed to refresh the taste buds of those who enjoy a good light beer.

—Philip Weyhe

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined at sense 2