Beer vs Red Wine: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Beer has 43 calories and 0.5 g of protein, while red wine has 85 calories and 0.1 g of protein. Beer is lower in calories and higher in protein.

Beer and red wine are popular alcoholic beverages with distinct nutritional profiles. This comparison highlights their calorie content, protein levels, and carbohydrate amounts.

What Is the Difference Between Beer and Red Wine?

Beer is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains, primarily barley, and flavored with hops. It typically contains low levels of protein and carbohydrates. Red wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented dark grapes. It is known for its higher calorie content compared to beer and contains varying levels of sugar.

Beer vs Red Wine: Nutrition Side by Side

The following data provides a side-by-side comparison of beer and red wine nutrition.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Beer (regular)	Red wine
Calories	43 kcal	85 kcal
Protein	0.5 g	0.1 g
Carbs	3.5 g	2.6 g
Sugar	0 g	0.6 g
Fat	0 g	0 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	4 mg	4 mg

Which Is Better, Beer or Red Wine?

For weight loss: Beer contains 43 calories per 100 g, while red wine has 85 calories. Choosing beer may be more beneficial for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Beer has 0.5 g of protein per 100 g, whereas red wine has only 0.1 g. Beer is a better option for protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Beer contains 3.5 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar, while red wine has 2.6 g of carbs and 0.6 g of sugar. Beer is lower in sugar.

How to Track Beer and Red wine Accurately

Alcoholic beverages can be easy to misjudge in portion sizes and macro content. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Beer has 0.5 g of protein per 100 g, while red wine has 0.1 g. Therefore, beer has more protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Beer contains 43 calories per 100 g, whereas red wine has 85 calories. Beer has fewer calories.

What are the carbohydrate contents?

Beer has 3.5 g of carbs per 100 g, while red wine has 2.6 g. Beer has more carbohydrates.

How much sugar is in each?

Beer has 0 g of sugar per 100 g, while red wine contains 0.6 g. Beer has no sugar.

What is the sodium content?

Both beer and red wine have 4 mg of sodium per 100 g. Their sodium contents are the same.

What is the fat content in both?

Both beer and red wine contain 0 g of fat per 100 g. Neither has any fat.

Key Takeaways

• Beer: 43 calories per 100 g
• Red wine: 85 calories per 100 g
• Beer: 0.5 g protein per 100 g
• Red wine: 0.1 g protein per 100 g
• Beer: 3.5 g carbs per 100 g
• Red wine: 2.6 g carbs per 100 g