Alcoholic beverage, malt beer, hard lemonade
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a refreshing, carbonated alcoholic beverage that blends the crisp, malty backbone of beer with a bright, tart lemonade flavor. It pours a pale, hazy yellow with a lively fizz, offering a sweet-tart profile that's less bitter than traditional beer. Nutritionally, it's a source of quick energy from its nearly 10 grams of sugar per 100g, with negligible protein or fat.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 100% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing balance of sweet and sour, making it a go-to for summer barbecues, poolside relaxation, and casual gatherings where a complex craft beer might feel too heavy.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar content can lead to rapid blood-sugar spikes and subsequent crashes, and the alcohol can impair judgment and coordination. To mitigate, consume in moderation, alternate with water, and consider pairing with a protein-rich snack like nuts or cheese to slow sugar absorption.
Key benefits
- Provides quick carbohydrate energy
- Low in protein and fat
- Offers a lighter, fruit-forward alternative to heavy beers
- Convenient, pre-mixed single-serving format
- Popular social lubricant in casual settings
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'hard' in hard lemonade is a marketing term used in the U.S. to distinguish alcoholic versions from non-alcoholic lemonade drinks, a practice that began in the late 20th century.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 85.7 g |
| Energy | 68.0 kcal |
| Energy | 284 kj |
| Protein | 0.00 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.00 g |
| Ash | 0.13 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 10.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 9.8 g |
| Sucrose | 2.1 g |
| Glucose | 3.5 g |
| Fructose | 3.9 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.10 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 4.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.03 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 4.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 7.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 27.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 5.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.01 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.01 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 2.8 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.01 mg |
| Niacin | 0.23 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.04 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.02 mg |
| Folate, total | 4.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 4.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 4.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 4.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.01 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.02 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 4.0 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Alcoholic beverage, distilled, vodka, 80 proof — USDA does not publish this profile for Alcoholic beverage.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is hard lemonade gluten-free?
Typically no, as it is malt-based, meaning it is brewed from barley, which contains gluten. Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should avoid it or seek certified gluten-free alternatives.
How does the calorie count compare to regular beer?
At 68 kcal per 100g, it's similar to a light beer. A standard 355ml can contains about 241 calories, which is comparable to many mainstream lagers.
Can I use it in cooking?
Yes, it's excellent for deglazing pans, making batters for fish or onion rings, or as a base for a tangy barbecue sauce, adding both acidity and a subtle malty sweetness.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.68 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 9.8 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.19 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.