As the temperature plummets it’s tempting to throw health goals out the window and indulge in winter’s liquid offerings – creamy cocktails, rich reds and robust beers. 

These body-and-soul-warming beverages make it all too easy to slip into hibernation mode during the colder months. Luckily, there’s a new breed of ‘healthy’ beers to keep the kilos down without forfeiting flavour. 

A handful of brewers have mastered the art of producing full-flavoured, bloat-free beer and there’s no better time to try them than now. 

We’ve narrowed down the best better-for-you beers on our shelves – take a look below. 

1. DB Export 33

DB Export 33 is New Zealand’s No.1 Low Carb Lager and for good reason, too. It has been expertly created to deliver a great taste, without the sugars and carbs. 

By naturally brewing for 33 per cent longer than your average beer, unwanted (and often unnecessary) sugars are removed and the carbohydrate level reduced – a sure-fire way to keep the beer belly at bay. 

2. Pure Blonde 

Another low-carb gem is Pure Blonde. Produced in Aussie, this crisp, easy drinking tipple is full-strength (4.6 per cent ABV) but contains only 0.9 grams of carbs – 70 per cent less than a standard beer.

Like DB Export 33, Pure Blonde undergoes an extended brewing process to break down the natural sugars lingering in the beer. Try it with wood-fired pizzas or seafood.  

3. DB Export Citrus Zero

Born in 2015, this beer newbie has just landed on our shelves. Sitting at 0.0 per cent ABV (yep, absolutely no trace of alcohol), DB Export Citrus Zero is packed with the same DB Export Citrus flavour, making it the perfect thirst quencher anytime of the day. 

It’s brewed using the foundation ingredients – malted barely, hops, water and yeast – plus a special addition of natural lemon juice and cold yeast, which allows the DB Brewers to eliminate the alcohol. 

4. Tuatara ITI Little Big Hop APA

We’ve talked about this little guy before but as a low alcohol alternative, he’s a standout. While iti means “small” in Te Reo Maori, Tuatara ITI is big on taste and has a modest alcohol content of 3.3 per cent.  

The craft brewers at Tuatara use a light malted base to highlight the American and Nelson Sauvin hops – the stars of this session APA. 

5. Mac’s Mid Vicious Mid Ale

The mid strength market is set to explode this year. Mac’s Mid Vicious is a pale ale with attitude - a strong, hoppy flavour with just 2.5 per cent ABV. It’s a beer with more taste than you’ll bargain for.