The Book of Beer Awesomeness

by Dan DiSorbo

  If the die hits the table, a player from the opposing team must catch the die with one hand before it hits the ground. Trapping the die against your body and catching with both hands is not permitted.

  Catching the die does not result in any points, but if the die is not caught then the throwing team gets one point and the opposing team must drink one-fifth of their beers.

  If the die bounces off the rim of a cup, the opposing team must drink half of their remaining beers.

  If the die is thrown clear off the table without bouncing, the throwing team must drink.

  If the die lands on the table, but does not bounce off, the throwing team must drink.

  The first team to score seven points wins the game. Games must be won by two points.

  The winning team remains at the table until they lose or wet themselves.

  COACH SAYS

  Think about what you say before you say it. The so-called bad numbers pop up a lot more than you might think.

  BEER DIE TIPS AND TRICKS FROM A PRO

  FROM MEEKO AT BEERDIEGAME.COM

  Refine your accuracy. Sinking your opponent is worth two points and can have a devastating effect on his morale.

  Work on your catching skills. Someone who is great at catching is difficult to score against and can be just as valuable as someone who is great at throwing.

  You can take drinks of your beer at any time during the game, and you can drink as much as you want. But you always have to drink when the rules state that you must. I try to sip a little at a time to lessen the blow if I should be sunk. Then I have less to chug.

  Pay attention to your opponents’ cups at all times. If your opponents step away from the table for whatever reason and both of their cups are still in play then you can throw at either undefended cup to try and score.

  Shooting at the cups to try to score two points isn’t always the best strategy. Sometimes it’s better to go for a sure thing by shooting down the middle in between your opponents or by shooting directly at a player with subpar catching skills.

  ADDITIONAL PENALTIES

  A player must never say “seven” or “five.” These are referred to as the “bad numbers.” Instead, “high-bad” (seven) and “low-bad” (five) or “bizz” (five) and “buzz” (seven) are used in their place. A player caught saying either word must finish one beer every time he says a bad number.

  If a team player throws the die and it knocks one of the other team’s cups over, the team that had their cup spilled must take two drinks before play can resume.

  If a player throws out of order, both players on that team must drink one-fifth of their beers.

  If a player fails to throw the die in an underhand fashion, both players on that team must drink one-fifth of their beers.

  If the die fails to travel more than one-third of the way across the table then both players on that team must drink one-fifth of their beers.

  A true homage to Canada’s national sport, this turn-based drinking game pits multiple players against one another as they attempt to score goals while simultaneously defending their crease. It’s fast, fun, and unlike real hockey, it actually has a following in Nashville and Tampa Bay.

  WHAT YOU’LL NEED BESIDES BEER

  One quarter or bottle cap

  One table

  One chair per player

  SETUP

  Beer Hockey may be played with as many players as you want, although four to six is an optimal number depending upon the size of your playing surface.

  Players sit around a table with their beers in front of them and a quarter in the center.

  GAME PLAY

  The player with the quarter starts the game by spinning the coin in the center of the playing surface and calling out a shooter of her choosing.

  The shooter must then attempt to score a goal on her fellow players by flicking the quarter at their beers.

  The opposing players are allowed to block the front of their beers using a maximum of two fingers to cover the surface.

  If the player misses her target and the quarter is still spinning any player can shoot on any target.

  The quarter moves clockwise to the next player if a shot misses or falls off of the playing surface.

  COACH SAYS

  All shots must be taken by flicking the quarter. But just like in the Champagne Room, cupping and grabbing are not permitted.

  SCORING (DRINKING) METHOD

  If a player scores a goal, she must spin the quarter again and the player who allowed the goal must chug during the full duration of the spin. Other players can also try to keep the quarter in motion.

  If the player who allowed the goal finishes her beer while the quarter is still spinning she can enact “instant revenge” by slamming her empty beer on top of the quarter. She can then spin the quarter and make the player of her choosing chug her beer for the duration of the spin.

  Once the instant revenge is complete, the quarter moves clockwise to the next player and game play continues.

  If goals are scored on multiple beers in the same shot then all players who allowed goals must drink during the ensuing spin.

  Each full trip around the table counts as a single period and the player with the most goals after three periods is declared the winner.

  What’s the best part of a birthday cake? Blowing out the candles, of course. And what’s the best part of beer? Drinking it, of course. Put them together and what do you get? One of the most interesting drinking games of skill ever created, that’s what.

  WHAT YOU’LL NEED BESIDES BEER

  A deck of playing cards

  One pint glass or plastic party cup

  An endless supply of hot air

  One table or counter

  SETUP

  Blowie is played with as many players as you want, but each player must have his own beer.

  Fill a new cup with beer and set it on a table or counter.

  Set the entire deck of cards on top of the glass.

  GAME PLAY

  Players take turns blowing the cards off the deck.

  Once a player’s turn is over, the next player attempts to blow.

  SCORING (DRINKING) METHOD

  If one card is blown off, all the other players must take one drink from their beers.

  If more than one card is blown off, the blower must drink one gulp from his beer.

  The player who blows off the last remaining card on the glass is eliminated and must drink the glass of beer … plus refill it for the next round.

  If at any time the entire remaining cards are blown off, that blower is out and must drink the full glass of beer, then refill it for the next round.

  Game play restarts and continues until only one (presumably out of breath) player is left.

  COACH SAYS

  Tight shoulders can encase your ribs and restrict your breathing, so take a couple of deep breaths and try to loosen up prior to the game.

  Anyone who carelessly tosses away her bottle caps is missing out on a chance to play one of the world’s truly great drinking games. It’s fun, it’s easy to learn, and it’s one of the few times in your life you can throw something into a stranger’s drink without getting the snot beaten out of you.

  WHAT YOU’LL NEED BESIDES BEER

  One pint glass or plastic party cup per player

  Plenty of bottle caps

  One table

  One chair per player

  SETUP

  Games are played with two teams of two or one.

  Teams sit at opposite ends of a table.

  One pint glass full of beer is placed in front of each player one foot from the edge of the table.

  GAME PLAY

  Both teams take turns throwing bottle caps into their opponent’s pint glass. Shots may be attempted using any method desired and can be direct or bounced. No defense is allowed in any situation.

  Shooters must keep their shooting elbow behind the edge of the table. It is the responsibility of the opposing team to
determine if a player is shooting with her elbow over the table.

  SCORING (DRINKING) METHOD

  Each time a shot is made, the other team gets a chance to “match” by making a shot. If no match is made, the team that made the original shot gets awarded points (see following) while the other team takes a drink.

  If a match is made, the team that originally made the shot tries to make a match as well. Matches can go on for as long as it takes. When a match is finally missed, that team drinks and points (see following) are awarded to the team that made the last successful shot.

  A direct shot can only be matched by a direct shot and a bounce can only be matched by a bounce.

  Games are played to eleven and must be won by two points. A 7-0 shutout is an automatic win.

  Points Directly into the pint = 1 point

  Bounce into the pint = 2 points

  ALTERNATE RULES

  CAP GUN: A cap that bounces/glances off the rim of the pint and is immediately and cleanly caught is called a “cap gun.” The cap gun is then placed on the table in front of the player that caught it. The cap gun may be used at any time throughout the remaining game as a backup shot on a missed attempt, even on a match.

  BEERING: If a missed shot lands touching the pint, the owner of that pint must drink the remaining contents of that pint. However, the opposing team must yell out “BEER” to enforce this rule.

  SOCIAL: If both players on a team make both their shots in the same turn, all players drink and no matches are allowed.

  DRINKER DICTIONARY

  BEER SCOOTER

  n. The safest way of returning from a night of beer drinking. Also known as “walking” and “two feet and a heartbeat.”

  EXPERT CAP-TOSSING TECHNIQUES

  THE DART

  Hold the cap between your thumb and forefinger, keeping the knuckles pointing up and the cap lying horizontally. The power comes from a forward thrust of our elbow. Closing one eye can help you align your shot—and look like a pirate.

  THE SNAP

  This is the Fonzie of techniques, cool but somewhat impractical. (Wearing a leather jacket while waterskiing? Really?) To perform, place one end of the bottle cap between your thumb and middle finger, pushing down hard. Snap your fingers forcefully and the cap should shoot out … in some direction.

  THE BREAD FOR THE DUCKS

  If you play against old ladies in parks, you might be screwed because they will have this technique down. This throw is all underhand, letting the cap land as gently and softly as possible.

  THE FLICK

  If cool points were real and they counted in Caps, then this would be worth at least eight or nine. Balance the cap upright on your thumb with your middle and ring fingers behind it. Extend your index and pinkie to full rock-on formation. Flick the two fingers behind the cap simultaneously and launch it into victory.

  The first coasters were produced in 1880 and thirty seconds later the game of Coaster Flipping was invented. This forgotten 1950s art form is an extremely addictive game that can take over an entire bar in no time. The upside is that the bar is usually fully stocked with enough free coasters to last a lifetime. The downside is that when the stacks get too high, coasters tend to fly everywhere causing a bar fight.

  WHAT YOU’LL NEED BESIDES BEER

  Dozens of beer coasters

  Hands of a surgeon

  One bar counter

  SETUP

  Games are best played with more than one person—but solo works too.

  Locate at least a dozen identical coasters and a bar or table with a 90-degree square edge.

  BREW FACT

  A coaster was originally referred to as a “beermat” and today nearly six billion get made every year, helping protect the world’s wood from the dreaded plague of beer rings.

  GAME PLAY

  Place a coaster on the edge of the bar. Hang the coaster off the edge as much as possible without it falling.

  Hold your hand below the coaster, positioned palm down with your fingernails barely touching the bottom of the coaster.

  Bring your hand straight up quickly and push up the edge of the coaster from beneath with your fingers. The coaster will start to flip in the air.

  Catch the coaster by snatching it between your thumb and fingers, like the hand motion when doing the chicken dance.

  After each successful flip and catch, add another coaster to the stack. The challenge is to consistently flip and catch the stack in order to create the highest stack and be the winner.

  SCORING (DRINKING) METHOD

  THE SOPHISTICATED METHOD

  When you don’t make the catch, you take a sip for every coaster you drop, with the amount resetting after every fifth coaster. For example, if you drop five coasters, you drink five sips; but if you drop six coasters, you only drink one sip.

  When you catch coasters in an increment of five, you are allowed to pass out that number of drinks to any combination of your opponents.

  For every fifteen coasters flipped, it’s a social and everyone drinks.

  THE SIMPLETON METHOD

  When you make a catch, you can give the number of coasters caught as drinks to any combination of opponents.

  When you miss, you need to drink as many sips as fumbled coasters.

  THE HORSE METHOD

  Each player makes an attempt at flipping the coaster in increasingly difficult and dramatic moves.

  If a player cannot replicate the move, he must add one letter to the word HORSE. Once he’s been forced to spell the whole word, he loses and must drink the predetermined amount.

  Drinking and cards have always gone together, but never as naturally as in Fire in the Hole. This simple but highly engrossing game challenges players to expertly toss cards into a pitcher several feet away. We like it because it involves dexterity, focus, and throwing stuff.

  WHAT YOU’LL NEED BESIDES BEER

  Deck(s) of cards

  One pitcher or hat

  One table (optional)

  SETUP

  Games are played with as many players as you want. The more the merrier.

  Deal the deck of cards, distributing them evenly among the players. Each player should have at least ten cards. Add additional decks as needed.

  Each player’s stack is left facedown.

  Place a pitcher (or hat) in the middle of a big table or on the floor.

  Each player should stand (if using the table) or sit (if using the floor) an equal distance from the pitcher or hat.

  GAME PLAY

  Players take turns drawing the top card from their stack.

  If the card is red (fire), she gets a chance to toss it into the pitcher. If the card is black, she loses her turn and the next player draws her top card.

  MASTERING THE CARD TOSS

  Make sure you are using newer, sturdier cards.

  Hold the top corner of the card tightly between your index and middle fingers. The tighter you grip the card, the more control you’ll have.

  Curl your hand so the card touches the base of your wrist

  Keep your wrist relaxed and flick the card with a quick, fluid motion. This isn’t the Hokey Pokey, so there should be little to no arm movement involved.

  To achieve more velocity try stepping into your throw as if you were tossing a baseball.

  SCORING (DRINKING) METHOD

  When a red card is drawn, that player must announce the value of the card. If that card is successfully thrown into the pitcher, all the other players must take a drink. If it’s missed, the throwing player must take the drink.

  Face cards (two through nine) are worth one drink. Ten, jack, queen, and king are worth two drinks, and everyone must finish their drinks when an ace is successfully thrown.

  Game play continues until no cards are left.

  The player with the most cards in the pitcher wins.

  BREW FACT

  The phrase “fire in the hole” can be traced back to the early twentieth century, when coal miners would
shout the warning prior to igniting dynamite to loosen rock formations.

  Ask anyone to name a classic drinking game and the first one they’re likely to mention is Quarters. A staple at any well-lubricated party, this lively game is believed to have originated in the United States and has since gained popularity in Canada, England, Australia, Germany, and especially South America, where it’s better known as Mondeita. Regardless of what you may call it, it’s easy to understand why Quarters has become the go-to drinking game for revelers around the world.

  WHAT YOU’LL NEED BESIDES BEER

  One quarter (and a few backups)