ELi has the Answers to What’s Up With the Beer Die Trend
When it’s a game day or the temperature reaches above 60 degrees (especially in the spring after a long winter), there’s a good chance you’ll see groups of four college-aged people on their front lawns, listening to music and playing a drinking game. It’s hard not to miss this phenomena throughout East Lansing as tables and bright red Solo Cups are a predominant front-yard decoration of many student homes.
One of the more popular games is beer die. It has become the first choice over other drinking games, edging out beer pong, flip cup or rage cage. As beer die has risen in popularity, the uneducated passersby are left wondering what is this game? Why are they throwing something into the air and what are the rules?
ELi has undertaken the task of making sense of this popular game.
Friends and East Lansing residents Natalie Angst, Natalia Sudol, Emmett Sweeney and Jaeger Williams explained why they love playing beer die. The explanation came while they competed against one another in a game outside their house.
“I just like it better than other games because it’s an outdoor game,” Sweeney said. “It’s centered around being outside.”
The group also admitted they get competitive during the game.
“I think we get way more competitive in this game than anything else,” said Angst, who requested to go off the record several times to hurl friendly expletives at her friends during the game. “There’s always lots of chirping and lots of trash talk, which is fun.”
Beer die requires a 4-foot by 8-foot by 3-foot table, normally made out of plywood, with a horizontal line going through the middle. The table is topped off by four pint-sized glasses (often red Solo Cups), two standard dice, four players and the beverage of choice.
A standard game is played to 11, winning by two, and normally takes around half-an-hour, according to Angst and Sweeney. The end score is up to the players and many groups play a longer game to 21.
Before beginning a game, there is some general set-up required and rules to be agreed upon.
First, a cup is placed on each corner of the table and filled with a player’s chosen beverage. Partners stand on the same side of the table, behind their cups. If the table being used does not have a horizontal line dividing it in half, one needs to be created. This can be done using physical materials such as tape or paint, or a figurative line can be agreed upon.
A height requirement also needs to be agreed upon before a game begins. Any toss thrown below this height requirement will not count. For these friends, their height requirement is the second power line above their table. Lastly, which team goes first is determined by either rolling a dice and calling high or low or flipping a coin.
Now, the game can begin.
The tossing of the die is the offense aspect of the sport and requires precise throwing and consistency.
Each player on a team tosses their die one after the other and teams go back and forth with their tosses.
If the die does hit the opponent’s side of the table, it can bounce anywhere and is live. Rules may be different depending on the group playing.
For this group, there were a few different scenarios once the die hits the opposing team’s side:
- If the die falls to the ground before the opposing team is able to catch it, the tossing team is awarded a point.
- If the die hits one of the opposing team member’s cups and then falls to the ground before the opposing team is able to catch it, the tossing team is awarded two points.
- If the die goes into one of the opposing team member’s cups (called a sink), the tossing team is awarded three points.
When speaking about their offensive play, some of these players said they utilize skill and strategy, while others do not.
“I don’t use any skill,” Sudol said. “I just learned how to play today.”
Teammates Angst and Williams said they both like to jump before their toss.
“We’re big jumpers over here,” Angst said. “They [Sudol and Sweeney] like to stand still.”
“Yeah, I’d say a little hop before my throw usually helps me,” Williams said. “I think it gets me in the zone for my throw.”
Sweeney said he attempts to do the same throw every time.
“I hold the dice in my hand instead of between my fingers,” he said.” And then, I just let it fly.”
All players agreed that attempting to throw the die as close to the edge of the table as possible is best, as this causes no bounce and diminishes an opponent’s chances of being able to catch the die.
Williams displayed this later in the game, as he tossed a die that hit the edge of the table, making it almost impossible for Sudol or Sweeney to catch it after the bounce. He admits, though, that no real skill went into the play and the throw was all luck.
The defensive side of the game is just as important.
In order to avoid getting scored on, a defensive player can catch the die using one hand.
Defensive players may not trap the die against their body or use both hands. If one of these rules is broken, the offensive team is awarded a point.
Sweeney shared there’s a little more strategy on the defensive end of the game.
“Positioning is important,” Sweeney said. “If we’re just standing right here [motioning to the middle of the table], they [the opposing team] can hit the die over there [points to the side of the table] and it can bounce in the opposite direction of us. So you want both teammates standing on the corners guarding their corner of the table.”
Team communication and dynamic are also important aspects of the game.
“Know your partner’s strengths and weaknesses,” Williams said.
Being able to play to one’s strengths, communicate about strategy and bounce trash talk off of one another makes the game more fun and competitive. These players said that’s when they play their best.
The above rules are the general rules found on the Beer Die Guys website. But adjustments are made depending on the group and players who can make their own rules to keep the game interesting. Examples of these house rules can be found at the following links:
The amount of drinking and types of drinks is flexible.
The drinking aspect of the game is also customizable by the players. Common rules are to finish your chosen drink every three points, take a sip every time your team is scored on, or finishing your drink when you or your teammate are sunk on or when you lose. But all of this is adaptable.
For this group of friends, they only pour one drink per game.
Along with the game rules open to personalization, the look of the table offers an opportunity for creativity. Many friend groups or fraternities customize their tables, decorating them to their likes and interests.
Angst painted their table with her roommate. It took them three days to do the measurements and a day to paint, but it ended up looking great. The table is Michigan State University and drinking themed.
Angst and Williams ended the game with an 11-7 win, owing it all to their team dynamic.
“We’ve been partners a lot,” Angst said. “I think our chemistry is very good and I think we have the same style of trash talk, which helps us.”