With a standard one containing 15.5 gallons of beer (and costing around $80), a keg is one of the most cost effective and fun ways to mix up your party. After all, with a keg, no one’s stashing their case of Bud Light in the corner, or having to carry around their half-full bottle of wine; it’s much more communal. You just never know what attractive party-goer you’ll meet while you’re pouring your crew some refills. 15.5 gallons, depending on the party size, could be an awful lot of alcohol…or, your party could be like the one I attended last Valentine’s Day (where I had the added bonus of watching one of my friends run out to charge a third keg to her Grandma’s credit card…), where it’s the fourth keg that you’re having trouble finishing. Either way, you want to take a look at these fun ways to finish your keg.
**Activities, Concoctions, and Games**
Activity. Everyone has heard of a keg stand, which is certainly a popular way to begin finishing off your keg, but a lesser-known option is the gargoyle, pictured above. With the gargoyle, as exemplified by my identity-protected friends, you simply hop atop the keg, and pose, wings in the air, like a gargoyle. I warn you, this may start a trend.
Concoction. Something about a keg just screams outdoor afternoon drinking to me, and for that, there’s nothing better than Summer Brew. Simply mix one can lemonade concentrate, a can’s worth (about 12 oz.) of a vodka of your choice, and 3 or so beers to taste and you’ll be left with a refreshing (and somewhat dangerous) treat. This can also be made with lemonade powder, which you’ll just have to add to taste–This variation is sometimes called “Strip and Go Naked” …not quite sure why…
The C and S Game. This game is an easy one to start in almost any situation as you don’t need chairs, tables, or supplies of any kind beside yourselves and your drinks. To start, someone will say a word. Let’s use “dog” as an example. The biggest rule of the game, and the reason for its name, is that you can’t say words that begin with a C or an S. Every word must relate to the word said before it, so if I say dog, my neighbor (who can’t say cat) could say retriever, bowl, house, etc. And the next player could say a word that relates to that word but does not necessarily relate to the original word, dog. When someone messes up, as I guarantee they quickly will, they must…drink, duh.
More Games. Check out SKC’s list of fun, lesser-known drinking games here.
Keg Races. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not say that as I polled my friends on their favorite ways to finish a keg, by far the top answer was “keg races.” So if that’s your cup of, er, beer, get at it. Cheers!
Shannon Kelley is a graduate student at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and admittedly had entirely too much material to use for this post.
