What you need
A big flat table, one die, four cups and two teams of two (it can also be played one against one). The traditional table is a sheet of plywood, 8 by 4 feet, on sawhorses or banquet tables; a beer pong table works in a pinch. The Beer Die League, a crowdsourced rule set published in 2014, specifies a 5/8 inch die and standard plastic cups.
Beer die is an adult drinking game. Play it only with people of legal drinking age (21 in the United States), never pressure anyone to drink, keep every “drink” to a small sip, have water at the table and drink some between games, and never drive afterwards. The cups can hold water: Wikipedia’s rule summary says “water or beer”, and the game is a real test of throwing and catching either way. With water, simply keep score.
Setup
Each player has a cup near their corner of the table, roughly a hand’s width in from the back edge and a fist from the side. Teammates stand (or, in snappa, sit) at the same end. Each team rolls the die; the higher roll chooses its end or the first throw.
Before the first toss, agree on the minimum throw height. League rules say the die must go higher than 8 feet from the ground; many casual games use head height.
How to play
Teams take turns throwing, one toss per player.
- Tap the die on the table to show you are about to throw.
- Throw it in a high arc towards the other end. The die has to land on the table.
- The defenders try to catch the die with one hand after it hits the table and before it touches anything else. Juggling it is fine; trapping it against your body or with two hands is not.
- Defenders may not reach over the table to catch it.
What can happen on a throw
- Plunk (or sink, sploosh): the die lands in an opponent’s cup.
- Plink (or ting, body): the die hits a cup. Under league rules the die is dead and nothing scores.
- Point: the die hits the table and bounces off the defending end without being caught cleanly.
- Dead throw: the die misses the table, or does not go high enough.
Scoring and winning
Scoring varies, so settle it first.
- Beer Die League rules: one point when the die bounces off the defending end uncaught, one point for a plunk, nothing for a plink. Games go to a set score such as 5, 7, 11 or 12, win by two.
- Common house scoring: one point for an uncaught bounce, two points for a “dink” (the die clips a cup then goes off uncaught), three points for a sink. Most groups play to 11, win by two.
In the drinking version, the league rules count five sips per cup and give a sip for things like missing the table, hitting the ceiling or saying a forbidden number, and a full cup for a plunk. For a responsible game, replace those with points, or keep them to the smallest sip.
Bizz and buzz
A beer die tradition: nobody may say “five” or “seven”. You say “bizz” for 5 and “buzz” for 7. Saying the number costs a sip, or a point in the alcohol-free game.
Common variants
- Snappa. The seated version, with a chair at each corner. Rules are otherwise the same and play is a little calmer.
- Off-hand drinking. All sips must be taken with your left hand.
- Alcohol-free. Water in the cups and points for everything. It is the most natural drinking game to play dry, since scoring already exists.
Tips for first games
- Name a neutral referee. Height and catch disputes are the main source of arguments.
- Clear the space around the table. Diving catches are part of the game; furniture should not be.
- Use a standard small die. Large foam dice do not bounce properly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between beer die and snappa? Beer die is played standing; snappa is the seated version. The rules are otherwise the same.
How high do you have to throw the die? Higher than 8 feet under Beer Die League rules. Many groups simply use head height.
What happens if the die hits the cup? That is a plink: the die is dead and no points score under league rules.
Why can’t you say five or seven? It is a tradition. You say “bizz” for 5 and “buzz” for 7, and slipping up costs you.
