Boot It Up: A German Beer Boot Explained
“Das Boot”, the enormous boot-shaped drinking vessel that obstructs our brave American heroes’ efforts with its intimidating size and unassailable German-ness, is a memory for anyone who saw the movie Beerfest.
The German beer boot (or “bierstiefel”) has gone on to become a regular prop in college drinking games since the film came out, but why? Where did it originate? And who came up with this idea?
The beer boot has been around since the mid 19th century, but its popularity in Germany exploded during World War I. Drinking from a boot started as a hazing ritual for recruits to drink an entire German beer boot.
In the early 20th century, many breweries made their own unique “boot” glassware with specific designs and logos. Today, you can still find these iconic boots at plenty of bars and restaurants that serve German beers.
Do Germans drink beer from a boot?
In Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking countries, a beer boot is known as a “bierstiefel.”
The dimensions of a beer boot are similar to 19th-century military boots and range in size from three liters down to just one shot. Drinking boots constructed of glass are also available online.
According to several German sources, drinking from beer boots was practiced as punishment or as a show of bravery since medieval times. In today’s culture, the German beer boot is a traditional drinking game that appears to be a throwback to the origins of courage and discipline.
How do you drink from a beer boot?
Drinking from a beer boot can be a little tricky at first, but hey, practice makes perfect! The key to avoiding a damp shirt is to release the bubble slowly.
Tilt the toe of the beer boot away from you as you drink. Rotate the boot 90 degrees in either direction as the bubble slides down the glass, gradually flipping it throughout to face right or left when the bubble reaches the toe.
The slower you drink, the less pressure in your glass, and the smoother your beer boot experience.
As you drink, the air pockets inside your boot expand as less beer is left in your tank. When the open area reaches the foot, the bubble rushes to the toe and expels the beer in it. This creates a wave effect, with foot beer hitting your face.
It’s all fun and games until someone gets splashed in the face with a beer kick. Laughter, a degrading moniker for the rest of the night, and disqualification from other activities will result.
So, always rotate ‘das boot’ while drinking.
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German Beer Boots
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Is ‘Das Boot’ a German thing?
The bierstiefel is a genuine part of Bavarian beer culture, although its history is slightly mythological.
According to legend, a military General made a bet with his troops: if they won the coming battle, he would drink from his boot.
The General thought it wiser not to break his word after they had triumphed, but he did not want to drink from his unclean boot. So, he had a glassblower craft a drinking vessel shaped like a boot.
The popularization of the beer boot in North America was inspired by the return of American soldiers from World War II.
Another history legend has it that during WWI German soldiers who didn’t have anything to drink from before going into battle passed around an actual leather boot.
They would turn the boot upside down before drinking for good luck and then right side up again after finishing to wish the next soldier well.
The German Beer Boots are thus named.
Das Boot – The Movie
The word “Das Boot” is also the name of a German World War II film.
Wolfgang Petersen’s Das Boot is a 1981 West German war film set during the Battle of the Atlantic and follows the crew of a German submarine U-96 during World War II. Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer and Klaus Wennemann star as members of the submarine crew.
Differences in Beer Boots
The majority of beer boots are made of glass. Ceramic and plastic are alternative materials used to make them.
The two sorts of glass beer boots available are mouth-blown or machine-pressed. Their main distinction is in the seam’s location on the boot.
Mouth Blown Beer Boots
That’s how it all began; European-made mouth-blown glass beer boots – expert glass artisans make them in German, Austrian and Poland’s finest glass factories.
Like all handmade glass, mouth-blown boots last a long time and keep their quality for many years. However, minor flaws such as air bubbles and ridges are common.
They are incredibly delicate; therefore, you should take great care when using them.
Machine Pressed Beer Boots
Machine pressed beer boots are generally more durable than mouth-blown ones. This is because the former can withstand abuse such as dropping and kicking while still retaining structural integrity.
The seam runs down the center of the boot, dividing it into two pieces. Then the machine presses and molds the boot.
Choosing the Right Beer Boot
The following are essential factors to consider while choosing which beer boot is ideal for you:
Size: A typical beer boot size is 2 liter, but it can vary from shot glass to 3-liter boots.
Machine Pressed versus Mouth Blown: For a more detailed explanation, see the above brief.
Country of origin: The majority are crafted in Germany, but some versions are made in China.
Glass or plastic: Glass is used to make almost all beer boots, but there are plastic beer boots that you can conveniently use at your next gathering.
German Beer Boots Contest Rules
In “Beer Fest”, beer boot drinking is a speed-drinking game, in which each team drinks a set of filled boots in turn.
When a teammate has finished drinking, he turns the boot upside down to verify that there is no liquid left in it and sets it on the table, then it’s the other participant’s turn. The winner is determined by who first empties all of their boots in this manner.
The rules for a good beer boot contest are:
- Always hold the boot with the foot facing outward when you’re drinking.
- If the toe is pointing in a different direction, you may end up with beer on yourself rather than drinking it.
- Never crack beer boots glasses or shove them on my table.
Origins of the Beer Boot challenge
We all love a good origin story, so we did a little research on where this challenge originated!
Unsurprisingly, the challenge started remarkably like the Australian hazing ritual of drinking from a sweaty old boot. Initiation rituals of drinking from a boot began with the earliest invention of leather boots, where new initiates would have to drink from the smelliest members’ boot.
Medieval excavations have also found shoe-shaped pottery drinking vessels across Europe. Therefore, we can only assume that the boot drinking game became either more civilized or a challenge outside of initiation rituals.
Whether or not this history or legend is true, the boot challenge has become an integral part of the German drinking culture. It is popular at many Oktoberfest festivals around the world.
How much beer is in a German beer boot?
The typical German beer boot holds roughly 2 liters of liquid, around 5 pints in volume. The average beer mass of ‘das boot’ is about 67 ounces. The amount of beer in a boot is determined by the size of the shoe.
Three Liter 101 1/2 ounces — a little less than 8 1/2 (12-ounce) bottles of beer
Two Liter 67 1/2 ounces — over 5 1/2 (12-ounce) bottles of beer
One Liter Mug 34 ounces — less than 3 (12-ounce) bottles of beer
Half Liter Mug 17 ounces — almost 1 1/2 (12-ounce) bottles of beer
Conclusion
The German beer boot is an integral part of German culture and it’s even become a popular Oktoberfest tradition.
It’s essential to follow these simple rules when drinking from your german bierstiefel: always face the toe outward while drinking, never shove them on tables, and have fun but drink responsibly!
Whether you’re at home with friends or at a beer festival, this fine piece should be all you need for a successful German beer boot experience.
If you are looking for a drinking vessel that is guaranteed to impress your guests at the next party, then it’s time to get your hands on some bierstiefel. The glassware has evolved from an iconic prop used at Beerfest into a regular item at many bars and restaurants serving German beers.
The moment you see one at your local brewery’s Oktoberfest celebration this year, think about how it has evolved from being just “Das Boot” to becoming a historical symbol of Bavarian culture and craftsmanship.
