Craft Beer Pong

So...beer pong. It's practically a swear word to craft beer afficionados. To the uber-staunch crafties I say, "please hold on to your overly-priced, strategically faded, oppressed industrial revolutionist hat for one moment." My iPod includes Mozart AND Motorhead.

A post about beer pong IS a stretch for a site that focuses on craft beer, but Brewdies often goes where you tell it. The staff frequently (twice) receives letters asking about beer pong. A recent message from a loyal reader asked specifically for information on three things:

1) Methodology to corn-based brewing (moonshine)

2) Maximum prison sentencing for corn-based brewing offenses

3) Beer Pong

No, I'm not kidding. If I were kidding I'd say, "$#*! My Dad Says is going to translate well into a TV show."

A Google search on "beer pong" reveals 2.7 million results in .16 seconds. Thats 3x as many results as "ping pong" and 10x as many results as "wine pong" (a growing trend). Here's some facts about the activity:

• The most common version involving a ball thrown is actually called "Beirut". "Beer Pong" technically uses paddles. Some argue that there is an important difference between the two and we shouldn't be calling both of them beer pong. Those people will also tell you that Dungeons and Dragons should have its own senate committee.

• Most agree that beer pong was invented by Dartmouth College students in 1960. Those students also played D & D and some are now senators.

• The 2011 World Series of Beer Pong took place at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. There were more than 500 2-person teams from nine countries and 48 states including a father-son combo, a college professor team, and one duo containing a recovering alcoholic. Standing Ovation took home $50,000 for first place.

• There's a documentary available: Last Cup. The Road to the WSOBP.

Still, WTF does this have to do with craft beer? Customized beer pong tables have become works of art...a craft if you will. Pour another glass of your heady IPA and read on, Mr. Doppleberry Bock.

Our tireless, dedicated and largely unemployed research staff has been on a quest to find some of the finer versions of beer pong tables. There are myriad college-themed boards along with the standard bikini bunny and Stewie Griffin versions, but we feel the following offer some fun twists to an established activity...like mixing cider with hefeweizen or Sarah Palin entertaining a White House run.

The Nintendo Controller

Mass quantity beer drinking will eliminate the brain cells that Mario Brothers, Punch-Out and The Legend of Zelda couldn't.

The Crossroads

Why limit the game to just two directions? Get the whole family involved and let the precious bonding begin.

The Road Sign

Brewdies.com does not encourage road sign theft...just like we don't encourage public nudity at Ozzfest but somehow we're always right there with our camera phone.

The Star of David

Shalom.

Mini Table

For beer pong beginners or the lazy.

Cheers.