Why are beer boots sometimes called “Das Boot”?
The term Das Boot refers to a 2 liter beer boot as was coined during the 2006 Warner Brother’s film Beerfest. Beerfest, by the broken lizard crew, is a beer-themed comedy revolving around a secret beer Olympics at Oktoberfest in Germany. After an embarrassing defeat, brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse assemble a ragtag dream team of beer drinkers and return the following year, beating the Germans in the 2 liter beer boot ‘das boot’ competition and clinching the title.
Beerfest generated awareness and popularized the 2 liter beer boot making ‘Das Boot’ a must have among consumers.
Isn’t Das Boot also an older movie about a submarine?
Yes, Das Boot which is German for “the boat” is also a 1981 feature film directed by Wolfgang Petersen about WWII, men at war, and German submarines. (If you haven’t seen this movie before, it’s definitely worth watching if you enjoy this type of film).
Why beer boots?
These glass drinking vessels embody the beer culture found in Germany. Beer boot drinking is the essence of camaraderie and in many circles, a game of sorts
Beer Boots are the perfect addition to any bar, make great gifts (graduation, holidays, birthdays, father’s day, wedding parties, etc.) and will always get the attention of your friends.
Custom engraved and personalized beer boots are extremely popular as groomsmen gifts
Breweries can add a custom color logo to boots for a great promotional and merchandising tool that will grab the attention of consumers.
Beer boot history
Beer boots are a German invention where they are called a “Bierstiefel”, however there are varying historical explanations. The history of beer boots is centered around the German military towards the beginning of the 20th century. As with many “traditional” and informal sources the veracity of such claims may be disputable but the tradition itself does have a cultural source.
One Tradition holds that a Prussian general swore to his troops that he would drink beer from his boot dependent on the successful outcome in a coming battle. When victorious, the general ordered a glass fashioned in the shape of a boot to fulfill his promise without “having to taste his own feet”.
Another tradition holds that the beer boot began during World War I when German soldiers, having nothing else to drink from, instead passed around an actual leather boot of beer before heading into battle. They would flick the boot before drinking from it for good luck and again after drinking to wish next soldier good luck.
Differences in beer boots:
Mouth Blown Beer Boots
The European made mouth blown beer boot is where it all began. Mouth blown beer boots are individually hand crafted by skilled artisan glass makers in the finest German, Austrian and Polish glass factories. Mouth blown boots are of heirloom quality although as with any hand made glass, it is perfectly normal to find slight abnormalities such as air bubbles and ridges in the glass. Mouth blown beer boots are very fragile and the utmost of care should be used during their use. Oktoberfest Haus carries the 2 liter mouth blown beer boot both blank and with a variety of Germany brewery logos.
Machine Pressed Beer Boots
Machine pressed beer boots can withstand more abuse than their mouth blown counterpart. Machine pressed beer boots are available in our store in the following sizes:
How to drink from a beer boot
The movie Beerfest popularized the theory that “the secret” to drinking out of a beer boot is to point the toe sideways. As beer is consumed out of a beer boot, an air pocket forms in the toe. This air pocket needs to be carefully released to prevent spilling all over the drinker and the standard trick is to hold the boot so that the toe points to either side horizontally. While this certainly does help prevent beer spilling all over the drinker, we leave it up to you to decide how to drink your beer boot as some prefer the added challenge of “toe up” rules.
Oktoberfest Haus ‘Haus’ Game Rules – Beer Boot Drinking Game
1. The beer boot is passed around a group with individuals taking a sip and passing to the left (unless multiple boots are in use).
2. Once the boot is first picked up, it cannot touch the table or be set down until empty.
3. Each player must flick the beer boot prior to and after taking a sip.
4. If you get splashed in the face, you drink again
5. The beer boot’s toe is to remain pointed upward and no turning of the beer boot is allowed (Allowing the toe to face sideways is for amateurs only).
6. If you finish the beer boot, the person before you buys the next fill or is required to fill the next “Das Boot”.
If you play this game with alcohol, always remember to drink responsibly and NEVER drink and drive
Leave a comment