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Beer can pyramid

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An example of a beeramid

A beer can pyramid, often called a beeramid as a portmanteau, is a pyramid made of discarded beer cans or cups.[1][2] It can also refer to a drinking game that utilizes playing cards in the shape of a pyramid.[3]

Sports

Beeramids are sometimes built in grandstands of Major League Baseball games, with one made of cans being knocked down by Miami Marlins outfielder Austin Dean in a game against the Washington Nationals in 2019 and another constructed of cups being knocked down by Adam Duvall in 2024.[4][5] Later in 2019, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves fans cooperated to assemble a pyramid consisting of more than 40 empty beer cans.[6] Larger still was the 112-can structure built during the two-dollar beer night by Cleveland Indians fans before stadium staff removed it. [7]

The minor-league hockey team the Cincinnati Cyclones, who play in the ECHL, embrace spectator-made beeramids as a "staple of Cyclones games". Their website instructs fans to build them on the corners of the rink glass to be knocked over in the 2nd period.[8] An eight-tiered pyramid was constructed during a matchup between the Cyclones and the Wheeling Nailers before being knocked down by colliding players.[9]

Following National Hot Rod Association drag races at Brainerd International Raceway, a pyramid of 1,100 cans was constructed by fans.[10]

College culture

Due in part to the heavy drinking present in college fraternities and alcohol use among college students, beer pyramids are also common on college campuses.[11][12] Their frequent appearances in spring break rental properties lead some landlords to ban them.[13][14]

In 1979, the Kappa Sigma sorority at North Carolina State University stacked 140 empty beer kegs into a seven-keg-high pyramid and applied to Guinness World Records for inclusion. However, due to a lack of other attempts in the category, it was deemed unlikely to be included in the official records.[15]

Largest beeramids

An E Clampus Vitus chapter based in Butte County, California stacked 14,281 beer cans into a 14-foot pyramid in 1985. The cans were sold for scrap for $140 and the proceeds donated to seal conservation.[16]

Members of the Singapore Polytechnic rock climbing club constructed a beer pyramid out of 6,930 empty beer cans in 1997.[17]

In November 1999, the American staff of Stuff magazine built a beeramid standing 16 feet high out of 22,140 Miller Lite cans over the course of over 100 hours, with the assistance of University of Wisconsin engineering students. [17]

On 23 September 2000, the Malaysian Can team, consisting of 12 college students from the INTI College Subang Jaya, Malaysia built a free standing can pyramid created from 9,455 empty aluminium drink cans in 24 minutes at the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It had a square base of 30 × 30 cans, measuring 1.98 m × 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in × 6 ft 6 in). This feat made a successful entry into the Guinness World Record and as of 27 January 2008 this record has yet to be broken.[18]

Another attempt to break the world record Beer Can Pyramid was made with 10,660 beer cans glued into blocks and stood over 5 metres (16+12 ft) high.[19][20] It was built by the Melbourne University Student Union in 2005, and was featured on Blokesworld and in mX.[21]

In media

A beeramid is featured in the 1978 National Lampoon movie Animal House, constructed by college students who are members of a fraternity.[22]

A beer can pyramid was shown on the outside of Duff Gardens in The Simpsons episode 9F11 "Selma's Choice", in 1993, as a parody of Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World.[23]

Drinking game

The drinking game of the same name involves a pyramid of playing cards laid facedown and each player having a number of cards in their hand. One of the cards in the pyramid is flipped over, and if a player has a card of the same number, they can tell any other player to take a drink. Some variants of the game allow for bluffing, with additional drinks being taken based on the outcome of the bluff.[3][24]

References

  1. ^ "Do You Speak College Slang? - Good". www.good.is. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  2. ^ Partridge, Eric (2013). The new Partridge dictionary of slang and unconventional English. Tom Dalzell, Terry Victor (2nd ed.). London New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-61949-3.
  3. ^ a b Fries, Biggie (1998). The best drinking games book ever!. Carlton. p. 16.
  4. ^ "Marlins player hits fans' beer can mountain with baseball". MLB.com. 2019-09-21. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  5. ^ Toscano, Justin (8 June 2024). "Duvall throws a strike, knocks down beer pyramid". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. B1.
  6. ^ "Braves and Cubs fans built a beer can pyramid". MLB.com. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  7. ^ Deadspin.com, Patrick Redford (2016-05-28). "MLB on colossal beer pyramid: "Wow"". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  8. ^ "Venue Info". Cincinnati Cyclones. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  9. ^ "Fan's beeramid takes a tumble at Cyclones game". fox19.com. 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  10. ^ Reusse, Patrick (18 August 2023). "The yearly pilgrimage for drag racing fans". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. pp. C4.
  11. ^ Ryann Acton (2005-11-08). "With fraternity parties all but a thing of the past, freshmen are resorting to a tried-and-true method of getting their booze on". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  12. ^ "DIVING INTO THE FROSH PIT DEPARTMENT: How Well Will You Do Freshman Year in College?". MAD Magazine. No. 433. September 2003. p. 44.
  13. ^ Jesica, Medellin (2 March 2005). "Spring break options abundant for all students". The Signpost. Weber State University. p. 6.
  14. ^ Bracher, Judy (7 June 1992). "After graduation, it's the beach!". Bristol Herald Courier. Bristol, Tennessee. pp. D1.
  15. ^ Spence Moe, Susan (15 February 1979). "Sorority's suds shrine sets record". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. p. 54.
  16. ^ Lake, Perry (4 May 1988). "Clamping down on a drunk image". Chico Enterprise-Record. p. 25.
  17. ^ a b Clerkson, Andy (March 2000). "Stuff Scores a World Record!". Stuff. pp. 11, 103.
  18. ^ Inti College Subang Jaya, Malaysia. "Official World Record for Largest Beer Can Pyramid". Archived from the original on 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  19. ^ Richard Rosalion (7 October 2005). "Worlds Largest Beer Can Pyramid". sobriquet.net. Archived from the original on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  20. ^ hiikeeba (8 October 2005). "World's Largest Beer Can Pyramid!". Wort's Going on Here?.
  21. ^ Barry, Evonne (2005-10-07). "Beer skittles old record". mX. p. 7.
  22. ^ Carter, John (30 March 2011). "Beer drinking considered by some to be art form". The Daily Spectrum. Saint George, Utah. p. 6.
  23. ^ David Weinstein (1998). "Of Mice and Bart: The Simpsons and the Postmodern". In Cristina Degli-Esposti (ed.). Postmodernism in the Cinema. Berghahn Books. pp. 68–69. ISBN 1-57181-106-0.
  24. ^ Griscom, Andy (1994). Beer Games 2, Revised: The Exploitative Sequel (2nd ed.). Mustang Publishing. p. 112. ISBN 978-0914457671.

Media related to Beer can pyramid at Wikimedia Commons