Rules for the German Beer Boot Drinking Game (Das Stiefel)

The beer boot, or *Das Boot*  is a large glass vessel shaped like a boot, 2 liters of beer!!   It's passed around a group in a circle, with players taking turns drinking. The game emphasizes technique to avoid spills and includes penalties for mistakes. Below is a compiled list of the standard rules, drawn from traditional German beer hall practices.

​

1. No Table Contact: Once served, the boot must never touch the table until it is completely empty. Violating this requires the offender to drink again.

​

2. Pre-Drink Flick: Before taking a sip, flick the glass (usually the heel or side) with your finger to "wake up" the beer and build pressure. Skipping this means drinking again.

​

3. Proper Drinking Technique: Hold the boot with the toe pointed directly away from your face to start. As you drink, gradually rotate it 90 degrees (left or right) so the toe ends up sideways by the time the bubble reaches it. This prevents beer from spraying out. If the toe points toward you or in the wrong direction, you must drink again.

​

4. Post-Drink Flick: After your turn, flick the glass again before passing it clockwise to the next player. Forgetting this incurs another drink penalty.

​

5. Splash Penalty: If beer splashes your face or body during your turn (often from poor technique), you must take another full turn.

​

6. Finisher's Curse: The person who buys the next boot is the one who passed it to the player who empties it (i.e., the drinker immediately before the finisher). This keeps the game going—aim to avoid being that "cursed" passer.

​

7. Low-Beer Ceremony: When the beer level is low enough that one person could finish it in a single turn, everyone at the table pats the table in unison to signal the final push, building excitement.

​

Additional Notes:

A $150 deposit for the Glass is Required. Cost of beer varies with beer

- The game is typically played with 4+ players . Boots are heavy (use two hands)

- Drink responsibly—*Das Boot* packs a punch due to its size.