Beer.Bike.Balloons | The Beer Drinking Tradition




THE BEER DRINKING TRADITION

Introduction | Timeline: Pre-1990 | Timeline: Post-1990

1957

As Baker, Hanszen and Will Rice Colleges planned for the 15-mile off-campus bike race that became the precursor to Beer-Bike, the idea of chugging beer is first introduced. According to the April 12, 1957 issue of The Rice Thresher, "A touch of novelty will be injected by requiring each rider to down an unspecified quantity of beer before his replacement may begin the next segment. No details are yet available as to how the team members will be returned to the campus." After undergoing some changes, the race is held May 5, 1957. Bikers chug one quart of beer in the middle of each lap of the race (one lap being a circuit of the Inner Loop). Baker, the first college to finish 10 laps, gets a trophy; Hanszen, the victor in the beer-drinking competition, wins a keg.

1959

The "Beer-bike race by intramural field" is listed in the schedule of Rondelet weekend festivities, marking the first use of the word "beer" in the name of the event.

1961

By now there's a firmly established tradition of keeping separate beer teams and bike teams.

1966

The lack of a dedicated women's race leads to the invention of Tea Trike, a women's race held before the Beer-Bike race in which bikers chugged Earl Grey, not beer.

1977

In a day when the Texas drinking age was 18, it was perfectly acceptable for beer companies to sponsor Beer-Bike teams. This year Coors sponsors the Brown College team and Schlitz sponsors the Sid Richardson College team. By this point, colleges also have themes for each Beer-Bike. Listen to Jen Cooper's memories of Beer-Bike themes (mp3).

1984

Detroit's Stroh Brewing Company covers part of the race's expenses in exchange for sponsorship rights.

1986

The Texas legal drinking age goes from 19 to 21 on Sept. 1. There's no grandfather clause to allow those who were already over 19 but not yet 21 to continue drinking after Sept. 1, so huge parties mark the last night of legal under-21 drinking on Aug. 31. Water is made available to underage chuggers in lieu of beer at the 1987 Beer-Bike, in addition to the non-alcoholic beer that had already been an option.