What Is Beer Darts

Beer is a popular drink, and darts is a popular game. The two have been working in harmony for an age, especially here in the UK. In fact the most popular place to play darts is in the pub while enjoying a beer. But what is beer darts?

Beer darts is an exciting and fun outdoor game to play with adult family and friends (it’s not for kids). Each player has a full open beer can set in a special holder. These are placed on the ground ten feet apart and each player takes in turns to try at hit their opponents can. Pierce your opponents can and they have to take a drink down to stop the leak. The first player with an empty can is the loser.

It is simple and its fun, the ideal game to play outside your pub shed or garden bar.

Table Of Contents

What Is Beer Darts?

Beer darts is nothing new, in fact it has been around for years. Americans and Canadians will know the game well.

I guess beer darts is kind of a level up from the popular game beer pong involving plastic cups and a ping pong ball.

I remember throwing stones at empty cans as a kid, it was a game my friends and I would often play. Again a similar kind of game.

However I have not come across beer darts before, even when I lived in Canada for a while.

So for us people in the UK that like beer and a game of darts with friends. Beer darts is an appealing game to play outdoors.

The kit is simple too and will fit into any small bag or decent sized pocket. It consists of two beer can holders and four darts.

The darts are only lightweight 10 gram darts because heavier darts can split a can open. And the aim is to only pierce the can. The darts also store away in the can holders when not in use.

The can holders are simply a small base for the can to fit into, they have a special clip on the back so a backboard can be fitted to protect feet and legs.

A small half ring adapter can be fitted to the can holders so thinner cans can be used. As well as two dart holders on the back to rest your darts between games.

There is even a bottle opener on the base too, although why you would need one when you are playing with cans I am not sure.

Finally each base have built in magnets and snap together perfectly to become one unit for storage.

How To Play Beer Darts

The rules are very simple, however the rules can be adapted to how ever you want to play the game.

A beer game pack comes with two beer can holders and four darts. Therefore the game is for two people, however if you have more than one pack then you can play three vs three or four or more.

To keep it simple I will just explain the basic rules with two can holders and two people.

First you place your can holders ten feet apart, If using a back board (advisable) then fit this now.

Second, open your can of beer (or any canned beverage) and place it in the holder.

Third, sit or squat behind your board and take in turns throwing your darts at your opponents can. Player one throws two darts, then player two throws two darts and so on.

If the point of your dart hits the other players can but does not pierce it, then they take one sip or glug of the contents.

However if your dart hit and pierce the can, then they have to drink down to the point the can is leaking from in order to stop the leak.

This carries on until one players can is empty, by which they are eliminated and lose the game.

Where To Play Beer Darts?

Beer darts is not an indoor game, although I guess you could play it indoors if you have the space. Just remember some darts are going to hit the floor, so think about your floor covering.

It really is an outside game that can be played almost anywhere. I have a wooden deck outside my pub shed, so an ideal place to play beer darts.

So it can be played in the garden, in the park, on the beach, in the wild while camping. In fact anywhere outside where you and your friends are enjoying a beer.

Probably not a good idea to play it on the street, or in a busy area. But I think common sense comes into play at this point.

Beer darts is a popular game while tailgating in America and Canada, which is consuming beverages and barbecuing from the back of a vehicle. Normally as part of the lead up to a sports event.

Not to be confused with the British term for tailgating, which is following the car in front to closely while driving.

Basically beer darts can be played in a lot of outdoor areas, use your imagination, but be respectful to other people.

Is Beer Darts Any Good?

Of course it is, I could rave about it all day long. However I am not going to, and for good reason.

I haven’t actually played it myself, and I will explain why. So this post is not a review of Beer Darts, more a way of bringing it to the attention of my readers that are not in the US and Canada (these guys already know about it) .

I came across Beer Darts recently, and the first thing I did was try to buy a set. However I cannot find it in the UK.

On the Beer Darts website it appears they only ship within the US and Canada, which caused a disappointed face.

So what am I to do?

Well I have contacted them via email and asked if they can ship to the UK or any other countries ( I didn’t forget the rest of you) outside of the US and Canada.

I have only just done this while writing, and there is the obvious time difference between the US and UK. So I am not expecting and immediate response.

I will however update this post when I find out our Beer Darts fate.

Having said all that, back to the question ‘Is beer darts any good?’

If you like darts, then its a given, you will like Beer Darts. Play normal darts indoors and Beer darts outdoors, everywhere is covered.

The story of the Beer Darts Founders

Final Thoughts

So beer darts is nothing new, and people have been playing for years. It can be played by just placing your cans on the ground and using regular darts.

However the cans are prone to fall over easily and regular darts can split a can open. Having said that it is easy enough to make our own can holders from wood and buy some 10 gram darts.

The first beer darts games were manufactured from wood, but now they are made from recyclable material.

A neat little pack that is easy to carry and store, which is why I want to get my hands on a set.

Just remember though you don’t have to play with beer, any canned beverage is okay.

If any of you have managed to get hold of this great little game in the UK or other countries besides the US and Canada. The do share your source below in the comments section.

For you guys in the US and Canada let us know what this game is like, how well made it is and how it performs.