Skip to main content

Why Are All These Celebrities Shotgunning Beers?

There is a spectrum of appropriateness when it comes to drinking beer. The shotgun method has always occupied some distant end, miles away from the aroma-heightening tulip glass or sleek and slender pilsner vessel. No, the shotgun tends to occupy the hangover-inducing territory mostly reserved for tailgating and absurd college parties.

Like merlot or ’90s fashion, the messy, beer-guzzling act is reemerging and we’re not entirely sure why. It’s no longer just the embellished theatrics of a blue-collar wrestler (here’s looking at you, Stone Cold Steve Austin). Celebrities and star athletes are sharing in the fun. But after shotgunning a beer for the first time in well over a decade — and once again feeling that silly, sticky, gut-punching, celebratory, woozy euphoria — I have a few theories.

Recommended Videos

"I just don’t like the idea of my franchise quarterback spending time at a baseball game. I mean, what are you doing, @bakermayfield? You don’t see guys like Aaron Rodgers shotgunning beers. Just not a good look. Go watch some film." – @ColinCowherd (probably)

Legend. https://t.co/IUCW1Kp4s3

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 4, 2019

Politicians once kissed babies and, largely still, visit small towns. It’s a sometimes patronizing act meant to exhibit some kind of folk sensibility — a closeness with everyday people. Social media makes our favorite people terribly accessible and we like love to ogle. So how better for a Heisman-winning quarterback or all-star influencer to prove their normality to countless followers? The shotgun, of course.

Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Aaron Rodgers have already been famously caught in the act. Tom Brady did it, but we all know it was Michelob Ultra. Justin Bieber has rather unsurprisingly attempted the shotgun many times. And Martha Stewart failed spectacularly under the tutelage of Snoop Dog. Some are better than others (and probably had more practice than others thanks to past fraternity lives) but there’s almost a nobility in just being okay at the shotgun. It’s not how much beer gets absorbed into your bloodstream. It’s how quickly you pour suds all over your face and shirt.

On a deeper level, the shotgun might be a subtle revolt against craft beer and high-IQ drink culture. After all, when the beer in question is there only to by punctured by a knife, key, or tooth and emptied in mere seconds, cheap and tasteless is probably the way to go. Though the thought of White IPAs and Belgian tripels entering the shotgun domain is pretty entertaining, at least in theory.

Then again, perhaps it has reemerged on account of its utter pace and efficiency. The world is not getting any slower. If Americans are thirsty for a swift way to enjoy their beer, there’s hardly any swifter. Beer-bonging is decidedly extra. Shotgunning is relatively quick and easy, without any bells or whistles.

Tom Brady Chugs A Beer In One Gulp

There’s also the competitive element. Most icons caught on camera shotgunning do so by their lonesome, much to the joy of the masses. But the practice really came to be what it is as a race among friends with often drunk results. The looming climate of bravado and one-upmanship welcomes the shotgun with open arms.

Whatever the real reason, the shotgun refuses to go quietly. It’s the subject of a hilarious and quite literal Wikipedia page. And you might as well know how, just in case you’re at a raging party or want to take your celebrity status to even higher levels.

Someday soon, you too may only have a few seconds to savor a cold one.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Dogfish Head is celebrating with a beer advent calendar
Count the days to Christmas with beer
Dogfish Head advent calendar.

Dogfish Head Brewery is going festive this holiday period. The renowned Delaware brewery just dropped an advent calendar aptly named 24 Days of Dogfish Head. In it, craft enthusiasts will find a mix of beers, RTD cocktails, and brand merch like coozies.

For a cool $100, craft enthusiasts are treated to a bevy of drinks to guide them through December towards Christmas. It's part of a larger trend capitalizing both on the tradition of festive imbibing around the holidays and the ease with which today's consumers can special order alcohol and have it delivered right to their doorstep. And, it's kinda fun.

Read more
Sierra Nevada to drop new NA beer variety pack
New NA beers from a beloved brand
Sierra Nevada NA beer variety pack.

One of the best tasting non-alcoholic beers in the nation is about to come in a variety pack. Sierra Nevada will drop the bundle in December, set to include favorites like Trail Pass IPA and Trail Pass Golden along with two brand new releases.

The bundle will see the debut of Trail Pass Brewveza, a NA blonde ale inspired by Mexican lagers, and a Trail Pass Hazy IPA, featuring juicy flavors and plenty of citrus. You can get your hands on these cans from coast to coast starting next month. The 12-pack includes three each of all four beers. Additionally, the new hazy IPA will be sold on its own in six-packs.

Read more
San Diego Beer Week kicks off tomorrow
Highlights from a major west coast beer gathering
Cheers two beers

One of the nation's largest beer-centric gatherings starts tomorrow. San Diego Beer Week, the product of the San Diego Brewers Guild, is an impressive 10-day gathering in and around one of America's great craft-loving cities. Attendees can pop into the many bars, breweries and restaurants taking part for special gatherings celebrating the local beer scene.

It's a fitting event for a city long known for its beer. While the craft beer capital of America is a constant subject of debate, San Diego is no doubt a finalist, with more than 150 labels occupying its home turf. Next week begins the celebration of what all those producers have been turning out.

Read more