America stands as an incredible example of diversity, tenacity, and adaptability. The third largest country in the world, the United States dwarfs Old World bastions like England or France. We are one of the few countries in the world where someone can enjoy pad thai for lunch, watch a Japanese film at the local cinema, pick up some figurines imported from Italy, and head to a Polish restaurant for dinner. This is not to say that America simply adopts its pastimes and personalities from other countries and cultures. Have you ever heard the saying, “As American as apple pie?” You might have watched a movie or read a comic starring the superhero and war veteran Captain America. Perhaps you’ve seen a majestic bald eagle in flight, or watched the stars and stripes fluttering in the wind. One of these uniquely American phenomenons is tailgating. Over time, the practice of tailgating has morphed and evolved. Every year, more people haul their favorite foods, competitive games, and cold beverages to the parking lots to share with fellow fans. If you’re a veteran of tailgating events, you’ve probably seen some of the most popular games and recipes disappear in favor of a better choice. The growing popularity of tailgating means that there will always be people trying to improve the experience and phase out old staples that just aren’t worth the time anymore. You may be worried that beer pong, the fast and fun challenge of accuracy and speed, might be on the chopping block. However, we can confidently state that your custom beer pong table will always be a big draw at tailgating events. There have been many contenders that tried to take this popular game’s place, but none of them seem to have the sheer longevity of beer pong. In this blog, we take a look at why this game is such a long lasting classic.

How Did Beer Pong Become a Tailgating Classic?

Tailgating may have begun as early as the American Civil War, as civilians crowded around the Battle of Bull Run with beverages, baskets full of food, and blankets. The tailgating experience evolved from this odd origin to become one of the biggest entertainment events in American culture. Instead of armed conflicts, people would flock to both NFL and college football games. In some cases, they would simply pull up close to the field, open their truck up, and share food and drinks with other viewers. It’s easy to see how games like cornhole and ring toss became popular, but why beer pong? To find the answer, we can look at the history of Dartmouth College. Students had been playing a game that resembled the modern version of beer pong, but with a few clunky changes, such as the use of paddles. Dartmouth students came up with their own simplified variant that cut out the extra equipment. These beer pong pioneers removed many of the restrictions that made playing the game impractical, especially at a tailgating event. People began traveling with a portable beer pong table and playing with friends at events.We’re in favor of adding fun twists and house rules to beer pong, but the core game has proven so solid that it has remained largely untouched for decades now. If you buy a beer pong table today, chances is you’re playing with the exact same rule set that originated during the 1960′s. The fun, fast gameplay and the ability to enjoy a few drinks means that beer pong has risen to prominence as one of the most popular tailgating games.

The Highest Form of Flattery: Meet the Competition

It’s no surprise when a classic ends up inspiring its fans. Anything that captures a place in pop culture usually earns itself a few imitators. Mega Blocks serve as a poor man’s Lego, two Snow White movies fought for box office success in 2012, and every kid lives in fear of receiving a “Sqny Popstation” come Christmas time. Beer pong is no exception to this rule. Here are some of beer pong’s biggest challengers, and a quick overview as to why they pose no challenge to the king.

Alcohockey: Can a Canadian Twist Overthrow Beer Pong?

In early 2014, a post appeared on Reddit’s front page, entitled “Alcohockey – the Canadian variation of beer pong”. The idea of marrying air hockey and beer pong seemed like an objectively superior experience until it was put to the test. It was soon discovered that Alcohockey works better as a competitive, frantic one-on-one experience. When you bust out your custom beer pong table, on the other hand, anyone can play. Teams, new players, and the less coordinated are all welcome to step up to the table. Alcohockey is a far more narrow game, and ultimately serves a niche purpose.

Dizzy Bat: Wiffle Ball with a Splash of Danger

Dizzy bat is a new game that’s gone viral online. The rules are simple: Fill a wiffle bat with beer, and then consume the beverage within. A crowd will count how long it takes. Take that number, and spin around the bat exactly that many times. Once you’re good and disoriented, someone will throw a beer can at you. Victory hinges upon being able to bat it out of the air. If you fail, spin three more times and try again. While wiffle bat sounds funny and light hearted when written down, in practice it is undignified, unhygienic, and dangerous. A custom beer pong table, on the other hand, lends an air of class and tradition to your gathering. As a rule of thumb, if a game seems designed from the ground up to induce nausea and injury, it should be avoided.

Puzzle Jug: Can a French Invention From the 14th Century Thrive Today?

The puzzle jug is an interesting contraption that originated from France. At first glance, this product looks like something that your aunt might keep out in her sunroom. Your goal is to fill it and then drink it without spilling a drop. This is obviously quite tricky when the jug is riddled with openings. Puzzle jug is a test of skill, deftness, and tactical thinking. However, it only really engages one person at a time, and failure means you end up with a wet shirt. If you’re looking to engage an entire crowd at the same time, a custom beer pong table is a far better solution.

If you were worried that your custom beer pong table may be going out of vogue, you can take a breath of relief. Games like puzzle jug and alcohockey have earned a niche in the tailgating tradition of America, but they simply can’t stand up to the champ. When it comes to a versatile, fun, and engaging sport, beer pong is always a safe bet. If you’re interested in picking up a custom table of your own, you’re in luck! Our selection of tailgate tables at All American Tagilgate Inc. can serve your needs. Check our online catalogue out today and pick out a table for your next big event!