Sacred Drinking Rituals: The Shoey

The shoey - a tradition unlike any other. The shoey is a tradition that has been passed down for decades. It is in my opinion the ultimate Fraternity party and tailgate trick. It gets the fucking crowd going, and for this reason should only be done in front of a large group of people.

What is a Shoey?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a shoey is… You should start by crawling out from underneath the rock you’ve been residing under or get the hell out of that damp cave you call home and live a little. A shoey is simply executed by taking whatever shoe you are wearing off of one foot, pouring your beer into that shoe and chugging the beer from it like it was the Stanley Cup.

Origins

I'm just going to guess this phenomenon follows the ever popular Das Boot, another great way to inhale cold ones. I'm also going to assume that whoever started the shoey trend was lacking a Das Boot and just said fuck it. Again, I am not a fucking historian, and do not care enough to search where it all started. 

 (Image source: Movie: Beerfest) Great fucking film, highly recommend...

Shoeys Are Like Snowflakes

Shoeys are special because no two shoeys are alike, they are like the snowflakes of chugging brewskis like an animal. Why? Let’s start with occasion, there are a million different scenarios you may be in before deciding it is the right time to take down a shoey… at the tailgate, registered party, your lady’s formal, your fraternity’s weekender, your step dad’s wedding to that smokeshow who just so happens to be the same age as you, your grandma’s funeral (she would've wanted it that way), etc. This does not even take into account the condition and style of shoey you are using as a drinking vessel. Frat cruiser, the sperry that has been to hell and back four times over with you, the cowboy boots you wore during pledgeship, your dress shoes you wear to a black tie event, the list simply does not end. I guess what I am trying to get at is for you to know the shoey can be carried out in any form, but should be used to take the party and audience to the next level. Will pulling off a shoey turn up the intensity of the party? If you can answer yes to this question, then fucking do it.

The GOLD CUP of Shoeys

I would have to say the most common place a shoey is performed is at the tailgate or in the stands of your team’s home game though. You may be wearing your favorite cruisers that reek of a mix of fermented sweat, spilled bar food and beers from every party since your freshman year, but this my friends is the Gold Cup of shoeys. It is the most grimey shoey you can pound. Trust me, the grimier the better, everyone agrees, I know. The best thing about this is for whatever reason chicks don’t mind it, in fact, they love to see a dude take down a grimey shoey, shows you have cojones, brother. Even the ladies that hate it when you throw a fatty lipper in are the same ones that will be eating out of the palm of your hand if you crush a shoe full of liquid gold. Just something about shoeys that is as irresistible to commit to as it is to watch and cheer on in admiration.

Now go out there and dominate life, as well as that next shoey, champ.