Beer People Keg Party Terms Talk Drink Special

Beer is a popular drink in the United States, and many special terms are used to talk about beer and drinking it. When buying beer, most people purchase a "six-pack," or a group of six cans of beer, each with an individual serving, that are held together by a piece of clear plastic with six "rings" (circles) that are place around the top of each can. Of course, beer can also be purchased in "bottles" (glass containers), in which case a "six-pack" is held together by a "cardboard" (thick paper) carrier. People can also buy cans or bottles "by the case" (with 12 to 24 units in a cardboard box).

When people are buying a lot of beer, especially for a college party, they can buy a "keg," or a small "barrel" (a large, round container) that was traditionally made of wood, but now is more often made of aluminum or steel. The keg keeps the liquid under pressure, and the beer is "dispensed" (moved out of the keg and into a glass) by "tapping" (opening) the keg at the "valve" (a small piece used for opening and closing). At a "kegger" (a party with kegs of beer), there is a lot of emphasis on people, especially men, "chugging beer" (drinking beer very quickly without stopping until it is finished) in order to "feel the effects of alcohol" (become drunk) very quickly.

At a bar or restaurant, it's common to be served "draught beer" that is served from a "tap" (a special faucet that serves beer from a large container that is under the counter). Many of these draught beers are "craft beers" (beers produced locally and in smaller quantities than beers from national "breweries" (companies and places where beer is made)).