Editing Beer can pyramid

{{Short description|Pyramid made from discarded beer cans}}
[[File:Beeramid.JPG|thumb|right|An example of a beeramid]]
A '''beer can pyramid''', often called a '''beeramid''' as a [[portmanteau]], is a [[pyramid]] made of discarded beer [[Beverage can|cans]] or cups.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-15 |title=Do You Speak College Slang? - Good |url=https://www.good.is/articles/do-you-speak-college-slang |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.good.is |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Partridge |first=Eric |title=The new Partridge dictionary of slang and unconventional English |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |others=Tom Dalzell, Terry Victor |isbn=978-0-415-61949-3 |edition=2nd |location=London New York}}</ref> It can also refer to a [[drinking game]] that utilizes [[Playing card|playing cards]] in the shape of a pyramid.<ref name=":1" />

== Sports ==
Beeramids are sometimes built in grandstands of [[Major League Baseball]] games, with one made of cans being knocked down by [[Miami Marlins]] [[outfielder]] [[Austin Dean]] in a game against the [[Washington Nationals]] in 2019 and another constructed of cups being knocked down by [[Adam Duvall]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-21 |title=Marlins player hits fans' beer can mountain with baseball |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/marlins-player-hits-fans-beer-can-mountain-with-baseball |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Toscano |first=Justin |date=8 June 2024 |title=Duvall throws a strike, knocks down beer pyramid |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1080843154/?terms=%22beeramid%22 |work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |pages=B1}}</ref> Later in 2019, [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[Atlanta Braves]] fans cooperated to assemble a pyramid consisting of more than 40 empty beer cans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-02 |title=Braves and Cubs fans built a beer can pyramid |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/braves-and-cubs-fans-built-a-beer-can-pyramid |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Larger still was the 112-can structure built during the two-dollar beer night by [[Cleveland Indians]] fans before stadium staff removed it. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Deadspin.com |first=Patrick Redford |date=2016-05-28 |title=MLB on colossal beer pyramid: "Wow" |url=https://gazette.com/sports/mlb-on-colossal-beer-pyramid-wow/article_9e264c8e-f05d-5291-9ef3-bd3674fde7dd.html |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |language=en}}</ref>

The minor-league hockey team the [[Cincinnati Cyclones]], who play in the [[ECHL]], embrace spectator-made beeramids as a "staple of Cyclones games". Their website instructs fans to build them on the corners of the rink glass to be knocked over in the 2nd period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Venue Info |url=https://cycloneshockey.com/venue-info |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Cincinnati Cyclones |language=en}}</ref> An eight-tiered pyramid was constructed during a matchup between the Cyclones and the [[Wheeling Nailers]] before being knocked down by colliding players.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-26 |title=Fan's beeramid takes a tumble at Cyclones game |url=https://www.fox19.com/story/23794082/beeramid-takes-a-tumble-at-cincinnati-cyclones-game/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=fox19.com |language=en}}</ref>

Following [[National Hot Rod Association]] drag races at [[Brainerd International Raceway]], a pyramid of 1,100 cans was constructed by fans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reusse |first=Patrick |date=18 August 2023 |title=The yearly pilgrimage for drag racing fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/996017290/?terms=%22beer%20pyramid%22 |work=[[Minneapolis Star-Tribune]] |pages=C4}}</ref>

== College culture ==
Due in part to the [[Binge drinking|heavy drinking]] present in [[Fraternities and sororities|college fraternities]] and [[alcohol use among college students]], beer pyramids are also common on college campuses.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ryann Acton |date=2005-11-08 |title=With fraternity parties all but a thing of the past, freshmen are resorting to a tried-and-true method of getting their booze on |url=https://dailyorange.com/2005/11/with-fraternity-parties-all-but-a-thing-of-the-past-freshmen-are-resorting-to-a-tried-and-true-method-of-getting-their-booze-on/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=The Daily Orange |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 2003 |title=DIVING INTO THE FROSH PIT DEPARTMENT: How Well Will You Do Freshman Year in College? |magazine=[[MAD Magazine]] |number=433 |page=44 |url=https://archive.org/details/martha-/The%20Pretty%20Darned%20Complete%20EC/MadMagprt3/MAD%20433%20%2809-2003%29/page/n44/mode/1up?q=%22beeramid%22}}</ref> Their frequent appearances in [[spring break]] rental properties lead some landlords to ban them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jesica |first=Medellin |date=2 March 2005 |title=Spring break options abundant for all students |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/561199168/?match=2&terms=%22beeramid%22 |work=The Signpost |location=Weber State University |pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bracher |first=Judy |date=7 June 1992 |title=After graduation, it's the beach! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/964345123/?terms=beach |work=Bristol Herald Courier |location=Bristol, Tennessee |pages=D1}}</ref> 

In 1979, the [[Kappa Sigma]] sorority at [[North Carolina State University]] stacked 140 empty beer kegs into a seven-keg-high pyramid and applied to [[Guinness World Records]] for inclusion. However, due to a lack of other attempts in the category, it was deemed unlikely to be included in the official records.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spence Moe |first=Susan |date=15 February 1979 |title=Sorority's suds shrine sets record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653477702/?terms=%22beer%20pyramid%22 |work=The News and Observer |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |pages=54}}</ref>

== Largest beeramids ==
An [[E Clampus Vitus]] chapter based in [[Butte County, California]] stacked 14,281 beer cans into a 14-foot pyramid in 1985. The cans were sold for scrap for $140 and the proceeds donated to seal conservation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lake |first=Perry |date=4 May 1988 |title=Clamping down on a drunk image |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/927817805/?match=1&terms=%22beer%20pyramid%22 |work=Chico Enterprise-Record |pages=25}}</ref>

Members of the [[Singapore Polytechnic]] [[rock climbing]] club constructed a beer pyramid out of 6,930 empty beer cans in 1997.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Clerkson |first=Andy |date=March 2000 |title=Stuff Scores a World Record! |work=Stuff |url=https://archive.org/details/stuff-magazine-06-2000-02-03-alicia-witt-b/page/n11/mode/1up?q=beeramid |pages=11, 103}}</ref>

In November 1999, the American staff of [[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]] magazine built a beeramid standing 16 feet high out of 22,140 [[Miller Lite]] cans over the course of over 100 hours, with the assistance of [[University of Wisconsin System|University of Wisconsin]] engineering students. <ref name=":0" />

On 23 September 2000, the Malaysian Can team, consisting of 12 college students from the INTI College Subang Jaya, Malaysia built a free standing can pyramid created from 9,455 empty aluminium drink cans in 24 minutes at the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It had a square base of {{nowrap|30 × 30}} cans, measuring {{cvt|1.98|×|1.98|m|ftin}}. This feat made a successful entry into the Guinness World Record and {{asof|2008|1|27|lc=y}} this record has yet to be broken.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official World Record for Largest Beer Can Pyramid |url=http://www.intisj.edu.my/intisj/InfoAbout/GuinessWorldRecord.asp |accessdate=2008-04-01 |author=Inti College Subang Jaya, Malaysia |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127121253/http://www.intisj.edu.my/intisj/InfoAbout/GuinessWorldRecord.asp |archivedate=2008-01-27 }}</ref>

Another attempt to break the world record Beer Can Pyramid was made with 10,660 beer cans glued into blocks and stood over {{convert|5|m|ft|frac=2}} high.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sobriquet.net/2005/10/07/beeramid/ |title=Worlds Largest Beer Can Pyramid |accessdate=2007-06-12 |author=Richard Rosalion |date=7 October 2005 |website=sobriquet.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016042237/http://sobriquet.net/2005/10/07/beeramid/ |archive-date=2007-10-16 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=hiikeeba |date=8 October 2005 |title=World's Largest Beer Can Pyramid! |website=Wort's Going on Here? |url=https://homebrewer2005.blogspot.com/2005/10/worlds-largest-beer-can-pyramid.html}}</ref> It was built by the Melbourne University Student Union in 2005, and was featured on ''[[Blokesworld]]'' and in [[mX (newspaper)|mX]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Evonne |author-link=Evonne Barry |title=Beer skittles old record |newspaper=[[mX (newspaper)|mX]] |pages=7 |date=2005-10-07 }}</ref>

== In media ==

A beeramid is featured in the 1978  [[National Lampoon (magazine)|National Lampoon]] movie [[Animal House]], constructed by college students who are members of a [[fraternity]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=John |date=30 March 2011 |title=Beer drinking considered by some to be art form |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/286863322/?match=1&clipping_id=new |work=The Daily Spectrum |location=Saint George, Utah |pages=6}}</ref>

A beer can pyramid was shown on the outside of [[Duff Gardens]] in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode 9F11 "[[Selma's Choice]]", in 1993, as a parody of [[Cinderella's Castle]] at [[Walt Disney World]].<ref name="Weinstein">{{cite book|editor=Cristina Degli-Esposti |author=David Weinstein |chapter=Of Mice and Bart: ''The Simpsons'' and the Postmodern|title=Postmodernism in the Cinema |year=1998|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=1-57181-106-0|pages=68–69}}</ref>

== Drinking game ==
The [[drinking game]] of the same name involves a pyramid of [[Playing card|playing cards]] laid facedown and each player having a number of cards in their hand. One of the cards in the pyramid is flipped over, and if a player has a card of the same number, they can tell any other player to take a drink. Some variants of the game allow for [[Bluffing (cards)|bluffing]], with additional drinks being taken based on the outcome of the bluff.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Fries |first=Biggie |url=https://archive.org/details/bestdrinkinggame0000frie/page/16/mode/1up |title=The best drinking games book ever! |date=1998 |publisher=Carlton |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Griscom |first=Andy |title=Beer Games 2, Revised: The Exploitative Sequel |publisher=Mustang Publishing |year=1994 |isbn=978-0914457671 |edition=2nd |pages=112}}</ref>
{{Portal|Beer}}

==References==
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== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Beer can pyramid}}
[[Category:Pyramids]]
[[Category:Figurate numbers]]
[[Category:Beer culture]]