3 Thirsty GoatsGame day & tailgate
How Much Beer Do You Need for a Game Day Party?
Football season is here. Here is the math, so you are not making a beer run at halftime.
Plan my game day orderThe short answer
Plan on one drink per guest per hour. A game runs about three hours, and people show up early, so plan for four. For 25 guests that is about 125 drinks, and most of them will be beer.
What to buy, by guest count
Based on a four hour game window. Mix used: 70% beer, 10% wine, 20% spirits and seltzers.
| Guests | Total drinks | Beer | Wine | Spirits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 125 | 4 cases | 3 bottles | 2 bottles |
| 50 | 250 | 8 cases | 5 bottles | 4 bottles |
| 75 | 375 | 11 cases | 8 bottles | 5 bottles |
| 100 | 500 | 15 cases | 10 bottles | 7 bottles |
| 150 | 750 | 22 cases | 15 bottles | 10 bottles |
Beer counted in cases of 24. Wine at five glasses per bottle. Spirits in 750ml bottles at about 16 drinks each.
Want to change the guest count or the hours? Use the party drink calculator and it will do the math for any number.
Why this mix
Game day is a beer crowd. Buy beer deep and buy it cold. Keep one bottle of whiskey and a few seltzers on hand for the people who do not drink beer, and skip the big wine order.
Four mistakes that cost the most
- Buying beer warm on the morning of the game. A fridge cannot cool four cases in two hours.
- One kind of beer only. Split it: half a familiar light lager, half something local.
- Forgetting ice. A cooler needs about one bag of ice for every case of beer.
- No plan for the non drinkers. A few seltzers and sodas cover it.
How we set up your game day run
- You send the guest count, the date and the hours.
- We build the drink plan and tell you what it takes to cover it.
- You adjust the mix to fit what your crowd actually drinks.
- We pull the order together for pickup at the store on Austin Bluffs.
We are a liquor store in Colorado Springs, not a caterer. What we do well is get the amount right and have it ready when you come get it.
Questions people ask
How much beer for 20 people watching a game?
About four cases for a four hour window, if beer is most of what your crowd drinks. That works out to roughly five drinks per person.
Beer or a keg?
A half barrel keg pours about 165 twelve ounce beers, so it starts making sense above roughly 35 guests. Below that, cases are easier and there is no equipment to return.
Can you have it ready when I get there?
Send us your headcount and your kickoff time using the form and we will tell you what we can have pulled and ready.
What about tailgating rules?
Open container and tailgating rules vary by lot and venue. Check with the venue before you go. We can help with what you buy, not with what the lot allows.
Plan my game day order
Tell us the date and the headcount. We will come back with a plan.
Request received
We have your details. Someone from 3 Thirsty Goats will get back to you about your game day party.