

In addition to drunk words and puke words, this list is slang for beer itself as well as other slang involving beer and/or alcohol more generally. Some entomological sources list the dates when there are records of the word being in use, and those are listed in parenthesis, along with any other additional information provided. If you know of one that’s not listed here, please drop me a note and I’ll add it. Thanks.





Slang For Beer:

æfterealo (Old English; weak beer)

aiming fluid (when playing darts, pool, etc.)

amber brew

amber fluid

amber nectar

angels’ food (1577; strong ale)

audit ale (1823)

barley-bree (1786; strong ale)

barley-broth (1593-1884; strong ale)

barley pop

barley sandwich (lunchtime)

barley soda

barmy beer

bed-ale (1880)

belch (1706–1858; weak beer)

bing-ale (1735)

blue-cap (1822)

brew

brewage

brewski

brown bottle

bub (1671–1841; strong beer)

clerk-ale (1791)

cold coffee

cold one

Darby (1704–1719; ale)

ealu (Old English; ale)

entire (1825-1854; porter)

eyebright (1610)

flux ale (1742)

four-ale (1883)

fourpenny ale (1871)

frostie

frosty pop

gatter (1818–1851)

Germaine Greer (1990s; Australia)

glass sandwich

grout (1674; weak beer)

heavy (1823)

heavy wet (1821–1843)

hock-ale/hocking-ale (1484)

hop(s) (1929; Australia, New Zealand)

hop juice

huff (1790; strong ale)

huff-cap (1577–1630 + 1884; strong ale)

hugmatee (1699-1704)

hum (1616–1719; strong ale)

hum-cap (c. 1700; strong ale)

inky-pinky (1835–1842 Scotland; weak beer)

ipse (1719)

Jesus juice

karité (1706)

lamb-ale (1774)

laughing water (strong beer)

lift-leg (1587; strong ale)

liquid bread

mad dog (1577; strong ale)

malt liquor

mealtealoþ (Old English; ale)

merry-go-down (1500–1599; strong ale)

Morocco (1792; strong ale)

nappy (1743–1882; ale)

neck-oil (1860)

needle-beer (1928; strong beer)

ninepenny (1886)

nippitate (1575–1693; strong ale)

nippitaty (strong ale)

nipsitate (1639; strong ale)

oil

oil of barley (c. 1700)

oil of malt (1648-50)

old boy (1743; strong ale)

ostler-ale (1861)

penny-ale (1362–1544; cheap ale)

penny-wheep/penny-whip (1785–1821; Scotland; weak beer)

Pharaoh/Old Pharaoh (1683–1839; strong ale)

pig’s ear (1880)

Pimlico (1670)

pongelo/pongelow (1864)

pudding-ale (1377; cheap ale)

servoice (1483; ale)

sherbet

sixteens (1584)

slop(s) (1904)

stingo (1635; strong ale)

stitch (1742; strong ale)

stitchback (1671–1719; strong ale)

strike-me-dead (1824; Nautical; weak beer)

strong barley-water (1625; ale)

suds (1904)

swankey/swanky (1841)

swatan (Old English)

swats (1508; Scotland; new ale)

swing oil (when playing golf)

swipes (1821–1895)

tangle-leg(s) (1880)

tap-lash (1623–1828; weak beer)

tinnie/tinny

tipper (1844)

turps (1945; Australia)

twibrowen ealoþ (Old English)

twoops (1729)

twopenny ale (1710–1819)

vitamin B

voiding beer (c. 1600; beer drunk on departure)

wallop (1933)

whip-belly (1731–1847; weak beer)

wylisc eala (Old English)

yeoman ale (1532; second-quality ale)

yill (1785; Scotland; ale)





Types of Beer (Generally Obsolete):

aleberry (1420–1630)

aleboly (c. 1500)

ale-brue (1542)

ale-meat (1699)

barley-beer (1901)

berkyne (1436)

bragget (c. 1386)

bragoes (1605)

Burton ale (1738)

butt-beer (1713–1771)

butter-ale (1666)

buttered ale (1764-1789)

buttered beer (1532–1547)

chang/chong (c. early 1800s)

china-ale (1659–1713)

four/four-shilling beer (1633)

horse-radish ale (1664)

Lubecks beer (1608–1639)

mace-ale (1611–1676)

March beer (1576–1704)

molasses beer (1742–1839)

mum (1640)

mum-beer (1672–1783)

nog (1693)

October beer (1708–1855)

old six (1890–1898)

persimmon/’simmon beer (c. 1775; United States)

peterman (1767)

rough (1946)

sage-ale (1584-1597)

seamen’s beer (1795)

ship-beer (1706)

six/sixes (1631–1785)

spruce beer (1500–1690)

starting-beer (1742)

stock beer (1826)

treble X (1856)

vinegar beer (1677)

wormwood-ale (1603–1665)

wormwood-beer (c. early 1600s)

wrest-beer (c. 1654)





Other Beer Slang:

alcohol abuse : spilling beer

: spilling beer baby beer : macro beer from a big brewery

: macro beer from a big brewery beer bitch : the person obligated to fetch beer for a person

: the person obligated to fetch beer for a person beer blinders : see “beer goggles”

: see “beer goggles” beer goggles : phenomenon in which the consumption of alcohol makes physically unattractive persons appear beautiful

: phenomenon in which the consumption of alcohol makes physically unattractive persons appear beautiful bitch slap : mixing a 6-pack in the store

: mixing a 6-pack in the store block : 30-pack

: 30-pack bomber : 24 oz. package

: 24 oz. package breaking the seal : urinating for the first time during a drinking session

: urinating for the first time during a drinking session brick : 12-pack

: 12-pack Britney Spears : light beer

: light beer bullet : 22 oz. bottle

: 22 oz. bottle buzzkill : something which destroys a buzz, and causes sober thoughts and loss of enjoyment

: something which destroys a buzz, and causes sober thoughts and loss of enjoyment cheerleaders : beer bottles

: beer bottles church key : bottle opener

: bottle opener depth charge : 24 oz. can

: 24 oz. can DD : designated driver

: designated driver double deuce : 22 oz. package

: 22 oz. package frontloading : drinking before going out to a club/bar/etc., usually due to cost

: drinking before going out to a club/bar/etc., usually due to cost guest beer : beer from another brewery available temporarily

: beer from another brewery available temporarily ponies : 7 oz. bottles

: 7 oz. bottles pot-valiant : bold or courageous under the influence of alcohol

: bold or courageous under the influence of alcohol roadside olympics : field sobriety test

: field sobriety test road soda : beer for the ride

: beer for the ride silo : 24 oz. beer can (Iowa)

: 24 oz. beer can (Iowa) slab : case of beer (Australia)

: case of beer (Australia) snappy : SNPA = Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

: SNPA = Sierra Nevada Pale Ale soldiers : beer bottles bayoneting the wounded : finishing the “wounded soldiers” the next morning dead man : a bottle emptied of beer, wine, or liquor; also: an empty beer can dead soldiers : empty beer bottles deserter : full bottle lost but found the next day fallen soldiers : empty beer bottles grenade : partially full beer left unfinished one for the road : a last drink before leaving POW : a beer you were saving for yourself but was taken from the refrigerator spent cartridges : empty beer bottles straggler : last bottle in the refrigerator wounded soldier s: partially full but abandoned beer bottles

: beer bottles stringer : 6-pack of cans

: 6-pack of cans symposium : originally meant “a drinking party; especially one following a banquet and providing music, singing and conversation

: originally meant “a drinking party; especially one following a banquet and providing music, singing and conversation tall boy : 24 oz. can

: 24 oz. can time traveling : blacking out

: blacking out two four : case of beer (Canada)

: case of beer (Canada) 2 x 4: 24 oz. beer





Foreign Beer & Other Slang:

Borrel : Dutch. Informal party or revelry.

: Dutch. Informal party or revelry. Desbundar : Portuguese. Shedding one’s inhibitions and having fun.

: Portuguese. Shedding one’s inhibitions and having fun. Dilshaadgii (دلشادگی) : Urdu. Gladness, or good cheer.

: Urdu. Gladness, or good cheer. Feierabend : German. Festive mood at the end of a working day.

: German. Festive mood at the end of a working day. Gemütlichkeit : German. Describes a space or state of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. Other qualities include coziness, peace of mind, belonging, well being, and social acceptance.

: German. Describes a space or state of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. Other qualities include coziness, peace of mind, belonging, well being, and social acceptance. Gjærkauk : Norwegian. Yeast scream, a custom they have in Stjørdalen, Norway is to scream into the fermenter as they pitch the yeast. Brewers claim they do this so that the beer will be strong, and people will be cheerful when they drink it.

: Norwegian. Yeast scream, a custom they have in Stjørdalen, Norway is to scream into the fermenter as they pitch the yeast. Brewers claim they do this so that the beer will be strong, and people will be cheerful when they drink it. Kayf (کیف) : Urdu. Merriment, or revelry.

: Urdu. Merriment, or revelry. Parea (Παρέα) : Greek. Informal party, or revelry.

: Greek. Informal party, or revelry. Ramé : Balinese. Something at once chaotic and joyful.

: Balinese. Something at once chaotic and joyful. Sahar (سهر) : Arabic. Informal party, or revelry.

: Arabic. Informal party, or revelry. Schnapsidee : German. A daft or ridiculous plan thought up while drunk.

: German. A daft or ridiculous plan thought up while drunk. Süffig : German. A beer that is full-flavored while remaining highly drinkable.

: German. A beer that is full-flavored while remaining highly drinkable. Utepils : Norwegian. A beer that is enjoyed outside, particularly on the first hot day of the year.

: Norwegian. A beer that is enjoyed outside, particularly on the first hot day of the year. Xurramii (خرمی): Urdu. Merriment, or revelry.





Slang For Alcohol (Generally & Other Than Beer):

alcohol

alky

beast (cheap alcohol)

booze

bouse/bowse (c. 1300–1736)

bug juice

burning water (1460-70)

canned heat

do it juice

dwale (c. 1300–1606)

elbow health

felony juice (tequila)

fire water

fogram (1867; nautical)

fuddle (1680–1706; Scotland)

giggle water

hard drink

hooch

inebrient

intoxicant

jollop (1920)

joy juice

juice

junkst (cheap alcohol)

liquid courage

liquor

liþ (Old English)

lunatic soup (1933; Australia, New Zealand)

malt pie (1600)

medicine

moonshine

nose-paint (1880)

o-be-joyful

plonk (cheap wine)

poison

rabbit (1895; Australia)

red-eye (cheap alcohol, originally whisky)

rookus-juice (1929)

rosin (1734)

rotgut (cheap alcohol)

sauce

shot

sicera (Old English)

slug

snootful

social lubricant

spicket (1615–1654)

stimulant

suck (c. 1700)

swill

tart fuel (especially alcopops, cider)

tear-brain (1796)

tickle-brain (1596–1639)

tiddly (1859)

tipplage (1653)

tipple

toddy

wobbly pop

yak (Cognac)





Other Alcohol Slang:

amethyst : at one time, the stone was considered to effectively ward off the effects of alcohol. The name amethyst comes from the ancient Greek word amethystos, “remedy against drunkenness.”

: at one time, the stone was considered to effectively ward off the effects of alcohol. The name amethyst comes from the ancient Greek word amethystos, “remedy against drunkenness.” Angel’s Share : an amount of an alcoholic drink (such as cognac, brandy, or whiskey) that is lost to evaporation when the liquid is being aged in porous oak barrels.

: an amount of an alcoholic drink (such as cognac, brandy, or whiskey) that is lost to evaporation when the liquid is being aged in porous oak barrels. antifogmatic : a drink of liquor taken to counteract the effect of fog or dampness

: a drink of liquor taken to counteract the effect of fog or dampness barfly : a person, usually female, seeking attention at a bar.

: a person, usually female, seeking attention at a bar. boozehound : a person who likes to drink, and often does so to extreme.

: a person who likes to drink, and often does so to extreme. gall-breaker : about half a pint of ardent spirits.

: about half a pint of ardent spirits. gum-ticklers : a gill of spirits, generally rum, taken fasting.

: a gill of spirits, generally rum, taken fasting. hair of the dog : drinking the day after drinking, while hungover, with the aim of lessening the hangover and/or rallying back to feeling better.

: drinking the day after drinking, while hungover, with the aim of lessening the hangover and/or rallying back to feeling better. jackroller : one who robs a drunken or sleeping person.

: one who robs a drunken or sleeping person. katzenjammer : the nausea, headache, and debility that often follow dissipation or drunkenness.

: the nausea, headache, and debility that often follow dissipation or drunkenness. musth : a periodic state of murderous frenzy of the bull elephant usually connected with the rutting season and marked by the exudation of a dark brown odorous ichor from tiny holes above the eyes.

: a periodic state of murderous frenzy of the bull elephant usually connected with the rutting season and marked by the exudation of a dark brown odorous ichor from tiny holes above the eyes. phlegm-cutter : a double dose just before breakfast.

: a double dose just before breakfast. souse : someone who drinks to excess.

: someone who drinks to excess. Vandyke : to stagger, weave, or wander in the zigzag course of one drunken or irresolute.

: to stagger, weave, or wander in the zigzag course of one drunken or irresolute. wet your whistle: to have a drink.





Slang for Bars: