FREE beer has literally fallen off the back of a truck on the Gold Coast.

A ute carrying about two pallets of Coopers limited edition beer commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bathurst motor race lost part of its load in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday morning.

About 12 cartons of beer spilled onto street near the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Cypress Avenue.

Passers-by rushed to the rescue but some of the 'Good Samaritans' were seen souveniring some of the beer amid the chaos.

"They were scooping it up and scarpering," a witness said.

"The beer was off the street in about a minute."

It's not known whether the commemorative beer was destined for this month's Gold Coast 300 V8 supercar race in Surfers Paradise.

Originally published as 'Free beer' hits street, gone in 60 seconds