Beer 99
Play cards, keep count, never go over 99: Beer 99 is the drinking game for people who like numbers.
How do you play Beer 99?
Everyone gets 5 cards, the rest go face down in the middle. Turn over the top card. The dealer moves clockwise each round.
Take turns playing a card and adding its value to the running total. Then draw a new card and drink.
Card values: 7 = 7, 10 = 10, Ace = 12, all others = 11.
- The total must not go over 99. If you can’t play a card without going over, draw a card, drink, and the next player goes.
- If the total ends in 9 (e.g. 39, 49), the next player drinks – unless they play a King or a Jack.
- The Jack doesn’t count towards the total, the King does. Above 99 no King may be played.
- Once the total is above 90, 10s and Aces are subtracted instead of added.
- When the deck runs out, keep the top card and reshuffle the rest.
The game ends at exactly 99. Whoever hits 99 doesn’t drink – everyone else does. Anyone who miscounts or whispers the answer drinks too.
Agree on drinks and amounts before you start. The game works just as well without alcohol.
What you need for Beer 99
Missing something? Here’s matching equipment.
Deck of cards
Plastic cards survive spilled drinks.
Our pick: Copag 1546 Plastic Playing Cards, Poker Size, Red/Blue (Jumbo Index, 2 decks)
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Beer 99: FAQ
How many players do you need for Beer 99?
Beer 99 is played with 3–6 players.
What do you need for Beer 99?
For Beer 99 you need: Deck of cards, plus drinks of your choice.
How hard are the rules of Beer 99?
Rule difficulty: Tricky. The instructions above are all you need to start.
Can you play Beer 99 without alcohol?
Yes. Beer 99 works just as well with water, soft drinks or alcohol-free beer. Agree on drinks and amounts before you start.