College students and sports fans alike have found joy in constructing beer can pyramids, also known as beeramids. These structures are made from discarded beer cans or cups, often resulting in impressive displays during games or parties.
At Major League Baseball games, fans have created beeramids that have garnered attention. For instance, a pyramid built of cans was toppled by a player during a game in 2019, while another made of cups was knocked down in 2024. One of the largest beeramids was assembled by fans in Chicago, consisting of over 40 empty beer cans.
The Cincinnati Cyclones, a minor-league hockey team, embrace these constructions as part of their game day traditions. Their fans are encouraged to build beer pyramids at specific locations in the arena in anticipation of knocking them over during the game. During one match, players even collided with an eight-tiered pyramid, sending it tumbling down.
Beeramids also have a notable presence in college culture, particularly in fraternity settings. The phenomenon has become so common that some landlords have resorted to banning them from spring break rental properties. In 1979, one sorority reportedly stacked 140 empty beer kegs into a seven-keg-high pyramid and applied to Guinness World Records for inclusion, but it was deemed unlikely to be included in the official records.
Throughout the years, several groups have attempted to set records with their beer can pyramids. One remarkable example occurred in 1985 when a chapter of E Clampus Vitus in California built a 14-foot-high structure with 14,281 cans. The cans were later sold for scrap, with the proceeds benefiting seal conservation efforts.
Another notable achievement took place in 1999, when staff of Stuff magazine created a beeramid utilizing over 22,000 cans, aided by engineering students from the University of Wisconsin. This pyramid reached a height of 16 feet after more than 100 hours of work.
In a more recent endeavor, college students in Malaysia managed to construct a free-standing pyramid from nearly 9,500 cans in just 24 minutes, which secured a place in the Guinness World Records. Their creation featured a square base measuring 30 by 30 cans.
The beer can pyramid has even made its way into popular culture. It was featured in the National Lampoon movie Animal House, where fraternity members built one as an emblem of their college lifestyle. Additionally, the cartoon The Simpsons parodied the concept by showcasing a beer can pyramid outside Duff Gardens.
Whether as a drinking game, a symbol of college life, or a fun activity at sports events, beer can pyramids represent a uniquely absurd aspect of culture.
