What Happened to The Beer Balls?

One winter day Dr. Wetbrain walked into the living room where Harold was sitting back watching TV.

“Your balls are showing.” The doctor mentioned. Harold quickly checked himself out.

Wetbrain laughed. “No, your Beer Balls that you buried a few months ago are now showing with the spring melt. Those Beer Balls were certainly a blast from the past. How many of these old balls do you have left Harold?”

This great blast from the past became mostly famous at college parties during the 1980’s and 90’s. Awe the good old days.

How did this Beer Ball start. In 1976 the first Beer Ball was produced by Matt Brewery in Utica, New York, US by the president J. Kemper Matt Sr., filled with Matt’s Premium Lager. These Beer Balls held over 5 gallons, which is equal to 55 beers.

Beer Balls became more popular by other breweries jumping on the band wagon. Beer companies like Coors, Guinness, Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) develop their own Beer Balls in the future years.

Easy to use. Fill a cooler or box with ice, put the beer ball into the ice, insert the tap handle and pour. The tap handle was sold separately and noted as reusable, but users found out that they were good for 3 uses at the most.

Coors, Anheuser-Busch and Guinness Breweries also developed their own Beer Balls. Coors coined their beer balls as the Party Ball. Here is a 1989 TV commercial for Coors Party Ball.

The sad Beer Ball ending. The last of the cherished Beer Ball era came to an end in 2011 with last 2 companies that produced the beer ball, Coors and Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch).

Doing the research on the fall of the Beer Ball I came across too many excuses that range from environmental to financial. The last 2 excuses make sense from some of the other excuses I read about. Trends do run out. That poor Pet Rock.

Ending.  Harold finally replied to Dr. Wetbrain on how many Beer Balls he has left from the past.

Harold’s reply, “Only 8 or 9 left.”

Money hungry Dr. Wetbrain thought.” You should sell the last one at an auction.” Harold just sideway nodded… NO.