Beer Glassware: The German Beer Boot (Bierstiefel)

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The beer boot (Bierstiefel in German) dates back more than a century, and its origin is commonly traced to a challenge from an old German general who promised his troops he would drink beer from his own boot if they won a battle.

Glass beer boot, or Bierstiefel, filled with golden beer — Beer boot (Bierstiefel)

Once his troops had met the challenge, however, the general had a glass boot made instead, keeping his promise without using his own boot and without spoiling either the beer or the leather.

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At social gatherings in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, beer boots are often used for drinking challenges among party guests.

An old prank involves handing the boot to a novice drinker without explaining how to drink from it, so the beer splashes hard onto their face when the air reaches the toe.

Traditional beer boots are made either of factory-pressed glass or by expert artisans who blow the glass until it takes the desired shape. They come in all sizes, but generally range from 500 cc to 2 liters.

Where Does the Beer Boot Really Come From?

The general’s story is the one most often told, yet no documentary source backs it up. The oldest surviving pieces point to England, where in the early 19th century riding and hunting clubs used small glass boots with a riding strap around the ankle (Hop Culture, 2024).

Toward the middle of the 19th century, the shape became German. Glassmakers enlarged it to a liter or more, removed the strap and switched to pressed glass so it could be produced in large numbers, according to the same Hop Culture research.

In Germany, the boot also became tied to the culture of student fraternities, where in the 19th century drinking from a military boot was a punishment or a test of courage linked to the fencing duels known as Mensur. These student associations helped spread the custom.

German soldiers made it popular again in World War I (Chowhound, 2025). In World War II, American soldiers brought boots home as war trophies, and its latest wave of popularity came with the 2006 comedy Beerfest, according to Hop Culture.

Why Is It Called Bierstiefel and Not Das Boot?

In German, the word for boot is Stiefel, hence Bierstiefel. The word Boot means boat, so the popular “Das Boot” is actually an American invention that, in Germany, sounds like the 1981 submarine film.

The same is true of other German vessels that have names of their own, such as the Maß, the liter mug served at Munich’s Oktoberfest.

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Why Does the Boot Splash Your Face?

While the shaft is full, air gets in without any trouble. When the remaining beer collects in the foot, an air bubble forms that at some point reaches the toe, and at that moment all the beer in the foot rushes toward your mouth at once.

The technique KegWorks recommends is to start drinking with the toe pointing forward and slowly turn the boot to one side as the bubble moves down, so the air gets in gradually (KegWorks, 2021).

At German tables, turning it is frowned upon. The advice there is to drink more slowly and carefully right when only the foot still holds beer, according to the Wikipedia entry on the Bierstiefel.

How Do You Play the Beer Boot Game?

The most common boot in Germany holds two liters and is meant to be shared by a group. Versions range from half a liter up to five liters.

The rules vary from place to place. In the most widespread version, the boot is passed from hand to hand and the penultimate drinker pays for the next round, because the last drinker is the one who empties it.

Whoever gets beer in the face also pays for the round or downs what is left in one go. It is common to knock the boot on the table before or after drinking, and at some tables the boot cannot be set down until it is empty.

Among the glasses every beer lover should know, the boot is the only one designed for play rather than tasting. Compared with a glass designed for a specific style, such as the Kölsch Stange, the boot rewards camaraderie.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is a beer boot?

It is a boot-shaped glass, called Bierstiefel in German. The most common one holds two liters and is shared by a group in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

2. What is the origin of the beer boot?

Legend tells of a general who promised to drink from his boot if his troops won and had a glass one made to keep his word. The oldest surviving pieces are small boots from English riding clubs of the early 19th century, and the German version holding a liter or more became popular in the middle of that century.

3. How do you drink from a beer boot without getting wet?

Start with the toe pointing forward and slowly turn the boot to one side as the air bubble moves down toward the foot. That way the air gets in gradually and the beer does not rush out all at once.

4. How much beer does a boot hold?

Boots range from half a liter to five liters. The traditional size at German tables is two liters, equivalent to two Maß mugs.

5. Who pays in the beer boot game?

In the most widespread version, the penultimate drinker pays for the next round. At many tables, whoever gets beer in the face or sets the boot down on the table also pays.