100 Beer Hacks to Get You Through College (And Beyond)

You're a crafty college student, so there's no reason why you shouldn't be making the most out of your beer drinking experience. Whether you're reusing bottles, or just fighting a hangover, there's lots of cool stuff you can do with beer. In this list, you'll find 100 beer hacks that will serve you well in your college years and beyond.

Kegging & Dispensing

Check out these hacks for the ultimate in beer kegging and dispensing.

1. SparkFun kegerator: Make sure your kegerator never runs out with this hack.
    
2. Bender keg cooler: This keg cooler looks like Bender from Futurama.
    
3. Mini keg: Make your own 3 liter beer keg using this hack.
    
4. Kegbot: This Kegbot offers a monitoring system for volume, CO2 and temperature.
    
5. Beer keg on wheels: This beer keg on wheels will take your keg mobile.
    
6. Radio controlled keg: This radio controlled keg carts around the keg and helps the driver control beer flow.
    
7. Eco-friendly kegerator: Use ferroelectric polarpolymers for a green, chilly beer.
    
8. Jack O'Beer: This jack o' lantern doubles as a beer dispenser.
    
9. Disguise your beer as soda: Make your beer can look like it's soda using this hack.
    
10. Mr. Asahi: Mr. Asahi will open bottles and pour draft beer.
     
11. Car door opener: Use your car door latch to open a beer.
     
12. Open a beer bottle with anything: Use sharp objects, paper, Mr. Clean and more to open beer.
     
13. Open beer with beer: This video will teach you how to open a beer bottle with another bottle.
     

Free Beer

With these hacks, you can score some free beer.

14. Myopenbar: Myopenbar features open bar and free drink events.
     
15. Be nice to flight attendants: Volunteer to switch seats, be helpful, and be polite to flight attendants to score free beer.
     
16. Beer focus groups: Join focus groups to get paid to drink beer.
     
17. Ask for free samples: In nice bars, you can often get free samples of beer.
     
18. Half empty beer: Fill a half-empty brown beer bottle with water and bring it back to the bar complaining you got a warm beer.
     
19. Become a reviewer: Review beer to get free samples and more from breweries and pubs.
     
20. Free brewery tours: This website features contests and free brewery tours.
     
21. Beer promotion: Become a beer promoter in bars and beyond for free beer.
     
22. Tasting Table: Get email updates on local beer tastings in your area with Tasting Table.
     
23. Work at a brewery: Get regular free beer by working at a brewery.
     

Health

Take care of yourself with beer using these hacks.

24. Highlight your hair: Soak your hair in beer and lay in the sun to pull out your highlights.
     
25. Get your B-complex vitamins: Through these vitamins, you'll promote a healthy nervous system, digestion, energy, and more.
     
26. Improve brain function: Moderate beer consumption can lower your risk of mental impairment.
     
27. Take a beer bath: Use the invigorating bubbles in beer to cleanse, exfoliate, and soften your skin.
     
28. Speed up your metabolism: Bioactive compounds in beer can help speed your metabolism and even fight cancer.
     
29. Avoid a beer belly: Monitor beer calories, stay active, drink in moderation, and avoid eating while drinking to fight the beer belly.
     
30. Improve bone density: Beer has been found to benefit bone health, especially for men.
     
31. Pass a kidney stone: Use beer as a diuretic and pain reliever for passing a kidney stone.
     
32. Sleep better: Acids and hops in beer can promote good sleep.
     
33. Soak your feet: Soak your feet in a reviving beer foot bath for relaxation.
     
34. Ease stomach aches: The carbonation in beer can help soothe an uneasy stomach.
     
35. Improve good cholesterol and circulation: Beer is cholesterol free and promotes HDL, which reduces blood clotting.
     

Temperature

Check out these hacks to better control your beer temperature.

36. Energy efficient fridge: This hack takes a look at how you can make your refrigerator more efficient.
     
37. Salt your ice: Get your beer cold faster by adding salt to your ice.
     
38. Beer fridge thermostat: This thermostat offers a better way to control your refrigerator's compressor.
     
39. Beer chilling bike: Check out this exercise bike that chills your beer.
     

Recycling

Here are a number of really cool ways to recycle beer.

40. Case divider organization: Use cardboard dividers from beer cases to store ornaments and more.
     
41. Bottle cap lure: Check out this tutorial to create a beer bottle cap lure for fishing.
     
42. Beer bottle furniture: This tutorial will teach you how to make a beer bottle table.
     
43. Ashtrays: Make cheap and disposable ashtrays with the bottom of beer cans.
     
44. Beer battery: Power a battery with beer using this hack.
     
45. Aluminum flower: Create a metal flower out of beer cans.
     
46. Padlock opener: With a beer can, you can create a padlock shim.
     
47. Flower pot: Use beer can as instant pots for small plants, and even transport them in beverage carriers.
     
48. Beer bottle shelves: Make shelves out of beer bottles using this hack.
     
49. Economy beer goggles: You can learn how to make beer goggles on the cheap using this tutorial.
     
50. Beer cap music: Follow this hack to make a music sequencer out of beer caps on a table.
     
51. Camper's boiling pot: Use this hack to turn beer cans into a camper's boiling pot.
     
52. LED bottle wall: Follow this hack to make a beautiful LED wall out of beer bottles.
     

Food

These hacks make use of beer in food.

53. Use beer in chili: Add a bottle of beer instead of chicken stock for flavor in your chili.
     
54. Make beer batter: Batter up fish with a beer batter.
     
55. Beer can chicken: Stuff and cook chicken on the grill with beer cans.
     
56. Create a meat-tenderizing marinade: Soften a steak before putting it on the grill with beer.
     
57. Add beer to your fish boil: Liven up your fish boil by throwing a bottle of beer in.
     
58. Beer bread: Use beer to make a great loaf of beer bread.
     
59. Make beersicles: Use beer instead of fruit juice to make beer popsicles.
     
60. Cook rice in beer: Add flavor to your rice with a beer.
     

Home

With these hacks, you can use beer around your home.

61. Polish gold jewelry: Polish your gold jewelry with beer and a dry cloth.
     
62. Beer can soap dish: Create a cheap and disposable soap dish out of a beer can.
     
63. Wash your pillowcases: The nutty smell of hops can help put you to sleep.
     
64. Customized beer bucket: Make a beer bucket your own by following this hack.
     
65. Kill slugs: Pour a little beer into empty jars to attract slugs and track them.
     
66. Attract bees: Keep bees away from your barbecue by putting out beer for them to gather around.
     
67. Shower beer holder: Shower with a beer using this beer holder for the shower.
     
68. Cure brown spots: Acids in beer can help kill off bugs and promote green growth in your lawn.
     
69. Remove stains: Use a light beer to get stains out of your carpet.
     
70. Revive wooden furniture: Bring the life back into your wood furniture using flat beer.
     
71. Protect beer with RFID: This RFID hack will restrict access to your fridge.
     

Homebrew

Check out these hacks for homebrewing your own beer.

72. BrewTroller: BrewTroller is an open source brewing control system for homebrewers.
     
73. Bender brewer: Make your own Bender brewing set up using this hack.
     
74. Temperature controller: With this temperature controller, you can keep steady fermentation temperatures.
     
75. All in one beer brewing machine: Check out this machine to see an all in one beer brewer.
     

Games

Take beer pong to the next level using these hacks.

76. Interactive beer pong table: Make your beer pong a little less dull by making it interactive.
     
77. Floating beer pong table: Take your beer pong to the pool with this hack.
     
78. Beer pong robot: This robot will sort and shoot objects across the room.
     

Hangover

With these hacks, you can prevent and fight a hangover.

79. Stay with one type: Variety contributes to hangovers.
     
80. Exercise: Clear toxins out of your body once the damage is done for a speedy recovery.
     
81. Know your limits: Don't push your alcohol drinking limit.
     
82. Drink olive oil: Coat your stomach with olive oil before you drink.
     
83. Drink Gatorade: Drink Gatorade before passing out and have some on hand for the morning.
     
84. Don't feel guilty: Feeling sad, guilty, neurotic, or angry puts you at a greater risk for hangovers.
     
85. Give yourself recovery time: Think about the time you will need to recover from drinking the next day.
     
86. Eat before drinking: Slow the absorption of alcohol by giving it a food cushion.
     
87. Don't drink coffee: Although coffee may sound great, it will only make you more dehydrated.
     
88. Drink water: Have a glass of water in between drinks to avoid misery.
     
89. Drink ginger ale: Try a glass of flat ginger ale to soothe your stomach.
     
90. Drink milk first: Coat the lining of your stomach with milk before imbibing.
     
91. Eat honey: Honey can help soothe the dryness in your throat.
     
92. Eat grease and carbs: Ease your stomach with McDonald's before they stop serving breakfast.
     
93. Eat fruit: Fruit offers a refreshing way to get the vitamins you'll need.
     
94. Drink light instead of dark: Light liquors have fewer congeners, which contribute to hangovers.
     
95. Don't take acetaminophen: Stay away from acetaminophen, as it is dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
     
96. Stay away from caffeine: Caffeine combined with alcohol brings a double whammy of dehydration, so stay away from caffeine.
     
97. Avoid carbonated mixers: Carbonated mixers accelerate alcohol absorption.
     
98. Use a wash cloth: Lie in a dark room with a cool compress on your head.
     
99. Take vitamins: Replenish your nutrient stores after a heavy night of drinking.
     
100. Go for less concentration: Drink beer or wine instead of concentrated liquor.