When you go to your local bar, pub, or watering hole, you might not immediately think that it’s time for a drinking game. If you’re anything like us, your days of beer pong, flip cup, and other “drinking” games are long gone. Sure, we’ll throw some corn hole while sipping a brew or two, but our chugging days are over. That said, there’s one trending bar game that we might want to try. It’s called “splitting the G,” and it includes one of the most popular beers of all time.
My first professional writing job was as a beer columnist for my local newspaper. And while I’ve branched out into spirits, cocktails, and other forms of alcohol over the two decades I’ve been writing professionally, I still have an affinity for beer above all else. One of the first beers I ever tried as a young beer drinker was Guinness Stout. I still love it to this day. And while I enjoy casually sipping it in a traditional Irish pub, sometimes I just want to “split the G.”
If you missed it trending on social media, “Splitting the G” is a Guinness Stout-based game. We wouldn’t call it a “drinking game” because it’s not a “chug your whole beer” kind of game. It’s much more subtle than that. Don’t believe us? Keep scrolling to learn all about this competition you’ll soon want to try the next time you and your friends are at your neighborhood pub or bar imbibing a pint of the dark stuff.
How do you “split the G”?
You don’t need any red Solo cups, a deck of cards, or any bean bags to “split the G.” You also don’t need to be prepared to chug a whole can (or more) of beer. It’s more of a gentleman’s (or gentle lady’s) competition. All you need is a well-poured pint of Guinness Stout and the tenacity to best your friends. In the simplest terms, “splitting the G” is exactly as the name implies.
- Before you begin, your Guinness Stout better be poured into an authentic Guinness glass. Otherwise, there’s really no way to play the game. You need the word “Guinness” on the glass.
- Simply place the glass in front of you. Anyone who wishes to play waits their turn to split the G. You don’t go all at once. Whoever’s turn it is will pick up the pint glass and take a large gulp. The goal is to take a big enough drink that the foam of the beer ends in the middle portion of the Guinness logo. Hence the name “Splitting the G.”
It’s not as easy as it seems. It requires skill, patience, and likely a few glasses of stout before you complete your goal.
Things to remember when splitting the G
If you plan the “Split the G” with your friends, you should probably do it at a traditional Irish pub. This is because you’ll need a perfectly poured pint. Likely not one poured from a can. Also, this isn’t your usual “drinking” game. It’s a simple, easy, quick game that ends with high fives, back slaps, or laughter from your friends and co-workers. It’s supposed to be fun. Don’t take it too seriously.
If you don’t “Split the G” on the first try, give it another go. At the very least, you get to have another pint or two.
