Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Ale Affair.
If Heaven was a place on earth, it would be in the shower, beer in hand. And if you’ve thought, “Wait, people actually do that?” then welcome, friend. You’re not alone. The concept is simple but genius: it’s cracking open a cold one while standing under hot water. Why? Because life is hard, and sometimes you need to combine two of life’s greatest joys into one majestic moment of self-care. Hot shower, cold beer, something about the combination just feels God damn right.
What is a Shower Beer?
Let’s get one thing straight. A shower beer isn’t just some quirky internet fad. How very dare you! It’s a lifestyle choice. There are even rules!
Indulge me here. You’ve just come home after a long day, your muscles are aching, and all you want is a moment of bliss. You step into the shower, hot water falling down, and then… bam! You crack open a cold beer, take a sip, and suddenly, life isn’t just good – it’s bloody glorious.
A shower beer is the ultimate multitasking indulgence. It’s that sacred moment where personal care meets pleasure, combining the steamy warmth of a shower with the icy refreshment of a cold beer. The sensation of hot water on your skin contrasted by the cold sip of your favourite lager? Absolute magic. It’s like a mini holiday, except instead of sandy beaches, you’ve got bathroom tiles and the scent of shampoo.
Why do people love it so much? Well, let’s be real – showers are nice, beers are nice, so why not combine the two? It’s a treat for the senses. There’s something about the relaxing, zen-like state of the shower that makes that beer taste even better. It’s a reward system at its finest: you’ve completed the task of the day, and now you’re being treated to an icy beverage while you cleanse your soul (and body, of course).
Where is Shower Beer From?
The shower beer’s origins are as mysterious and elusive as the Loch Ness Monster, only with fewer grainy photos and a lot more bubbles.
While historians might not have devoted chapters to this pivotal moment in beer culture, it’s clear that the humble shower beer has slipped into our lives like a ninja of refreshment, offering us one of life’s simplest pleasures without ever really telling us where it came from.
The truth is, no one knows exactly where the first brave soul cracked open a cold one while in the shower (and why would they). Maybe it was some exhausted Scandinavian who, let’s call him Sven, after chopping firewood in sub-zero temperatures, thought, “You know what? This would be better with a beer.” Perhaps it was born out of necessity when a busy parent combined bath time with beer time for efficiency.
Shower Beer & Social Media
However, we do know that the shower beer trend didn’t take off until the age of social media. Cue Instagram and Reddit, where the hashtag #ShowerBeer started to bubble up (pun intended) and became a badge of honour for people who like to pair their hygiene with hops.
A whole community sprouted around it, with people sharing their shower beer setups, the best types of brews to enjoy in the steamy sanctuary of a bathroom, and even discussing the “art” of the shower beer experience.
For a while, Reddit became the unofficial home of the r/shower beer, with threads dedicated to everything from ideal beer styles to full-on debates about the perfect temperature for both beer and water. And let’s not forget the memes—oh, the memes! Shower beers were suddenly cool, celebrated by the same online culture that once made cats with toast on their heads famous.
Shower Beer in Pop Culture
From there, the shower beer didn’t just stay in internet forums—it infiltrated pop culture. You’ll find mentions in ads, movies, and even TV shows where characters crack open a cold one before soaping up.
The shower beer became a cultural phenomenon, a symbol of ultimate relaxation and rebellion against the conventional rules of beer drinking.
So, where is the shower beer from? Honestly, it’s not from any one place—it’s from all of us. It’s the beer-loving, life-hacking, multitasking person inside each of us who just wants to sip and scrub.
The Rise of Shower Beer Brands
It was only a matter of time before beer brands caught on to the shower beer phenomenon.
One of the pioneers of this movement was Swedish brewery PangPang, which, in 2017, released an actual Shower Beer. Yes, that’s what they called it. This cheeky little brew was a compact 18 cl bottle (perfect for the short-lived nature of a shower session), packing a 10% ABV punch in a light, refreshing brew.
PangPang’s Shower Beer wasn’t just a marketing gimmick either. It tapped into a real need for beer drinkers who were looking for something more practical than balancing a tallboy on the soap shelf.
Other breweries soon followed suit. Breweries began promoting beers that they claimed were “perfect for shower drinking,” focusing on crisp, easy-drinking styles like lagers, pilsners, and session ales. And, of course, cans became the vessel of choice because—let’s be real—no one wants to deal with glass in the shower.
Believe it or not, some hotels have fully embraced the shower beer phenomenon by taking things to the next level—putting mini fridges right in the bathroom.
The hotel I stayed at last weekend has a ‘Shower Beer’ fridge by the shower.
byu/CerebralSlurry inmildlyinteresting
Beer Recommendations for Your Next Shower
If you’re looking to optimise your next shower beer experience, here are some tried-and-tested favourites.
- Shower Beer 10% (PangPang Brewery): A sweet but strong pale ale in a 18 cl small bottle meant to gulp in three sips while standing in the shower getting ready for the night.
- Shower Time Pale Ale 5.7% (Yonkers Brewing Co.): A crisp, light lager that’s easy to crush in just a few minutes.
- Shower Thoughts 8.5% (Old Irving Brewing Co.): This New England IPA is as juicy as your shower thoughts and packs tropical fruit flavours with a soft, smooth finish.
- Shower Beer 4.6% (Behemoth Brewing Company): Light, refreshing, and brewed specifically for shower drinking, this beer fully embraces the shower beer culture.
The rise of shower beer has even led to innovations like non-slip can holders for your shower wall, proving that we’ve gone from guilty pleasure to a fully embraced ritual. So, next time you’re looking to kick back with a brew in the shower, know that there’s a whole industry that’s got your back. Just don’t forget the beer holder!
What is the Meaning of Bath Beer?
If a shower beer is a quick sprint to refreshment, a bath beer is a leisurely marathon of indulgence. While the shower beer is all about fast gratification—crack, sip, rinse, and repeat—the bath beer is your passport to pure, unhurried relaxation.
So, what exactly is a bath beer? It’s pretty much what it sounds like. A beer enjoyed while lounging in a hot bath, where you’re not in a rush, the bubbles are plentiful, and the beer is just the cherry on top of an already zen-like situation.
Unlike the fast-paced nature of the shower beer, the bath beer pairs best with something you can savour. Forget about those quick-drinking lagers and session IPAs. This is where you bring in the heavy hitters: stouts, porters, and Belgian ales. Rich, complex flavours to match the slow, deep soak you’re enjoying.
It’s all about the atmosphere here: soft candlelight, perhaps some music in the background, and a decadent beer to sip slowly as the steam rises around you. It’s the ultimate “treat yourself” moment.
Summary
A shower beer is the ultimate fusion of self-care and indulgence. Crack open a cold brew while the hot water cascades, and suddenly, life feels perfect. Born from a blend of internet culture and pure genius, this refreshing combo has become a badge of honour for multitasking beer lovers everywhere. Breweries even hopped on board with beers designed for shower sipping! Meanwhile, the bath beer is the slower, luxurious cousin, paired with rich stouts or porters for maximum relaxation.
Share Now!
Raise a glass to knowledge! Each article you share pours a little more wisdom into the world, frothing with ideas and bubbling with insights.
