Century Club
Drinking Game

The Century Club is the ultimate endurance drinking challenge. One shot of beer every minute for one hundred minutes - that is roughly nine beers consumed in an hour and forty minutes. It sounds easy on paper. It is not. The pace is relentless, the math is unforgiving, and by minute seventy you will question every decision that led you to this table. This is not a game of skill or luck. It is a test of willpower, timing, and how well your stomach handles a slow, steady flood of beer.

Do not confuse it with Power Hour, which is sixty shots in sixty minutes. Century Club adds forty more minutes and a whole new level of misery. It is also a staple event in a full Beer Olympics tournament - use this guide to learn the rules, pace yourself properly, and survive to tell the tale.

Challenge

What You Need

Players: 1 or more. This is a solo endurance challenge, but it becomes a social event when everyone does it together. The real fun is watching the group deteriorate in sync.

Equipment: A shot glass (1.5 oz / 44 ml), a timer or Century Club app, plenty of beer (about 9-10 cans or bottles), and a table where everyone can see the clock. Some groups use small plastic cups instead of glass shot glasses - safer when things get wobbly.

The goal: Drink one shot of beer every minute for 100 consecutive minutes. Finish all 100 shots without missing a minute or tapping out. If you miss a minute or fall behind, you are out.

Game Setup

Get everything ready before the clock starts. Once the first minute ticks, there is no pausing, no breaks, and no mercy.

The beer: Use a standard lager or pilsner - something light, cold, and easy to drink quickly. Do not attempt this with an IPA, stout, or anything above 6% ABV. You need volume, not flavor. Chill the beer well; warm beer at minute sixty is a punishment nobody deserves.

The shot glass: A standard 1.5 oz (44 ml) shot glass is the official measure. Fill it to the brim each minute. Some groups use 2 oz cups for a slightly more forgiving pour - agree on the size before you start.

The timer: Set a repeating one-minute timer. An app designed for Century Club or Power Hour works best - it beeps or plays a song clip every minute so you never lose count. Phone alarms work too, but an app is more reliable and more dramatic.

The lineup: Pour all your beer into a pitcher or keep the bottles/cans ready. You do not want to fumble with a bottle opener at minute seventy-five when your hands are shaking. Pre-open everything or use a pitcher with a steady supply.

How to Play Century Club

The rules are dead simple. The execution is brutal. One shot, one minute, one hundred times. Here is how to pace yourself and actually finish.

Step 1 - Start the Clock

Start the timer. When the first beep sounds, take your first shot. Every minute after that, another beep means another shot. The rhythm is non-negotiable - you drink when the timer says you drink, whether you are ready or not.

Step 2 - Keep Pace

Take one shot of beer at the start of each minute. You have the full minute to drink it - but the next beep is coming whether you are done or not. If you fall behind (still drinking when the next minute starts), you are in trouble. Stay ahead of the clock in the early minutes to build a buffer.

Step 3 - Do Not Skip

Missing a minute is an automatic elimination. You cannot skip a shot to rest and catch up later. Every minute must have a corresponding shot. If you skip, you are out - no debates, no exceptions.

Step 4 - Finish Strong

The last twenty minutes are where the real challenge begins. Your stomach is full, your head is spinning, and every shot feels like a gallon. Push through. When the final beep sounds at minute 100 and you take your last shot, you are officially in the Century Club. Celebrate - you earned it.

Pacing Strategy

Century Club is not about drinking fast - it is about drinking consistently. The difference between finishing and failing is usually pacing, not tolerance.

The First 30 Minutes

Start slow and steady. Do not rush the early shots - you have plenty of time. Use the first thirty minutes to find your rhythm. Drink the shot, wait for the next beep, repeat. Stay relaxed. The goal is to finish each shot with a few seconds to spare, not to chug and wait.

Minutes 30-60

This is the grind zone. The novelty has worn off, the beer is accumulating, and you are only halfway through. Stay hydrated with water between shots if your group allows it. Keep your eyes on the clock, not on how much is left. One minute at a time.

Minutes 60-80

The danger zone. Most people who fail do it here. Your stomach is rejecting the volume, your coordination is slipping, and the beeps feel like they are getting faster (they are not). This is where mental fortitude matters more than physical capacity. Breathe, focus on the next shot only, and do not think about how many are left.

Minutes 80-100

The final stretch. If you have made it this far, you are finishing. Your body has adjusted to the pace, and the end is in sight. The last twenty shots are pure willpower. Keep drinking, keep counting, and when the final beep sounds, raise your glass - you are a member of the Century Club.

Game Variations

Once you have survived the classic format, these variations add new challenges. Agree on the rules before you start - changing the terms mid-game is cheating.

Power Hour

The shorter cousin - 60 shots in 60 minutes instead of 100. A good warm-up for Century Club, or a standalone challenge for groups who want the experience without the full commitment. Same rules, fewer minutes, still brutal.

Double Century

For the truly insane - 200 minutes, 200 shots. That is over three hours of drinking. Do not attempt this unless you have completed the standard Century Club and are absolutely certain your body can handle it. Most people cannot.

Shotgun Century

Instead of a shot glass, crack open a new beer every minute and drink as much as you can. The goal is to finish an entire beer in each minute window. More chaotic, more wasteful, and significantly harder than the shot-glass version.

Safety First

Important Safety Notes

Know your limits: Century Club is a drinking challenge, not a requirement. If you feel unwell, stop. Nobody wins points for alcohol poisoning. Tap out early if your body tells you to - there is no shame in knowing when to quit.

Eat before you start: Never attempt Century Club on an empty stomach. Eat a substantial meal at least an hour before. Food slows alcohol absorption and gives your stomach something to work with besides pure beer.

Stay hydrated: Drink water between shots if your group allows it. Dehydration makes everything worse - the hangover, the nausea, the impairment. Water is not cheating; it is survival.

Look out for each other: If someone in your group is struggling - slurring badly, vomiting, or showing signs of severe intoxication - help them stop. The game is not worth a hospital visit.

Century Club FAQ

How many beers is Century Club?

Approximately 9 to 10 standard beers, depending on your shot glass size. A standard 1.5 oz shot glass used 100 times equals 150 oz, which is roughly 12.5 standard 12-oz beers. Many groups use slightly smaller pours, bringing the total closer to 9 or 10 beers consumed over the full 100 minutes.

How long does Century Club take?

Exactly 100 minutes - one hour and 40 minutes. That is the minimum time if you keep perfect pace. Most games run slightly longer because people fall behind in the later minutes. Budget about two hours for the full experience including setup and recovery.

What happens if you miss a minute?

You are out. The rules are absolute - one shot per minute, no exceptions. If you are still drinking when the next minute starts, or if you skip a shot entirely, your Century Club attempt is over. Some casual groups allow a one-minute grace period, but the official rules do not.

Is Century Club the same as Power Hour?

No. Power Hour is 60 shots in 60 minutes. Century Club is 100 shots in 100 minutes. Century Club is 67% longer and significantly more difficult. Power Hour is a good introduction; Century Club is the advanced version for people who have already survived Power Hour and want more punishment.

Can you use non-alcoholic beer?

Technically yes, but the challenge is designed around the effects of alcohol. NA beer removes the intoxication factor, which changes the experience entirely. Some people use NA beer to practice the pacing and volume before attempting the real thing. It is a valid training tool, but the official Century Club uses real beer.

Keep the Party Going

Ready for More Challenges?

Century Club is just one endurance event in the drinking game world. If you liked the suffering, try Power Hour for the shorter version, or take the full plunge into a Beer Olympics tournament where Century Club is one event among many. Or switch to skill-based games like Beer Pong to give your stomach a break.

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