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Beersbee: rules for the bottle frisbee game
Two poles in the ground, a bottle on top of each, and a flying disc. Knock the other team’s bottle off and make them drop it, all while holding your drink in one hand. Beersbee (also called Polish horseshoes or beer frisbee) is the best lawn drinking game there is. Here are the rules, the setup and the scoring, with a scoreboard for your phone.
- 👥 4 players (2 vs 2)
- ⏱ 20–40 minutes
- 🎒 A flying disc, 2 poles, 2 empty bottles
Beersbee: play online
Beersbee scoreboard
Keep score for beersbee (Polish horseshoes): first to 21, win by 2. Log drops, pole hits and bottles down.
Tap the scoring play under the team that earned it: a drop or pole hit (+1), the bottle down (+2), or bottle and disc both down (+3). First to 21, win by 2.
Beersbee: quick rules
Push two poles into the ground 20–40 ft apart and put an empty bottle or can on top of each. Teams of two stand behind their pole and take turns throwing a flying disc at the other team’s pole. If the disc knocks the bottle off, the defenders try to catch the bottle and the disc before either hits the ground. Every item that hits the ground scores for the throwers. First to 21, win by 2.
Beersbee setup
- Poles: two stakes, ski poles, tent poles or PVC pipes about 4–5 ft tall, pushed firmly into the ground. Beersbee kits sell poles with cups on top that hold a bottle.
- Distance: 20–40 ft (6–12 m) apart. Start at about 30 ft (9 m) and move closer if nobody is hitting.
- Bottles: an empty bottle or can on top of each pole. Plastic is safer than glass on grass.
- Disc: a standard flying disc. A lighter disc is easier to catch; a heavy one flies straighter.
- Drinks: each player holds a drink in one hand for the whole game. Water counts.
How to play beersbee
Throw
Players take turns throwing the disc at the other team’s pole and bottle. A throw must be catchable: out of reach (too high, wide or low) means it doesn’t count.
Defend
The defending team stands behind their pole. They can’t touch the pole or bottle before the disc does, and they catch with their free hand only.
Catch what falls
If the disc hits the pole or bottle and knocks the bottle off, the defenders try to catch both the disc and the bottle before they hit the ground.
Score
The throwers score for every item that hits the ground: see the table below.
Win
First team to 21 points, winning by 2.
Beersbee scoring
| What happens | Points to the throwers |
|---|---|
| Catchable disc dropped by the defenders | 1 |
| Disc hits the pole, bottle falls to the ground | 1 |
| Disc hits the bottle directly, bottle hits the ground | 2 |
| Disc hits the bottle, the bottle is caught | 1 |
| Bottle and disc both hit the ground | 3 (the most in one throw) |
| Defenders catch everything | 0 |
A common house rule: a catch doesn’t count if the catcher spills most of the drink in their other hand; the throwers get a point instead.
Drinking in beersbee
The classic rule is simply that everyone holds a drink the whole time, which makes catching harder and keeps the pace relaxed. Many groups add: the team that loses a point takes a sip. The scoreboard reminds the other team to sip when a bottle goes down. Bring plenty of water: this is a sunny-afternoon game. More ideas for the garden are on our outdoor drinking games page.
Polish horseshoes, beer frisbee, bottle frisbee
All the same game. It began as “Polish horseshoes”, and “beersbee” is the name used by the popular kits. Some kits use a single tall pole and a cup instead of a bottle; the scoring stays the same.
Beersbee variations
- Singles
- 1 vs 1: each player throws and defends alone. Shorter distance, faster game.
- Water beersbee
- Everyone holds a cup of water: a spill is a point to the throwers.
- Beach beersbee
- Poles in the sand; a gust of wind is a legitimate excuse.
- Throw count
- Each team gets exactly 10 throws a game; highest score wins, handy when time is short.
Tips for a good game
- Use plastic bottles or cans on the poles; glass and grass don’t mix.
- Push the poles in deep so they don’t lean after a few hits.
- Sunscreen and water for everyone: games run long.
Play it safe: every game here works with sips of any drink, or none at all. Only adults of legal drinking age should drink alcohol, alternate with water, and never drink and drive. [How to drink responsibly](/drink-responsibly/)
Beersbee: FAQ
How do you play beersbee?
Put two poles 20–40 ft apart with a bottle on each. Teams of two throw a disc at the other team’s pole; if the bottle is knocked off, the defenders must catch the bottle and the disc before they hit the ground. Every item that falls is a point for the throwers. First to 21, win by 2.
How far apart are beersbee poles?
Between 20 and 40 ft (6 to 12 m). About 30 ft is a good start.
What is Polish horseshoes?
The original name for beersbee: a flying-disc game with two poles and two bottles. The rules are the same.
How does scoring work in beersbee?
A dropped catchable disc is 1 point; a bottle knocked off by a pole hit and not caught is 1; a direct bottle hit that reaches the ground is 2; bottle and disc both down is 3.
Can you play beersbee without drinking?
Yes. Hold a cup of water instead: spills make the game just as tricky. Use the scoreboard’s No alcohol mode.
More drinking games to try
- Beer Darts Hit the other team’s cans; they sip. Safely.
- Outdoor drinking games Cornhole, hook and ring, yard pong, beersbee and more.
- Beer Olympics Events, teams and a live medal table for your party.
- Beer Die Throw a die sky-high; score when they can’t catch it.