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I can't open a beer bottle with my bare hands.

cleanup

cleanup

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jun 26, 2005
2,643
10
Toronto
In fact, I don't think I have ever seen someone do this in person in my entire life, but I see it on TV and in movies all the time. I always need to use a bottle opener or at least a tabletop/countertop.

How do people manage this? Do you just need really calloused hands?
 
Neither can I. And I've never seen it done either... but with teeth and against the tops of tables and desks, yes.

How do people manage? They buy beer in cans or in pints instead. ;)
 
Are you sure you’re not trying it with a screwtop bottle? ;)

I can’t say it’s something I’ve tried myself – much easier to just use a bottle opener. The key is to always have one on your person (on your keyring, for example) so you’re never caught out in the event an impromptu supping opportunity occurs.
 
Blue Velvet said:
Neither can I. And I've never seen it done either... but with teeth and against the tops of tables and desks, yes.

How do people manage? They buy beer in cans or in pints instead. ;)
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Don't like either. :p Cans feel too cheap and not as genuine as bottles, and glasses are too easy to spill!

Jaffa Cake said:
Are you sure you’re not trying it with a screwtop bottle? ;)

I can’t say it’s something I’ve tried myself – much easier to just use a bottle opener. The key is to always have one on your person (on your keyring, for example) so you’re never caught out in the event an impromptu supping opportunity occurs.
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Sorry? I've never seen a beer with a screwtop bottle.

I used to have this aluminum card that was the size of a credit card and had a bottle opening slot on one corner. Very stylish and convenient, just tuck it into your wallet! Lost it a few months ago though, and I haven't drank beer outside of a club in a while so I haven't gotten around to getting a new bottle opener. Will soon though!

Just wish I could pop the thing off with my hands. No fuss. :)
 
OK this is sort of my thing.

I used to open them with my mouth like no one else, I was pro, great party trick, but then I chipped my tooth pretty badly, so I stopped doing that. I am currently teaching myself to do it with my thumb, which I have never seen in person, but I have in videos.

The only way to do this is indeed calloused hands. Try holding a flame near your thumb for extended periods of time. Don't hold it too close, you do not want to give yourself a bad burn, just enough to keep growing back tougher skin. I am still in the process.

Oh, and twist offs are much harder to open with these methods than normal caps. never try anything risky with a twist off, that is how I hurt myself.

:D
 
cleanup said:
Sorry? I've never seen a beer with a screwtop bottle.
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They’re pretty few and far between – I remember an ad quite a few years back (I think it was for Labatts, as it had Mounties in it) and they were opening their bottles in the mouth of a stuffed moose head. Of course, the Labatts screwtop broke the moose’s teeth with hilarious consequences for all involved, with the notable exception of the moose who if memory serves was a little annoyed by the whole thing.

But no – screwtop beer isn’t the norm by any means, at least on these shores.
 
There are some bottles that are made to be opened with your hands. Like the Skyy Vodka drinks.
The little blue bottles that are a mixture of vodka and lime or something like that. They can be opened with your hands.
 
barr08 said:
The only way to do this is indeed calloused hands. Try holding a flame near your thumb for extended periods of time. Don't hold it too close, you do not want to give yourself a bad burn, just enough to keep growing back tougher skin. I am still in the process.
:D
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Bloody hell mate. Thats pretty hardcore. Get some help. For your own sake.
 
katie ta achoo said:
I always use my belly button. Works every time! :)
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me too [avatar: 300absAv.gif ]


either that or I stare that bottle cap down into a submissive quivering puddle of metallic shame.
 
I can't believe so many people have never seen screw-top beer. It's standard out here, with only the "exotic" stuff having pop-tops. I learned to use my teeth in the event of a beer emergency a few months ago, but I've since lost the skill :(
 
If its not a screw top - there are plenty here. You can always use keys or a hard edge to knock it off. Why try doing something that can hurt you? The thought of chipping a tooth makes me cringe :p



D
 
elfin buddy said:
I can't believe so many people have never seen screw-top beer. It's standard out here, with only the "exotic" stuff having pop-tops. I learned to use my teeth in the event of a beer emergency a few months ago, but I've since lost the skill :(
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Yeah, here (New England), twist offs make up more than half of the beer bottles you will find. They are lame, because you can't have any fun with them.

Oh, something I have failed to mention, I just bought these new reef sandals that have a bottle opener built into the bottom. They are also super comfortable, even for my wide feet, and relatively trendy to boot! Openeing beers with your feet is also a neat party trick!
 
Mr. Anderson said:
If its not a screw top - there are plenty here. You can always use keys or a hard edge to knock it off. Why try doing something that can hurt you? The thought of chipping a tooth makes me cringe :p



D
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Yeah, it sucked.

Oh, I also forgot to mention, some people keep their keys on a carabeener (sp?), those things that mountain climbers use, you know? Anyways, you can use those to easily open bottles. Just stick the top of the neck where the cap is into the loop, and pry it open. It is easy, and if you get good at it, it is as effective as a bottle opener.
 
Mr. Anderson said:
If its not a screw top - there are plenty here. You can always use keys or a hard edge to knock it off. Why try doing something that can hurt you? The thought of chipping a tooth makes me cringe :p



D
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Heh, when I use my teeth, I make damn sure that I'm careful and slow about it. I'd be pretty pissed if I chipped a molar for the sake of a beer.

I've tried using everything from rocks to keys to tables, but they all have their disadvantages. For example, I've accidentally smashed beers off rocks, I've cut up my fingers when using keys and it slips, and I've taken pieces out of tables. I've found that there's really no substitute for a regular bottle opener.
 
there are two common types of beer bottles in the world. those that can be twisted off with bare hands, and those that are NOT twist tops. usually, it's European beer (from an AU perspective) that has NON twist tops. these are easily opened by pushing the edge of a cigarette lighter (i dont smoke, i just grab one from someone who does when i need to open a beer) under the edge, and applying pressure with ur finger/thumb around the neck. then use your other hand to apply pressure down on the other end of the lighter. pop. enjoy beer.

i also USED to have a great key from the govt. building i worked in, that i could use in a simmilar way (sideways instead of lengthways) but i changed jobs, and im not game to use my car key (much chunkier than anything else i've ever seen)
 
elfin buddy said:
Heh, when I use my teeth, I make damn sure that I'm careful and slow about it. I'd be pretty pissed if I chipped a molar for the sake of a beer.
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You have clearly never tried to do it after having a few too many drinks. Come party with me if you ever visit Boston. You'll leave with no teeth...
 
my husband knocks the caps off no-twists with the end of a lighter. i need to learn how to do that, because it looks pretty nifty. :)

i'm really proud of myself for always being able to open even the nastiest screw-tops, even when the husband can't.

sometimes when i've already had a few too many, i forget that i'm opeing a pop-top and struggle like an idiot to get it open. :eek: it's got to be funny to watch.
 
Have you seen in Back to the Future when Marty(Michael J. Fox) tries to open a pepsi with his hands! The only thing in the US without a screw top are the expensive beers. Then I just use a bic lighter. Grab the neck, use the knuckle of your pointer (index)finger as a fulcrum and use the bottom of the lighter as the prying lever. Pop and enjoy.
 
Here in North America, the standard rule is Domestics are Screw-top, Imports are Pop-tops.

Although I know there are a number of exceptions, but this tends to be the rule of thumb.
 
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