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I went camping in the Adirondack Mountains in June with my girlfriend. We brought a bunch of different beer to enjoy after long days of hiking and kayaking. Prior to the trip, we made exhausting lists to guarantee that we had everything we could possibly need including a cooler full of ice and beer. We tirelessly checked and rechecked our lists before packing things like bottled water, deep woods bug spray and crackers and spray cheese. The one thing we forgot to pack was a bottle opener.
Also: It’s True – Drinking Beer Can Make You Healthier
You don’t know fear, sadness and anger until you find yourself at a campsite in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains looking at a cooler filled with delicious, frosty brews with no way of opening them. Luckily, there are a lot of other ways to figure out how to open a bottle without a bottle opener if you find yourself, like me, stuck in the middle of nowhere sans bottle opener.
How to Open a Bottle Without a Bottle Opener
Twist-Off Top
If you find yourself with a bunch of beer and no bottle opener, the logical first step is to see if it twists off. If it does, you’re in luck and your day just a got a lot easier and more beer-filled. If it doesn’t, it’s time to find different ways to open a beer bottle.
How to Open a Bottle With a Lighter
One of the most popular ways to open a bottle without a bottle opener is with a lighter. This is definitely a higher level technique and one that requires you to be a smoker or have a smoker in your midst. Here’s how to open a bottle with a lighter. This one, like many techniques is all about leverage. Hold the bottle as close to the top as possible. Curl your pointer around the top of the beer, leaving space for the lighter to go. Your pointer will hold the lighter under the cap. Place the corner of the lighter under the cap and push. It should pop right off.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With a High Heeled Shoe
If you find yourself stuck in the woods without a bottle opener, I doubt you’ll have a high heeled shoe. But, if you are at a fancy party with no sign of a bottle opener, a high heeled shoe will do just fine. Just turn it on its side the stick the cap under the heel and pull it forward. It’s almost as if those uncomfortable looking shoes were made for this.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With a Utensil
A spoon, butter knife or fork will work in place of a conventional bottle opener. Just place the tip of the utensil underneath the cap and apply the same pressure you would with a bottle opener. Be sure not to point it toward you as you don’t want to explain to an emergency room doctor how you stabbed yourself with a butter knife while attempting to open a beer. Nobody needs a drink that bad.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With a Belt Buckle
You might be surprised to know that you likely already have a bottle opener on you at all times. If you wear a belt, there is a strong chance that the interior of your belt buckle can be used in place of a bottle opener. Just place the beer cap into the belt buckle the same way you would with a bottle opener and apply the same pressure and you’ll be sipping on a tasty brew before you know it. Just be sure not to spill any on your naughty bits or your fancy leather belt.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With Paper or a Dollar Bill
Now, this one is a little trickier than the others. Fold the dollar bill in half and roll it up as tightly as possible. Bend it in half and use the bent end like you would a bottle opener. Put it under the cap and lift it up until the cap pops off. Maybe if you use someone else’s dollar, they’ll let you keep it for saving them from a beer-less day.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With a Counter-top
This is the technique I used while camping. You need to find a hard surface, place the bottle cap slightly over the edge and pull down while you bring your hand down hard on the top. Be sure not to break the bottle or your hand. It might take a few tries, but the cap should pop right off. Also, make sure your table is strong enough (metal is best). You don’t want to risk scratching up a good table just to open a beer.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With Another Beer Bottle
Surprisingly, you can open a bottle if you only have another bottle. All you need to do is put the bottle cap of one beer underneath the bottle cap off the other and apply pressure which will pop the caps off. Now you’ll have two bottles to enjoy instead of just one. Feel free to try this technique on a picnic to impress your date. If she isn’t impressed by that trick, she’s probably not the one anyway.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With a Ring
If you made the plunge into matrimony, you most likely have a wedding ring on your left ring finger. That bad boy is good for a lot more than just proving that you are no longer a free agent. It can easily be used as a bottle opener. Just hold the beer in your right hand and open your palm. Place the beer cap underneath the ring and apply constant pressure until the cap comes off. Enjoy your beer. All made possible because you decided to get married.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With Your Forearm
If you don’t have anything on your person that can be used to open a bottle of beer, use your arm. This is extremely tricky, though. It must be done correctly to actually work and avoid cuts and scrapes. Put the bottle into the flesh of your arm just below your elbow. Apply a ridiculous amount of pressure and twist until the cap pops off.
How to Burn The Cap Off Technique
If all else fails, you can just burn the cap off using thermal expansion. Use a lighter to heat up the metal cap. Afterwards, it should easily pop off with very little pressure. Be careful not to burn your fingers when doing this and you will likely want to pour the beer into the glass to avoid uncomfortable (and hard to explain) burns on your lips.
Have you figured out how to open a bottle without a bottle opener? Let us know your favorite ways in the comment section below!
