Ideas to Make Your Virtual Happy Hour Happier (Hint - Good Beer is Involved)

Happy hours just aren’t what they used to be. Gone are the after-work meetups, half-off appetizers, and escapes from home. Now that we’ve had nothing but staycations and virtual meetings for months, we’re craving these little nostalgic things so much more. Replicating the happy hours we’re used to over a computer screen can be a little lackluster, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some ways to make your virtual happy hour much happier, with a little creativity and some good gluten-free beer.

1) Send snacks and drinks: This is number one on the list for a reason! The key to a good happy hour is, of course, good food and drinks. Try delivering a 4 pack or snack to your friends so you can all share together like the good ol’ days. You can even get a little fancy and try to do gluten-free beer and cheese pairings and have everyone share their ideas and thoughts on the combo. Aurochs offers delicious gluten-free beer that everyone will love and provides tons of GF versions of happy hour classics that rival the originals. To keep everyone happy and excited just remember: “Feed your friends how you would like to be fed.”
2) Host a virtual game night: Between audio lags, background noise, and poor connections, it can make communication a little clunky and awkward. To get the ball rolling and communication flowing, try playing a game remotely! Jack in the Box is a fan favorite due to its ~actually funny~ prompts and off-the-wall answers. It can be played virtually so your friends from all over the country can tune in! There’s also a virtual version of Scattergories, Pictionary, and of course, charades are always at your disposal. No game pieces or board necessary.
3) Kick off a drinking game: As we mentioned above, games are a great way to get the ball rolling. Another great ice breaker is, of course, a drink. You can download a drinking game app like Picolo or 5 Second Rule and read the prompts to your virtual party. Before long, you’ll all be laughing and cracking jokes like you’re all in the same room again.

4) Choose a theme: It’s okay, you can admit it - themed parties are fun! I think we could all use an excuse to dig out some of the crazy clothes hiding in the back of our closets and just let loose. Plus, we need to make up for all those Halloween parties that never happened this year. Whatever theme you choose, from the Wild West to a luau, really lean into it; dress up, set your backdrop, drink from a glass boot, or break out the coconut bra. In hindsight, it will be hilarious to look back at yourself sitting at the computer dressed like a hula dancer.

5) Tour a museum after-hours: Are you a history buff? An artist? A nomad? Or a craft beer tourist? Now, you can enjoy all these things from home. Many museums have added virtual walkthroughs of their exhibits so you can visit from anywhere in the world. Visit the louvre, the Rijksmuseum, the Guggenheim, and see The Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery without ever spending money on a plane ticket. The best part? It’s a BYOB affair, so you can have your favorite beer delivered straight to your friends’ doors and sip throughout your tour. I would like to change the opening sentence.

6) Attend a virtual concert together: Lots of artists are performing intimate shows from their living rooms, live-streamed right into yours. Watching a virtual concert or performance is a great way to support artists (especially local ones) through the pandemic and have some fun and a sense of normalcy with your friends. Cast the concert onto your TV or laptop and set up a group facetime session to listen, watch, and dance together.
7) Movie night: Man, I miss going to the movies! As of recently, HBO Max gives its subscribers exclusive access to one blockbuster movie per month to make everything feel normal again. You can watch on your TV and call in on your phone, use a watch party app like Rabbit, or revisit some of your favorite flicks in Hulu’s watch party. Don’t forget the popcorn and gluten-free beer!
8) Make it competitive: Everyone knows that rivalry brings people together! In all seriousness, having a little competition and sharing your “spoils” is seriously fun. Try seeing who can make the best nachos, dip, or gluten-free pie and do door drop-offs to share. Weigh in on the winners via Zoom.
9) Karaoke night: Yes, you can get all the best parts of karaoke night at a bar right there in your living room. This guide shows you how!
10) Get lost: Ever heard of GeoGuessr? This game has been around for years but it's making a comeback now in the "virtual era". Essentially, GeoGuessr plops you down in a random place on Google Maps Street View and it's your job to use the context clues around you to find the airport and make it home. Have someone lead the pack and others can direct you and advise you where to go next!
Have you had any winning happy hours? What was your secret recipe? Or have you tries any of the above ideas? Share them with us so we can share the wealth with others! You can send us yout toasts and happy hour successes on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. And remember, it's always better with good beer.