Ode to Beer Shwag

I love the way liquor companies market their products. I’m not talking about the commercials with scantily clad women or impossibly witty men (not that those commercials are bad.) I’m talking about the free shwag that comes around from time to time.

Over the years I’ve received countless t-shirts, bottle openers, coozies and pint glasses. All of which are nice and no doubt get used. But, once in a great while, I’ll somehow end up with some pretty sweet and useful beer paraphernalia.

Like the Foster’s Cloud 9 Longboard from Sector 9 that my cousin had in his garage. He got it as a promotion but never used it. It just sat in the garage in case the neighbor kids needed something to play with. That board used to carry me to the grocery store, liquor store and back all the time. It has also been directly responsible for many scars.

My latest gift from the beer industry was a sweet bud light duffel bag. Not any duffel bag, this is a duffel bag / beer cooler / radio. See Photo above. The ultimate tailgating accessory that Yeti and I tested on a day trip to Monarch earlier in the year. I picked this one up at Queen Liquor on New Year’s Eve last year while making a few pre-party purchases. According to the owner, I ‘won’ it. Apparently the contest for which this was the prize had no entry terms and no rules of participation other than standing at the checkout counter looking like a confused jackass. I’ll take it.

So thank you to all the marketing geniuses at the distributing companies. Your shwag is greatly appreciated.