Power Hour is the classic drinking game built around music: you take one shot of beer every minute for 60 minutes, with the song changing each minute to mark the time. It is social, it is silly, and because the shots are small it feels easy right up until it is not. Here is how to run one.
Power Hour at a glance
| What | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Any group | |
| You need | Shot glasses, beer, a 60-track playlist | |
| The rule | 1 shot of beer per song change | |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
How much beer is that?
Sixty shots at about 1.5 ounces each is roughly 90 ounces of beer, or around 7 to 8 standard beers in an hour. Pace yourself and keep water going.
What you need
- Shot glasses, ideally one each plus spares
- Enough beer to cover 60 small shots per player
- A Power Hour playlist that switches songs every 60 seconds, or an app that does it for you
How to play
- Build or download a playlist with 60 one-minute clips, or use a Power Hour app.
- Fill everyone’s shot glass with beer.
- Every time the song changes, everyone takes their shot.
- Refill during the song, ready for the next change.
- Make it to 60 songs and you have survived a Power Hour.
Play it smart
- Eat before you start and drink water throughout.
- It is more beer than it looks. Do not race or double up.
- Nobody drives. Keep a sober friend around.
- Tap out whenever you have had enough.
Frequently asked questions
How many beers is a Power Hour?
About 7 to 8 standard beers, delivered as 60 small shots over an hour.
What is a Power Hour playlist?
A playlist of 60 song clips, each exactly one minute long. The song change is your cue to take the next shot. Plenty of apps and prebuilt playlists exist.
