GSA Beer Bike Shirts

Every year, Rice University alumni and current students come together to participate in friendly— albeit extremely competitive— chugging and biking relay race. Historically, when the legal drinking age was 18, the designated “chuggers” drank beer. Nowadays all participants drink water, but spectators of the race keep up the tradition and celebrate the day with a wide variety of kegs.

Each team (residential colleges and the Graduate Student Association) chooses a theme that incorporates a pop culture parody beer pun. For the last few years, I have had the honor and pleasure of designing the shirts for the Graduate Student Association!

Persebeerance

The 2021 theme is in reference to the beloved Mars Rover whose mission is to seek signs of ancient life and collect rock and soil samples. Party hard, little buddy!
Brewhemian Rhapsody

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? The 2019 theme is a reference to the song and biopic of the same name. Truly just chosen as an excuse to exclusively blast Queen on the speakers for the entire week.
Harry Porter and the Sorcerer's Stout

Unfortunately this isn’t a long lost installment in the Harry Potter literary universe*, just the 2018 GSA Beer Bike theme.
*JK Rowling has been quite firm that the series is officially over but she hasn’t said anything about not opening a brewpub franchise.
Draft Punk

2017 Beer Bike theme was a nod to the world renowned French electronic duo, Daft Punk. The electronic duo is riding tandem with tall boys. Designs were used on shirts and reusable cups at the event.
The Selected Works of William Shakesbeer

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your beers. The 2016 theme was a truly remarkable team effort in play wordplay. The skull is both a nod to Valhalla, the Viking themed pub on campus, and to Hamlet’s famous soliloquy which was delivered to (alas poor) Yorick’s unearthed skull.
Beer and Loathing in Las Vegas

A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. This 2015 theme was a reference to the Hunter S. Thompson novel and film of the same name. The design is based on the one of the more iconic movie posters in a style reminiscent of Ralph Steadman.