There are many genres and trends in video games, but one of the most interesting and unusual themes is beer. 

There are many such games available today, especially in the iGaming industry. Benny The Beer, Bier Haus, and Beer Bonanza are some of the examples. If you open the search leader onlinecasinobuddy.com, you can find online casinos with these and other beer games. Moreover, this foamy beverage has been in the gaming industry for quite some time.

An intriguing question arises: Which game was the first in this unusual genre? Since the first computer games appeared, developers have not been afraid to experiment with different themes, and beer was one of them. Let’s find out how and when the first game about beer appeared and examine its impact on the cultural and gaming landscape.

Tapper: a beer journey into the world of video games

1983 was a turning point in both television and the video game industry. At this time, “The Merry Company,” a popular show set in a cozy pub, reigned supreme on screens. Viewers were captivated by the exciting moments, and interest in beer was growing rapidly. After temporary neglect from the 1920s through the 1960s, when cocktails temporarily displaced it from its cultural context, beer has regained its place in people’s hearts.

Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, eager to capitalize on beer’s growing popularity, decided to try a new trend: video games. In collaboration with Bally Midway, one of the largest video game machine manufacturers, and the creative agency Marvin Glass & Associates, Tapper was created—the first video game dedicated to alcohol and the first project with full sponsorship.

Tapper’s gameplay was engaging and uncomplicated. The player played the bartender’s role, serving customers sitting behind four counters. His task was quickly pouring beer and serving it to the customers, trying to prevent their dissatisfaction.

The early versions of Tapper slot machines were exciting. The cranes in them looked like actual mechanisms for pouring Budweiser beer, which created the atmosphere of a real bar and immersed users in the game world.

Interestingly, a version of Tapper was designed for the Japanese market and focused on promoting the Suntory brewery. However, despite the involvement of the Sega distributor, the project was never realized.

The Tapper game rack’s design was meticulously detailed. Wooden panels with the bartender’s image created the pub’s atmosphere, which became the stage for many funny moments in the show.

Soon after Tapper’s success, it became necessary to adapt it. In 1984, Root Beer Tapper was released, a version that removed the alcoholic element and replaced it with a non-alcoholic root beer. This avoided moral issues and made the game more suitable for children.

Root Beer Tapper’s bright design and dynamic gameplay rapidly gained popularity. The game was released on multiple platforms and was supported by giants such as Mountain Dew and Pepsi, which helped it spread to various players. Because of this, Root Beer Tapper has taken its place not only in arcades but also in the homes of gamers worldwide.

Interest in Tapper and Root Beer Tapper revived in 2012 after the release of Disney-Pixar’s movie Ralph vs. the Internet, in which the title was glimpsed among many other gaming locations. As a result, Tapper was back on the public’s radar, a testament to how effective marketing and nostalgia can make even old arcade games popular in today’s realities.