Cheers To Real Beer: What The Cast Really Drank

The cast of Cheers drank near beer – a flat, salty, non-alcoholic beer – on set, according to George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the show. Wendt revealed the on-set secret during a reunion panel at the ATX TV Festival in Austin. He explained that the prop man added salt to the beer to create a foamy appearance under the hot studio lights. While the cast drank fake beer throughout the show, they did drink real beer in one of the final scenes of the series finale.

The beer was flat, salty, non-alcoholic 'near beer'

The cast of Cheers drank "near beer" during filming, which was flat, salty, and non-alcoholic. While it did contain a small amount of alcohol (3-3.2% ABV), it was not your typical beer. The prop beer was altered to enhance its appearance on screen.

Actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the show, revealed the secret during a reunion panel. He explained that the non-alcoholic beer was warmed up and made to look like draft beer. To achieve this, the prop team added salt to create a foamy head, which helped the beer look freshly poured under the hot studio lights.

The cast members likely did not enjoy the taste of this concoction, as the combination of warmth, flatness, and saltiness made for an unappealing drink. However, the "near beer" served its purpose of looking like real beer on screen.

While the cast mostly drank this modified non-alcoholic beer, there were a few instances where real beer was consumed. In one of the final scenes of the series finale, the cast drank real beer as their characters sat around talking about life and their importance to each other. Additionally, when the cast appeared on The Tonight Show, which was filmed live from the bar that inspired Cheers, they drank real beer and became visibly drunk by the end of the show.

It was warm due to being under hot studio lights

The cast of Cheers drank "near beer", a beverage with a low alcohol content of around 3% and a dash of salt. The addition of salt was necessary to ensure the beer maintained a foamy head under the hot studio lights.

Actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the show, revealed during a reunion panel that the beer was warm, flat, and salty. The warm temperature of the beer was likely due to the hot studio lights, which also contributed to the need for the salty addition.

Wendt shared that the prop man was responsible for adding the salt to the beer, creating an unappealing combination. The cast had to drink this concoction for all 11 seasons of the show, which aired on NBC from 1982 to 1993.

The warm, flat, and salty nature of the "near beer" was a well-kept secret, only coming to light during the reunion panel. While the cast had to endure drinking this less-than-appetizing beverage, the bar on the show was fully stocked, adding to the illusion of a functional bar.

The use of "near beer" allowed the cast to consume a beverage that resembled real beer without the full effects of alcohol, ensuring they could perform their roles effectively under the hot studio lights.

The cast drank real beer in the final scene

The cast of Cheers drank what they believed to be non-alcoholic beer during filming, but it turned out to be the real deal in the final scene.

Actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, revealed that the cast drank "Near Beer", which was non-alcoholic with 3.2% alcohol content. To create the foamy appearance, the prop man added salt to the beer. However, in one of the final scenes of the series finale, the cast was seen drinking real beer as their characters sat around talking about life and their importance to each other.

The use of real beer in the final scene may have been a symbolic choice, reflecting the authenticity of the moment and the raw emotions shared between the characters. It is also worth noting that the executive producer, James Burrows, was also drinking real beer off-camera during this scene.

The cast of Cheers drinking real beer in the final scene adds a layer of authenticity to the beloved show and showcases the commitment of the actors to their roles, even if it was unintentional.

The beer was 3.2% ABV

The beer consumed by the cast of Cheers was "near beer", a drink with an alcohol content of 3.2%. While this is a low alcohol content, it is not non-alcoholic, and drinking enough of it could still cause intoxication. In fact, during the final scenes of the show's finale, the cast drank real beer and were visibly drunk by the end of the hour.

The "near beer" was used to create the illusion of real beer on set. The drink was warmed up and flattened, and salt was added to create a foamy head, which helped to maintain the appearance of freshly poured beer under the hot studio lights. This concoction was described by George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, as "warm, flat, salty, [and] non-alcoholic".

The use of "near beer" allowed the cast to avoid the challenges and risks associated with consuming large quantities of alcohol during filming. However, the addition of salt made the drink particularly unpleasant to consume, and it was reportedly hated by everyone on set.

Despite the use of fake beer for most of the show, there were a few notable exceptions. In one instance, the cast drank real beer during the final scenes of the series finale, and executive producer James Burrows joined them off-camera. Additionally, when The Tonight Show with Jay Leno aired live from The Bull & Finch in Boston—the real bar that Cheers was based on—the cast drank real beer and became visibly drunk by the end of the show.

The cast drank real beer on The Tonight Show

The cast of Cheers drank "near beer" on set, which was flat, warm, salty, and non-alcoholic. However, in one of the final scenes of the series finale, the cast drank real beer. Following the series finale, The Tonight Show, hosted by Jay Leno, aired live from The Bull & Finch in Boston, the bar that inspired Cheers. During the show, the cast drank real beer and were visibly drunk by the end of the hour.

"Near beer" was used due to the heat of the set, which caused the foam to fade quickly. To combat this, the prop team added salt to the beer to create a frothy head, making it look freshly poured. The cast members did not enjoy the taste of the beer, which George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, described as "warm and flat, and [with] salt in it."

The use of "near beer" allowed the cast to avoid the challenges of working with real alcohol on set, such as potential intoxication and the need for frequent bathroom breaks. It also ensured that the beer looked consistent throughout filming, as the salt helped maintain the foam.

While the "near beer" had a low alcohol content of around 3-3.2%, the addition of salt made it unappealing to drink. The cast had to pretend to enjoy their drinks, even though they found the taste unpleasant. This is a common challenge when filming scenes with beer, as the carbonation and alcohol content can affect the actors' performance and the filming schedule.

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