Bottles in a cooler, a park bench, a car, and no bottle opener anywhere: everyone has been there, and it is not only beer that does it. Juice, soda and milk all come with a crimped cap and no obvious way in. If there is a car key in a pocket, the problem is already solved. This hack by Jim Wellman slides the slender metal part of the key under the cap and uses the side of your index finger as the lever, so it is the grip and the leverage doing the work rather than the key itself. Expect to use a bit of force, and expect it to take some practice before it works first time. After that it takes about five seconds.
To open a beer bottle with a car key, grip the bottle tightly by the neck so the cap sits almost flush against the side of your fingers, slide the slender metal part of the key under the edge of the cap, then use your index finger as a lever and twist the key to push the cap up. Three steps, five seconds once practiced.
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This simple hack by Jim Wellman will teach you how to open a beer bottle using a car key! That’s all you need. It’s super simple and effective. You need to apply a bit of force to do this properly. It might take some practice to master this trick so you can do it in just 5 seconds. Nonetheless, it works and is definitely a lifesaver for parties!
Check out these other ways: 13 Ways To Open Beer Without Bottle Opener
Easy Way to Open a Beer Bottle Using a Car Key
Step 1:
Grab the bottle. Hold it tightly on the neck of the bottle with the bottle cap almost flushed to the side of your fingers. See the photo below for reference.
Step 2:
Hold the car key with your other hand. Place the slender metal part of the key under the cap.
Step 3:
Use the side of your index finger as a lever, then carefully twist the key to push the cap of the bottle up. You may need to squeeze the bottle hard and put pressure on the key for this to work. See the photo below how it should be.
How to Open a Beer Bottle With a Car Key
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the leverage trick work?
Because the key is not prying the cap on its own. The side of your index finger sits under the key and acts as the fulcrum, so twisting the key turns a small movement of your hand into an upward push on the crimped edge of the cap. That is also why the grip matters: hold the bottle so the cap is almost flush with your fingers and the lever has something solid to work against.
Is there a safe way to do it without hurting your hand?
Set the grip before you touch the key. Hold the bottle tightly on the neck with the cap almost flush against the side of your fingers, so the key has no room to skid off the cap. You will need to squeeze the bottle hard and put real pressure on the key, so a firm hold on the neck does more for you here than trying to be gentle with it.
How many tries does it take to get right?
More than one, for most people. The tutorial is clear that it takes a bit of force and some practice to master before you can do it in five seconds flat. Work on the grip and the position of the key first and let the speed come later. It is a party trick, so the practicing is not exactly a hardship.
What else can you use if you have no car key?
Plenty of things, and there is a whole post on the site about it. If the key is not an option, see 13 Ways To Open Beer Without Bottle Opener, which is linked in this post. The same lever principle sits behind most of them: something thin under the edge of the cap and something solid underneath it to push against.
