In a way, beer mats are the unsung heroes of the beer world. They’re not something that people think too much about, which is a real pity, because if you stop to take a look at them, you’ll find some true gems. Some beer mats are simple advertisements; those typically aren’t all that interesting, but there are a wealth of others. Some of the most interesting and colorful ones we’ve come across are presented below. The hope is that once your attention has been drawn to them, you’ll keep a watchful eye out the next time you pull into your local pub for a libation. Read on and enjoy!

“I’m Not Getting Drunk, I’m Getting Awesome”

This one kind of says it all, doesn’t it? It’s quite possibly the perfect beer mat.

“Dear Karma: I have a list of people you missed…”

A wonderful beer mat with a philosophic bent, or at least, as philosophic as one can rightly expect a beer mat to get.

“You can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning!”

This beer mat is white with green lettering, and comes complete with a Shamrock, revealing its Irish roots.

“Trust me, you can dance.”

A great beer mat, recently seen on display at a bar that featured a fair sized dance floor. If you’ve ever seen people ‘beer dancing,’ you’ll know how often people who have been drinking are convinced that this is true.

“I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.”

Wise words indeed. Any beer drinker would be proud to display this beer mat at his or her table.

And we’ll end our list on a historic note with,

“It takes a Viking to raze a village.”

A truly fabulous beer mat, no matter how you slice it.

Keep an eye peeled on the beer mats in your favorite watering hole. Some of them will surprise, and often amuse you. You might even think about starting a collection. Drink up and enjoy.

To start you beer mat collection, visit the Edomonton International Beer Festival, where you’ll find lots of great examples being given away to visitors.