Class by Class, Here Are the Drinks You’ll Find in 2025 Reunions Tents

Reunions is known for many activities, but the consumption of vast amounts of beer ranks high. In 2025, change may be afoot as drinking habits shift and new nonalcoholic (NA) beverages reach the market, leading to a trickle-down effect at Princeton’s annual gathering.

The debate over whether to imbibe or not took on a national dimension in January, when outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory that alcohol consumption was a leading preventable cause of cancer. In the meantime, alcohol consumption has declined in recent years, particularly among Gen Z. According to a study from advertising firm NCS, nearly half of Americans are planning to drink less in 2025.

The good news is that there’s increasingly plenty of options for drinks, alcoholic and otherwise. That’s in part because NA beer is having a moment, with brews from younger brands like Athletic Brewing Co. and RationAle achieving wider distribution and popularity. However, opinions differ as to the quality of these newfangled NA brews. “To me, Athletic tastes terrible,” argues Tripp Stewart ’95, one of the beverage chairs of the 30th reunion, “but RationAle tastes like beer,” citing his class’s decision to serve RationAle’s NA Mexican Cerveza.

The rise of NA beer has contributed to a trend called “Zebra striping,” a new name for an old practice — alternating alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic ones. “What people told me is they’re like, ‘Hey, I’m going to drink margaritas and nonalcoholic beer, and I’ll be in a perfect spot,’” Stewart elaborates.

However, while some alumni applaud the effort to make NA beer more accessible, the question is, how much of it will actually be consumed?

“I’d be so interested to see how the nonalcoholic beer goes this year,” says Grace Baylis ’20, the fifth reunion’s beverage chair. “So much of [Reunions] has been centered around beer.”

With many class tents offering NA beers this year — including the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, and 50th — there will be many opportunities to have the best of both worlds and, um, “Tiger stripe.”

APGA: 75th Diamond Anniversary: Shining Like a Diamond!

In honor of APGA’s 75th “diamond” anniversary (the organization was founded in 1949), graduate alumni will be treated to a variety of brews and ciders, including Rolling Rock Lager, Double Nickel Pilsner, Stone Delicious Hazy IPA, Neshaminy Creek UltraCush IPA, Shock Top Ale, and Downeast Cider. Per Karina Alventosa *22, APGA also plans on serving a surprise cocktail.

Fifth: Class of 2020 — Olé, Nassau: Kicking Off the 20s

The fifth reunion’s World Cup theme will be expressed through “Beers Around the World,” featuring international brews such as Heineken and Peroni. According to Baylis, the fifth also plans to serve Kona Big Wave, an Allagash or Kölsch variety, a cider option, canned Cutwater Margaritas, as well as a rum drink. The fifth’s class dinner will feature a stripped-down open bar in addition to beer or wine.

10th: Class of 2015 — WimbleTEN

Challengers, anyone? The 10th will feature tennis-themed drinks, including a “Princeton’s Cup” cocktail, inspired by the famous Pimm’s Cup (a blend of Pimm’s No. 1 gin liqueur, lemonade, and fruit) offered at Wimbledon. Other canned cocktails will include margaritas and palomas from Cazadores.

Beer options at the 10th will include Michelob Ultra, Rolling Rock, and Fiddlehead IPA. For ciderheads, Downeast Cider will be available, with RationAle’s NA Mexican Cerveza the nonalcoholic option. In terms of wine, Emma Snyder ’15 says the 10th will offer 2024 Offscript Vinito, a “fresh and crisp white” from the Gallo Winery in the Central Coast of California, as well as the 2023 Language of Yes Les Fruits Rouges — a “complex, delicious rosé full of red berry flavors.”

15th: Class of 2010 — Laissez les Bon Tens Rouler — Rue 15 Nassau

You may forget you’re in the Orange Bubble at the 15th, which aims to evoke New Orleans’ famous French Quarter with a Mardi Gras theme. Featuring Purple Haze beer from Louisiana favorite Abita Brewing, the 15th will also serve Miller High Life, New Belgium Fat Tire, and Potter’s Cider (from a company co-founded by Tim Edmond ’07). Justin Frick ’10 says the 15th will also have cans of High Noon, Suncruiser, and NA beer from Athletic.

20th: Class of 2005 — It’s ’05 O’Clock Somewhere

It’s never too early to imbibe at the 20th tent, where it’s ’05 O’Clock Somewhere. Draft beers will include Michelob Ultra, Landshark Lager, Kona Big Wave, Founders All Day IPA, and New Trail West Coast IPA. According to Travis Muir ’05, Downeast Cider will also be served, in addition to NA beer options from Athletic Brewing.

25th: Class of 2000 — Bid Every Care Withdraw

Not every care has withdrawn at the 25th, as the Class of 2000 has big plans. The 25th’s lower courtyard, open to all Reunions wristbands, will feature Angry Orchard Cider, Truly Mixed Berry Seltzer, Moosehead Lager, Mudhead Pilsner, and Miller Lite. Both courtyards will serve NA beer from Athletic.

30th: Class of 1995 — I-95 – The Journey Refueled

The 30th will refuel its 25th theme (“I-95: The Journey”), a celebration forestalled by the pandemic-era remote Reunions held in 2020. Stewart says more than a thousand classmates have already signed up, making this perhaps the largest 30th reunion on record. “All the previous data for drinks is just out the door,” he adds.

On draft the 30th will have Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, Downeast Cider, Fiddlehead IPA, and Shock Top, and they’ll also serve varieties of White Claw. In addition, the 30th is promising rosé all day on ice, as well as general wine offerings.

In terms of NA options, RationAle Mexican Cerveza will be served. And if all these selections sound dizzying, you’ll also be able to refuel for your eventual trip down I-95 with caffeine — there will be nitro cold brew coffee on tap all night.

35th: Class of 1990 — 90’s 35th Reunion Tour: Back in Black & Orange

From a tap list featuring Michelob Ultra, Landshark Lager, Stella Artois, Kona Big Wave, Fiddlehead IPA, Downeast Cider, to canned cocktails including Cutwater margaritas, bloody marys, vodka mules and High Noon vodka and tequila seltzers, and finally NA options like Heineken 0.0 and Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA, there’s a lot to get jazzed about.

Noah Silverman ’90 says that the 35th will also serve Aperol spritzes, gin and tonics, tequila sodas, and vodka cranberrys cocktails.

40th: Class of 1985 — This Ain’t Our First Rodeo

Gather round, cowpokes! The Class of 1985 plans to serve Michelob Ultra, Kona Big Wave, Victory Prima Pils, New Trail Broken Heels Hazy, Stella Artois, and Downeast Cider. This rodeo will complete its round-up with canned cocktails from Lyre (including their margarita, amalfi spritz, and “the dark and spicy” (a variation on a ginger mule).

The 40th also managed to lasso some NA options, including Athletic Brewing’s Free Wave Hazy IPA and Upside Dawn Golden.

45th: Class of 1980 — The Ties That Bind

Ties may bind, but plans take a while. As of publication, the 45th was not ready to share its selections.

50th: Class of 1975 — Roaring Back to the 50th

This year, the 50th Reunion is offering a unique Belgian Blonde ale called Duvel, to be served in smaller cups than the regular beers due to its higher alcohol content and distinct flavor. Bill Baumbach ’75 *87 also says the 50th will serve Heineken, Budweiser, Michelob Lite, and a local craft IPA. Fountain soda, water, NA beer, and barista coffee will also be served.

55th Reunion: Class of 1970 — Still Flying High

As of publication, the Class of 1970 is still working on its selections.

60th Reunion: Class of 1965 — Sounds of ’65

As of publication, the Class of 1965 is still working on its selections.

65th Reunion: Class of 1960 — Going Back – Looking Forward

Andreas Prindl ’60 says they’ll serve beer, but “it won’t be a famous American brand, especially one called Lite.” During the class dinners, the Class of 1960 will also serve about six different good wines from Europe, Argentina, and New Zealand, some of which Prindl taste-tested from his house near Bordeaux.