Drink before you think

The world of competitive bar trivia is a fraught one, filled with hangovers and heated arguments over answers to questions you later won’t even remember. It’s also a special realm in which the very drunk are often bested by the slightly less drunk, with both sides engaged in a battle for the most fleeting, inconsequential kind of respect. Whether you show up for the drink specials, to hang with friends, or to pursue that delightful feeling of smug superiority associated with knowing exactly how many Oscars Meryl Streep has won, here’s a roundup of Decider’s favorite Twin Cities pub-quiz nights.

Trailer Park Trivia at Grumpy’s Northeast, Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
Hosted by Bernie The Trailer Park Queen and nestled firmly between Tuesday’s “Hot Dish Happy Hour” and Thursday’s “free cocktail if you bring in a record to play,” Trailer Park Trivia has become a staple for Grumpy’s devoted clientele since starting up three years ago. Expect a wide range of pop-culture questions, skewed musical quandaries, and film references. Also, each week’s losing team is granted a “Loser’s Walk Of Shame” to the bar, where they receive a round of applause, a free drink, and a sneak peek at one of next week’s categories.
Sample Question: During the course of The Big Lebowski, The Dude drinks nine of these. (Answer: White Russians)

Pub Trivia with Dessa at the Nomad World Pub, Mondays at 8 p.m.
Although Dessa’s science-themed trivia seems to have been cut back to scattered dates approximately once a month, the acclaimed Doomtree songstress, author, and woman-about-town still shines as host of this Monday mainstay on the West Bank. Her questions may seem a bit more random, but they’re as challenging as any other quiz night, especially as the customary two-for-one drink specials take hold.
Sample Question: What is the formal name for the pound sign? (Answer: Octothorpe)

Triviasco! at Pizza Lucé, Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
For an idea of what Triviasco! feels like, imagine that the host of TV’s Drinking With Ian was allowed to head up a weekly dinner party with his guests picking up the tab. This quasi-variety show includes not only the eccentric trivia stylings of said Ian, but also features singing challenges, pizza-topping-tasting competitions, and speed-drinking contests. Half-price taps and the lure of a $50 bar tab for Triviasco! winners don’t hurt, either.
Sample Question: What is Boy George’s real first name? (Answer: George)

Trivia Mafia at the 331 Club, Sundays at 8 p.m.
Previously known as Chuck And Sean’s Trivia, the newly organized Trivia Mafia is undoubtedly the most ambitious of all Twin Cities’ trivia troupes. Headed up by Heiruspecs bassist Sean McPherson and partner Chuck Terhark of METRO magazine (plus accomplices including singer-songwriter Martin Devaney), the crew has expanded beyond the 331 Club to host trivia nights at venues all over town, but the always-stimulating Sunday original remains the nerdiest and most enthralling of the lot.
Sample Question: Who framed Roger Rabbit? Score one point for the character and another point for the actor or actress. (Answer: Judge Doom, played by Christopher Lloyd)

Cosgrove’s Trivia Challenge at Brit's Pub, Thursdays at 6 p.m.
It all started in 1999 with then-bar manager John Cosgrove and his love of quizzing over at Kieran’s. Since then, Cosgrove’s interactive style of trivia has grown into a lucrative enterprise, allowing him to emcee events ranging from corporate luncheons to fundraisers and weddings. Hailed as challenging, engaging, and hilarious, Brit’s Cosgrove Trivia Challenge remains one of the most esteemed drink-and-think nights in town. (Brit's also hosts a much more competitive twice-monthly event on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month; Cosgrove's is come-one-come-all, but you'll need to sign up for the monthly event in advance by emailing shane@britspub.com.)
Sample Question: What do the initials stand for in AIG? (Answer: American International Group)

Trivia Hell at Hell's Kitchen, Mondays at 7 p.m.
Joel Stitzel, the co-host of the long-running Radio K show (and now podcast) Cosmic Slop, teased brains during trivia nights at the St. Paul lesbian bar Pi until it closed in November 2008. Like a beautiful trivia phoenix, out of the ashes has come “Trivia Hell.” Stitzel emcees with the aid of a video screen and his puckish sense of humor, which leads to categories ranging from a plastic-surgery-disaster picture round to “I Really Didn’t Want To Know That,”  a series of questions about commonplace things (i.e. recording tape, anti-smoking campaigns) which were unfortunately invented by the Nazis. Then there's the “Rob Schneider’ Movies” category, in which you guess the title of a movie based on a description that includes Schneider as if he was the star. Prizes include jars of Hells' Kitchen's gourmet peanut butter.
Sample Question: Rob Schneider is an ex-cop who’s called back on the job one last time to track down four crazy criminals lost in the big city. Along the way, he meets the girl of his dreams … but is she really more human than human? (Blade Runner.)