# What's a Pack of Two-Four (McKenzie Bros 12 Days of Christmas) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860 "2003-12-14T00:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/1 "2003-12-14T00:41:44Z")
[quote] On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me Six packs of two-four Five golden tuques! Four pounds of backbacon Three french toast Two turtlenecks And a beer [/qoute] I know what a tuque is. Backbacon, I assume, is what Americans call “bacon.” But WTF is a pack of two-four? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/2 "2003-12-14T00:48:03Z")
Pack of 24 beer, of course, though that’s not really conventional usage. But hey, it’s a song. Poetic license and all that. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/3 "2003-12-14T02:12:57Z")
Actually, I think “backbacon” is something different from normal bacon. I’m Canadian, and I’ve never seen or eaten anything referred to as “backbacon.” We just eat bacon. Isn’t backbacon like fried ham or something? ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/4 "2003-12-14T03:47:29Z")
I believe they are saying “Tuborg” as in Tuborg Gold Beer. Also, “Backbacon” is Canadien Bacon, as can be found on a McDonalds Bacon Egg McMufffin. I think its thinly sliced fried ham. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/5 "2003-12-14T04:43:43Z")
It _is_ Tuborg, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/6 "2003-12-14T05:57:10Z")
Really? Down here in the States, Tuborg is a farily pricey imported beer. I kind of envision Bob and Doug as preferring something a bit more blue-collar, something that lets your beer dollar go a little farther (an imporant consideration when your beer dollar is Canadian ;)), sort of a Great White Northern version of Milwaukee’s Best. I was also pretty certain I heard an “F” sound in the middle of that gift. But, while I can appreciate that it _miight_ be “Two-Four,” as in 2.4 percent alcohol beer, that doesn’t strike me as something that the boys would put into their mouths. I’m still up in the air about this one. Can you please provide a cite, **Rex Fenestrarum**? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/7 "2003-12-14T06:22:06Z")
- Five golden tuques!\* A tuque is a cool woolen-type cap with a tail (sorta like night-caps?). Pom-pom/tassels optional. In New York we spell 'em ‘Tooks’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CarlaH1210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@CarlaH1210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarlaH1210)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/8 "2003-12-14T06:58:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Backbacon, I assume, is what Americans call “bacon.” [Back bacon](http://www.epicurious.com/run/fooddictionary/browse?entry_id=7503). ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/9 "2003-12-14T13:48:13Z")
The hosers drinking Tuborg? I’ve always heard it as “2-4”. As mentioned, a “2-4” is common slang, at least in Ontario, for a case of 24 beers. Might not be so common in Western Canada where they seem, at least in my observation, to go more for cases of 12. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/10 "2003-12-14T14:36:47Z")
Ahem. :Pops in Strange Brew DVD with subtitles enabled.: Scene at the beer store where the boys try to get free beer by saying they found a mouse in a bottle: Clerk: Twenty-four Elsinore that’ll be $14.70 Doug: I believe there’ll be no charge on this **two-four** of beer, thank you. That is all. No, wait…Take off, eh?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/11 "2003-12-14T15:52:08Z")
2-4 is very common in the Maritimes as well. ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/12 "2003-12-14T21:37:25Z")
I’ve always wanted a beer in a tree. No one ever got me one yet. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/13 "2003-12-14T23:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > **But, while I can appreciate that it _miight_ be “Two-Four,” as in 2.4 percent alcohol beer, that doesn’t strike me as something that the boys would put into their mouths.** On the other hand, a 2-4, which, as has been mentioned is a case of 24, is definitely something the boys would put into their mouths. As a side note, the Victoria Day long weekend is usually referred to as May 2-4 around here - as it falls around the 24th, and going through at LEAST one 2-4 is a common passtime on that weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Donut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Donut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donut)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/14 "2003-12-15T04:19:49Z")
I’m gonna chime in to say that 2-4 is, around here, a case of 24 beer (a case of 12 beer is just called a “case”). ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/15 "2003-12-15T04:32:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Donut \* > \*\*I’m gonna chime in to say that 2-4 is, around here, a case of 24 beer (a case of 12 beer is just called a “case”). \*\* So “six packs of two-four” (as per the song) is 144 bottles of beer? Cool. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/16 "2003-12-15T05:55:47Z")
I live in Ontario and the expression “2-4” is in common usage here. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/17 "2003-12-15T06:08:10Z")
I have bought many a two-four in British Columbia, also. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/18 "2003-12-15T07:37:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Corbomite \* > \*\*So “six packs of two-four” (as per the song) is 144 bottles of beer? Cool. \*\* 145, if you count the one on the tree. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/19 "2003-12-15T13:42:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Corbomite \* > \*\*So “six packs of two-four” (as per the song) is 144 bottles of beer? \*\* Or, as Bob and Doug would call it, the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![International\_Playboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@International\_Playboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/International_Playboy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860/20 "2003-12-15T19:32:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > \*\*Really? > > Down here in the States, Tuborg is a farily pricey imported beer. I kind of envision Bob and Doug as preferring something a bit more blue-collar, \*\* Tuborg Gold was introduced in this part of Arizona in the late 1970s. I remember the slogan at that time was, “For the price of the king of beers, you can have the beer of kings.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-pack-of-two-four-mckenzie-bros-12-days-of-christmas/218860.md?page=2)