ROCK SPRINGS — The mug doesn’t look impossible at first.
It sits on the bar at Square State Brewing, stainless steel and oversized, the kind of novelty item people glance at and think they can handle.
Then they try to lift it.
Most can’t.
“It shocks people how heavy it is,” said Cassandra Vincelette, co-owner of the brewery. “A lot of people come in and think they can do it. Then they grab it, and it’s a whole different story.”
The mug weighs 31 pounds.
That is slightly lighter than the 35-pound version made popular in viral videos online, where people attempt to lift the mug one-handed and drink from it without spilling.
Vincelette first saw the challenge — sometimes also called the Thor’s Mug challenge — on TikTok, where videos from a tavern in the Midwest kept appearing in her feed.
“I just kept watching them,” she said. “I couldn’t stop. And I thought, ‘I wonder if we can get one of those?’”
She tracked one down online, but not the heavier 35-pound mug.
“The 35-pound ones are sold out everywhere,” she said. “I’m on a waiting list. I can’t even find another 31-pound mug right now.”
That 31-pound mug filled with beer on the bar at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs doesn’t look that impossible to drink from. “Then they grab it, and it’s a whole different story,” says owner Cassanrda Vincelette. (Courtesy Square Street Brewery) 
That 31-pound mug filled with beer on the bar at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs doesn’t look that impossible to drink from. “Then they grab it, and it’s a whole different story,” says owner Cassanrda Vincelette. (Courtesy Square Street Brewery) 
That 31-pound mug filled with beer on the bar at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs doesn’t look that impossible to drink from. “Then they grab it, and it’s a whole different story,” says owner Cassanrda Vincelette. (Courtesy Square Street Brewery)
‘It Feels Heavier’
Even at 31 pounds, the ridiculously heavy beer mug has proven more than enough for most people.
“It feels heavier than that,” said Mark Beery, who has given it a try and couldn’t complete the lift. “Thirty pounds should be easy. This isn’t.”
That’s part of the surprise.
Many who attempt the challenge walk in confident in their strength, many of them fresh from the gym.
It’s the shape of the mug that changes everything.
Unlike a dumbbell or kettlebell, the weight sits awkwardly in the hand, pulling away from the wrist. Grip strength matters. So does balance.
“It’s all in your wrist,” Vincelette said. “A lot of people can lift it, but getting it up to your mouth and actually drinking without spilling is the hard part.”
The Rules
The rules to the challenge are simple, but strict.
• One hand only.
• No bracing against the bar.
• No switching hands.
• Once the mug leaves the surface, the attempt has begun.
People can test the weight beforehand, but they can’t practice. After that, there are no second chances.
“You just have to go for it,” Vincelette said.
Cassandra Vincelette pours a drink into the mug used for the challenge at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs. (Tracie Sullivan for Cowboy State Daily) 
That 31-pound mug filled with beer on the bar at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs doesn’t look that impossible to drink from. “Then they grab it, and it’s a whole different story,” says owner Cassanrda Vincelette. (Courtesy Square Street Brewery) 
That 31-pound mug filled with beer on the bar at Square State Brewing in Rock Springs doesn’t look that impossible to drink from. “Then they grab it, and it’s a whole different story,” says owner Cassanrda Vincelette. (Courtesy Square Street Brewery)
75% Failure Rate
Since introducing the challenge about two weeks ago, the Rock Springs brewery has seen a steady stream of attempts.
Vincelette estimates 15 to 20 people have tried so far, with roughly 25% completing it successfully.
Rob Martin is one of them.
“The hardest part is the beginning,” Martin said. “Once you get it moving, your grip starts to slip. Your hands get sweaty, and it feels like it’s going to drop.”
Even mid-attempt, there is no break from the strain.
“You’re shaking the whole time,” he said. “It’s hard to even drink because you’re trying to hold it steady.”
Spilling counts against the attempt. A few drops might pass. Too much, and it is over.
So far, none of the few women who have tried the challenge have completed it, though several have come close.
“We’ve had about four women try,” Vincelette said. “One almost got it, but she spilled quite a bit.”
That hasn’t stopped interest in the challenge.
Vincelette has ordered a lighter, 22-pound version of the mug for women, which is expected to arrive soon.
She hopes it will open the challenge to more participants while keeping the original in play.
“We’re going to have all three,” she said. “The 22, the 31, and hopefully the 35 when we can get it.”
Heavier Than It Looks
The goal is not just competition. It is entertainment.
On a recent night, laughter filled the bar as patrons encouraged each other, snapped photos and debated technique.
Some stepped up immediately. Others circled the mug, studying it, working up the nerve.
Alisha Beachler gave it a try after watching others.
“You really don’t think it’s going to be that heavy,” she said.
That’s a common reaction.
“A lot of people don’t believe it at first,” Vincelette said. “They think it’s lighter than it is. Then they try it.”
Vincelette said the challenge has brought quite a few new faces through the door. Some arrive after seeing videos online. Others hear about it from friends.
“They come in just to try it,” Vincelette said. “Or they come in and they look at it for a while and then they decide they have to try it.”
Success earns a free drink and bragging rights.
But for most, the real reward isn’t finishing the challenge — it’s the experience.
The mug has filled the bar with laughter, sparked new friendships, and taught nearly everyone the same lesson: it’s heavier than it looks.
