The Cup Weighs 22 Pounds. The Beer Inside Is 12 Ounces. Fifteen People Have Already Won.
By the Ripsaw Saloon crew | Updated June 22, 2026
Last Wednesday we set a 22-pound stainless steel mug on the bar and told people they could drink from it for $5. The rules are simple: pick it up with one hand, drink the whole thing without putting it down, and don’t spill. Succeed and your name goes on the wall. Fail and you’re just another person who thought they were stronger than they are.
Since Wednesday, 15 people have done it. Fifteen. In a town of 600 people, that’s not a novelty. That’s a movement.
How the Challenge Works
Here’s the deal. You pay $5. You pick your drink. Beer or a rail mixer, your call. We pour 12 ounces into a solid steel mug that weighs 22 pounds empty. You grab it with one hand, lift it off the bar, and drink the whole thing without setting it down and without spilling.
No time limit. You can take your time. But that cup doesn’t touch the bar again until it’s empty. One hand only. Spill a drop and you’re done.
Win and your name goes on the wall of fame. We’ll put you on our social media if you want the bragging rights. That’s it. No t-shirt, no gift card, no complicated prize structure. Just your name on a board in a bar in Prentice, Wisconsin, and the knowledge that you did something most people can’t.
The Cup
The mug is a solid stainless steel tank with a horizontal handle bolted to the side. The grip is a knurled steel cylinder. The kind of textured surface that bites into your palm after about 30 seconds. It says “LONGPUNCH” on the front because that’s the company that makes them. It’s not pretty. It’s not dainty. It looks like something you’d find in a machine shop, not a bar.
That’s the point.
Why 22 Pounds Isn’t Enough
Here’s the thing about Prentice. This is a blue-collar town. Farmers, loggers, equipment operators, construction workers. People who lift heavy things for a living and don’t think much of it. The kind of people who carry engine blocks across a garage because it’s faster than getting the hoist.
So when 15 people cleared the 22-pound challenge in the first week, the response wasn’t amazement. It was: “What else you got?”
We’re already looking for a heavier cup. If we can’t find one off the shelf, one of the locals has offered to weld additional weight onto the existing mug. That’s the spirit of this place. You don’t back down from a bar challenge in Prentice. You ask for a harder one.
The TikTok Trend That Made It to the Northwoods
The heavy cup challenge is a viral trend on TikTok right now, with bars across the country running their own versions. The nearest bar to us doing something similar is Wolski’s in Eagle River, about an hour and a half east. We’re the only bar in Price County running the challenge.
If you’ve seen the videos on TikTok, you know the format: someone grabs the mug, the crowd watches, and either they finish or they don’t. The videos that hit are the ones where the lifter’s hand is shaking halfway through and they refuse to set it down. That’s the content. That’s the challenge. Raw grip strength and stubbornness.
What the Wall of Fame Looks Like So Far
Fifteen names in six days. We started Wednesday June 18 and by the following Monday the board was filling up. Some finishes were clean: one smooth lift, steady pour, done in under a minute. Others were grinder jobs where the mug was shaking the entire time and the crowd was cheering because everyone could see the person refusing to quit.
The wall of fame is right behind the bar. Come in, take a look, and see if your name belongs next to those fifteen. Or come watch someone try and fail. Both are entertaining.
The Details
Where: Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556
When: Any time we’re open (Mon/Thu-Sun 2PM–Close, Tue-Wed Closed)
Cost: $5 per attempt
What you get: 12 oz of beer or a rail mixer in a 22 lb steel mug
Rules: One hand only. Don’t put it down. Don’t spill. Drink it all.
Prize: Name on the wall of fame + social media post (if you want it)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use two hands?
No. One hand only. That’s the challenge.
What if I spill a little bit?
That’s a fail. No spillage allowed. The cup has to stay controlled the whole time.
Is there a time limit?
No. Take as long as you need. But the cup can’t touch the bar until you’re done.
Can I choose what’s in the cup?
Yes. Beer or any rail mixer. You pick your drink. The challenge is the weight, not the beverage.
What if I fail? Can I try again?
Absolutely. Each attempt is $5. Keep trying until you get it or until your grip gives out.
Are you really getting a heavier cup?
We’re looking right now. If we can’t find a heavier one to buy, we’re going to weld extra weight onto the current cup. The locals are asking for it.
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