# Can grog actually dissolve a metal mug that fast?

**URL:** <https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/can-grog-actually-dissolve-a-metal-mug-that-fast/5991>\
**Category:** Adventure/Lucasfilm Games\
**Created:** [September 28, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/can-grog-actually-dissolve-a-metal-mug-that-fast/5991 "2026-09-28T19:42:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Goodmold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Goodmold](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Goodmold)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/can-grog-actually-dissolve-a-metal-mug-that-fast/5991/1 "2026-09-28T19:42:17Z")

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A group of scientists at the University of Groningen has tried to reverse-engineer the composition of _Monkey Island_’s grog, based on one scene in the game. They spoil a puzzle in the process, but I guess everbody in this blog has played MI multiple times.

The topic is a joke but the article is serious, so you might pick up one or two notions of real-world chemistry in there.

> **[The science of Monkey Island: can grog actually dissolve a metal mug that fast?](https://jgeekstudies.org/2026/09/23/the-science-of-monkey-island-can-grog-actually-dissolve-a-metal-mug-that-fast/)**
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> Patrizio Raffa ENTEG Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Email: p.raffa (at) rug (dot) nl Download PDF Since its release in 1990 by L…

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**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/can-grog-actually-dissolve-a-metal-mug-that-fast/5991/2 "2026-09-28T20:27:35Z")

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> Pewter composition has varied over time, and historical alloys could contain lead. Modern pewter is generally tin-rich. Because the mug’s exact alloy composition is unknown, it is treated here as pure tin.

That makes sense for calculations and for the most corrosive results, but I’ve always assumed it was such low quality that it only barely didn’t dissolve even from just water. 😉