"Beer-loving bear knows his brand"

This was the headline from an article in the August 20th edition of Canada's National Post newspaper! Subtitle:

"Bruin sleeps it off after downing 36 cans of Rainier".

As reported in the paper, it seems that a certain black bear was recently found "reclining on the lawn - presumably with a splitting headache and a craving for a cheeseburger" at a Washington state campground about an hour or so northeast of Seattle. The story continues:

"The bear, estimated to be about two years old, broke into campers' coolers and, using his claws and teeth to open the cans, knocked back the beers."

Apparently, the bear tried one can of Busch beer before finding the Rainier brand more to his liking! (Busch is a mass-market, discount beer, while Rainier, owned by Pabst Brewing, is a premium ale sold only in the Pacific Northwest.)

"We think it's a testament to the quality of our brand," said Neal Stewart, senior brand manager with Rainier Beer.

The story continues,

"Assuming the bear weighed a typical 500 pounds and drank the 36 beers in about two hours, it would have had a blood alcohol level of 2.58mg/100 ml. That concentration of alcohol in the blood is more than 30 times the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle - if the bear were human. And had a car.

"Rainier appeared to make a lasting impression on the Baker Lake bear. It returned to the campsite the day after its binge and was lured into a trap that was baited with doughnuts, honey, and two cans of Rainier.

"Wildlife officers were able to capture and relocate the bear."

Too funny, don't you agree?!