The lid – The lids on beer mugs serve as a sanitary measure, especially to keep insects out of the beer. They are usually made out of pewter, and are usually equipped with a lever that is in reach of the thumb, so that it is possible to grab the mug and open and close the lid with a single hand. These days beer mats are usually used to cover the glass or mug when required.
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Why do beer steins have lids and glass bottoms?
Origin of the beer stein lid – Today the beer stein lid protects the drink from falling leaves and flying insects. Its original meaning was much more important. The origin of the lid goes back to the plague epidemics in the 14th century, when millions of people died of black plague.
- After the plague, Central Europe was swarming with deadly shoals of mosquitoes.
- That is why in the 16th century there was a decree that all food and drink containers should be covered to protect them from dangerous insects.
- This is how the beer mug lid was created.
- Even after the plague and dangerous mosquito swarms were a thing of the past, the lid remained a special detail on the massive mugs.
The poorer sections of the population used felt lids in earlier times. These felt coasters were used both as coasters and to cover beer. However, felt has the decisive disadvantage that it quickly becomes moist and is a good breeding ground for bacteria.
The rich therefore preferred beer coasters made of tin (pewter) or silver. The lids on the beer mug therefore not only had a practical use, they were also a kind of status symbol of the upper class. The material of the lid was used to determine the level of the beer drinker. Another wonderful side effect only became known sometime after the laws were enacted.
Especially the upper class, who also use the steins and lids as a kind of status symbol, came to the enjoyment of tin (pewter) lids. In combination with the stone stein0, these lids preserve the cold and freshness of the drink for much much longer. In former times also many waiters had the problem that they could not see whether the guest had still something to drink or not.
What is the purpose of a beer stein lid?
Why do German beer steins have lids? – There is a long history about the steins, what they are made of and how they have evolved over the centuries. Which you can read about here. But lids did not start appearing on German steins until the Bubonic plague swept through Europe (in the 1300s), where insects appeared in their millions and attracted to the sweet smelling beer.
What is a stein with a lid called?
Etymology of (Beer) Stein – Stein is a shortened version of the word steinzeug krug, which means stoneware, tankard, or jug in German. A stein is just one of many different types of beer glasses, The word transformed into staene in Old English and meant pitcher or jug.
Why do beer steins have dimples?
Mugs and tankards: Part 4 in the beer glass series Welcome to part four of the beer glassware series! Hopefully you’ve read parts,, and, and maybe even tried a new glass or two. Heck, maybe you’ve simply tried to shake things up by tasting a beer out of a wine glass. Baby steps. I debated for a while if I wanted to write about the following type of glass, but because it’s so popular and typically the image that comes to mind when people think of a “frosty glass of beer,” I thought I’d better address it. I’m speaking, of course, about mug-style beer glasses. You’ll notice that I don’t have any personal photos of handled glassware, because I don’t really endorse it, and, until recently, I didn’t own any. I received a beer tankard last year for Christmas and the only substance it’s held since then is dust. But again, the whole point of this series is exploration. Just because I’m not a fan of mugs doesn’t mean you won’t be.1. The Classic Tankard (this one is by Libbey) – When think about a cartoon or movie depicting a character enjoying a large, frosty mug of beer (Homer Simpson, anyone?), this is the glass that typically comes to mind. Many times, these are stored in a freezer and pulled out only right before beer is poured into them. The wide mouth and huge capacity make it ideal basically only for guzzling a huge quantity. Not really my style. The handle keeps your hand (and consequentially your body heat) away from the glass, which is helpful for those who like the idea of a frigid brew. As I’ve mentioned before, good beer should never be served so cold. It completely detracts from the more subtle flavors. If you’re drinking an almost-water-anyway domestic, sure, go ahead and have it icy cold. But you’ll appreciate much more flavor when you use a room-temperature glass.2. Dimpled Glass “Krug” (this one is by bar@drinkstuff) – This mug is popular in English pubs. If you’ve stopped by Jim’s Tap in Brookings and ordered a pint, it was likely served in one of these. They are less typically chilled to freezing temperatures and hold a much smaller amount of beer. The dimpled pattern of the glass is meant to create visual appeal with different refractions of light. To be honest, though, I’d rather drink a hot toddy from one of these. The handle would keep my hand from getting burnt, as opposed to the intended purpose of keeping beer icy. Still, these glasses are a fun novelty, and the texture makes for a beautiful looking brew.3. Beer Stein (this one is by King) – Alright, I may not love beer mugs and tankards, but I’ll be the first to admit that beer steins are awesome, I mean, just look at that intricate design with the beautiful crest on the front. True German beer steins are made out of clay (or other ceramic) and hand-painted. The authentic, hand-crafted varieties are as beautiful as they are heavy. They make great decorative pieces, although they may be bulky to drink from and certainly not as easy to clean as glass. The element that sets the stein apart – the hinged lid – was originally used to keep disease-ridden flies from landing in your beer and infecting it with the bubonic plague. Beer mugs, in my opinion, make better ornamental pieces than actual drinking vessels. They are heavy and unwieldly, and frankly hold more beer than is necessary for me. I prefer a smaller glass that isn’t served frozen. For me, the only beer that’ll be going in a frozen tankard is root beer along with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. : Mugs and tankards: Part 4 in the beer glass series
What are the rarest steins?
Assessing the Age of German Beer Steins – The value of a German beer stein often depends on its age. As might be expected, older steins have a higher value than newer beer mugs. To start with assessing the value of a beer stein, many collectible beer steins will have the date of the stein printed on the metal lid or stamped on the bottom of the ceramic beer mug.
The varieties of antique German beer steins can often be assigned to different periods of history. A broad generalization of some time periods into which steins can be classified (but by no means exhaustive) are: The rarest of steins date from the 16th to the middle of the 19th century. Antique steins from the mid-19th to early-20th centuries are more common but still rare.
Jugendstil beer steins are from the Art Nouveau period of Germany, which lasted from 1900 to the 1920s. Third Reich steins were created during World War 2. Contemporary beer steins made after World War II come in a wide variety, ranging from collectible steins to souvenirs and German gift-themed steins.
Why did steins have clear bottoms?
Glass bottoms – Metal tankards often come with a glass bottom. The legend is that the glass-bottomed tankard was developed as a way of refusing the King’s shilling, i.e., conscription into the British Army or Navy. The drinker could see the coin in the bottom of the glass and refuse the drink, thereby avoiding conscription.
However, this is likely a myth since the Navy could press by force, rendering deception unnecessary. In a bar fight, the first punch was thrown while the recipient had the tankard raised to his mouth; another legend has it that the glass bottom was implemented to see the attack coming. A further story is that the glass bottom merely allowed the drinker to judge the clarity of their drink while forgoing the expense of a fragile pint glass.
Glass bottoms are sometimes retrofitted to antique tankards, reducing their value and authenticity.
Why do Germans use steins?
The Origin of Steins: – Steins originated in the 14th century. As a result of the bubonic plague and several invasions of flies in Europe, Germany established laws to require beverage containers to be covered for sanitary purposes. Around the same time, techniques to improve earthenware by raising the firing temperature of clay, created stoneware.
Thus, there was a presence of stoneware drinking vessels with attached pewter lids for the next 300 years. By the end of the 19th century, the stein was clearly defined as being made in Europe, primarily of stoneware and primarily with a permanently attached pewter lid. The history of steins includes the development and presentation of steins made with different materials.
Pewter was the material of choice in some areas of Europe, especially England. Glass, porcelain and silver steins were introduced several hundred years ago. Many stein-decorating styles and techniques were developed over the centuries, offering further diversity to the stein.
In recent times, the stein and tankard industry remained primarily represented by factories in Germany and England, where skilled craftsmen continue to create steins. However, during the 1980’s, Ceramarte, of Brazil, became the largest producer of beer steins in the world. They specialize in promotional products for companies and organizations, primarily Budweiser.
Some of the current producers of steins are:
Liegl Kaiser Porcelain B.M.F Zimmerman Rastal A.J. Thewalt Simon Peter Getz Albert Stahl and Co. Lindner Porzellan King Werks Bockling Glas Merkelbach Tradex W. Corzelius Villeroy and Boch Domex M. Girmscheid Kurt Hammer
Why do Germans use beer steins?
A Brief History of German Beer Steins – German Beer Steins were originally produced to combat health issues that triggered the Bubonic Plague. Strict laws enforcing sanitation on the ingredients, transport, and quality of beer led to a vast improvement in the taste of German beer.
This in turn placed a higher value and importance on the Beer Stein and made owning your own unique stein a thing of desire.A Beer Stein became a status symbol and display piece for each German family emblazoned with a household crest, shield or expression. As the old saying goes: “The German will place great value on that which brings him his food or drink.” Likewise we place great care and esteem in bringing you that which has fascinated collectors since the 13th century, The German Beer Stein.All of the German Beer Steins featured on our site are handmade, hand-painted, exceptional works of art.
Each Beer Stein is carefully crafted by artisans in Germany of historic origins (Thewalt, King-Werks, Zöller and Born) and imported by sea.Every Limited Edition German Beer Stein is individually numbered and stamped with the manufacturer’s mark and country of origin, making each Beer Stein strikingly distinctive.
Do steins keep beer cold?
What Type of Beer Glass Should You Use? – If you want to increase your enjoyment of beer, try drinking it from the type of beer glass best designed for your beverage. Here’s a quick chart to help you identify the type of glass you should use.
| Steins and Thick Glass Mugs | Hefty containers made from thick glass or ceramic material. They are often kept in a freezer, so they will keep beer chilled for longer. Some have lids and other decorative adornments. | American, English, and German Lagers; Scottish Ales, Irish Dry Stouts |
| Goblets and Chalices | Like the name sounds, these glasses are made with a round bowl on top of a thick stem. Often they are very decorative and fancy. The wide mouth of the rim promotes big sips of beer. | Belgian IPAs; Belgian Ales; Belgian Dubbles, Triples, and Quadruples; German Bocks and Mailbocks |
| Pilsners | These glasses are tall and slim with a slightly wider mouth than the base. Pilsners bring out the beer’s appearance– sparkle, clarity, and bubbles. The shape of the glass helps to retain the beer’s head to retain the aromatic qualities of the beverage. | American Lagers and Pilsners, Hefeweizens, Blonde Ales, Witbeiers, and Highly-carbonated Pale Lagers |
| Pints | This is the most popular style of glass used to serve beer. A pint glass holds 16 ounces of beer and is slightly wider at the mouth than at its base. | American Ales, Lagers, IPAs, and Pilsners |
| Imperial Pint Glasses | These are very similar to regular pint glasses. They feature a slightly bulbous shape near the top and hold 20 ounces of beer. | British Ales and Lagers, India Pale Ales, Amber/Red Ales, Brown Ales, Porters, Milk Stouts, Oatmeal Stouts, and Scotch Ales. |
| Tulip Glasses | Tulip glasses feature a bulbous body with a flared lip. The design captures the head and brings out the aromatic qualities and flavor of malty, hoppy beers. Beer enthusiasts take advantage of the shape to swirl the beverages and further enjoy the sensory experience. | Double IPAs, Belgian Ales, Scottish Ales, and other stronger, aromatic beers |
| Snifters | Snifters are similar to tulip glasses but are larger and hold a higher volume of beer. | High ABV beers such as Belgian Ales, Wheat Wines, and Imperial IPAs |
| Weizen Glasses | Also called wheat beer glasses, these glasses are tall with thin walls. The shape of the glass enhances the traditional flavors of banana and clove while helping to retain the beverage’s thick head. | Weizenbocks, Kristaleweizens, and Wheat Ales |
| Stanges | This glass style is a tall, slender cylinder. The German word “stange” means pole, which perfectly describes its appearance. Unlike a flute, stanges have thick glass bottoms to increase their stability. | Traditional glass for Kolsch; also for Belgian Iambics, Gueze, and Rye |
| Flutes | Flutes are very similar to the wine glasses used for serving champagne. They are tall, slender, and designed to hold a smaller volume of beer. | Fruity beers, Belgian Iambics, Krieks, and Biere de Champagne |
What’s the difference between a stein and a tankard?
Is There A Difference Between A Stein And A Tankard? | Helen Cooper Both steins and tankards are used for drinking beer from, but there are differences between them. A tankard is usually made from glass and has a handle, and it traditionally holds holds a pint of beer.
How can you tell if a German stein is real?
Tips for Authenticating Your German Beer Stein – To start, you’ll want to be fairly certain your beer stein is an authentic German antique, not a mass-produced promotional piece.
If the inside of the pewter lid is lighter than the outside, that indicates authenticity. Hand-painted steins will have minor imperfections and feel raised. These are more valuable. Hand-carved designs indicate authenticity, and those with a German patriotic scheme can be more valuable. Scenes on the stein should tell a story. A design of Biblical nature or a historical event can be more valuable. The design on the lid should correspond with the design on the stein to show that the entire piece is intact.
Do Germans call beer mugs steins?
Etymology – A typical half-litre German Humpen (beer mug) The English word is attested from 1855. It is borrowed from German Stein, which has – aside from its prevailing meaning “stone” – elder regional meanings “beer mug” and “beer measure of 1 litre or 2 Schoppen”.
How heavy are steins?
Masskrugstemmen, or beer Steinholding, is a relatively new sport in America, but it’s popularity has been growing quickly. Here’s everything you need to know about the world’s greatest Fest-Sport. Q: What is Steinholding / Masskrugstemmen / stein hoisting? A: Steinholding is a traditional Bavarian strength contest in which competitors hold a full one-liter beer stein (or Masskrug/Mass in German) out in front of their bodies with a straight arm, parallel to the ground.
You go as long as you can and the last person holding with good form is the winner. For more details on the rules, see our Official Steinholding Rules page, Q: How do you pronounce “Masskrugstemmen”? A: MAHSS-kroog-stem-men, approximately. Or you can save your strength for the competition and just call it Steinholding.
Q: How much does the stein weigh? A: A full one-liter dimpled glass stein should weigh approximately 5 pounds or 2.25 kg, whichever you prefer. The stein itself alone should weigh right around 3 pounds and, filled to the 1L line, the beer weighs about 34 ounces.
Q: How do you train for a competition? A: Everyone is different, and being in good athletic condition helps, but the short answer is “you basically just practice holding a stein a lot.” If you’re serious about competing, see our Steinholding Training section with training tips from Steinholding champions.
Q: How long should a normal person expect to last in their first competition? A: Without training, a typical guy can usually last somewhere in the 3-5 minute range, with ladies lasting between 1-3 minutes. If you can go longer than that, following all of the official competition rules, you should definitely find out where to compete in Steinholding/Masskrugstemmen so you can take a shot at qualifying for a higher level of competition.
Q: This sounds perfect for me: the patrons at my bar, restaurant, brewery, festival, club, gym, etc., like beer AND they like sports. How can I get my venue involved as a U.S. Steinholding Association sanctioned location? A: Check out our State Championship and Venue Membership Program pages to see how you can get in on this action and learn about the benefits of partnering with U.S.
Steinholding. Or if you want to give it a shot hosting an independent competition on your own, let us know and we’ll add you to our Competition Location Map so our fellow Steinholding enthusiasts can find your event. Q: What is the world record for Steinholding? A: There isn’t currently a world-level competition, so until we find someone somewhere else in the world to challenge our U.S.
Competitors, we consider the U.S. National Record to be the World Record. The U.S. Men’s National Record is currently 21 minutes, 17 seconds, set by Michael Tyler at the 2018 Lenny Coyne Memorial Hofbräu Masskrugstemmen Championships at the Steuben Day Parade and New York City Oktoberfest. The U.S. Women’s National Record is currently 6 minutes, 10 seconds, set by Taylor Handy at the 2022 Lenny Coyne Memorial Hofbräu Masskrugstemmen Championships at the Steuben Day Parade and New York City Oktoberfest.
If you want to watch some competition footage and see the list of competitors, check out our Steinholding Competition Results page, Q: I am the kind of maniac that wants to experience the thrill of holding a beer stein further from my mouth and for a longer amount of time than nature ever intended.
How do I identify my steins?
Beer Stein Lid Condition – You can check the age, price, and quality of a beer stein through the appearance and shape of its lid. Lids on original German beer steins are cast from one piece. Check the edges and lid inside. The soft metal in the lid may darken.
How many steins can a waitress carry?
5. Oktoberfest waitresses routinely carry 10 glaskrugs at a time. – The world record for Oktoberfest beer service is held by a Bavarian waitress who can carry 19 full steins!
What is the world record for the most steins?
Beer-carrying record broken – To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Oliver Strümpfel carried 29 beer steins at the Gillamoos fair in the Bavarian town of Abensberg on Sunday, smashing his previous record of 25 steins to enter beer history.
- In a beer tent packed with drinking onlookers, Strümpfel made two attempts at carrying the frothy steins down the 40 meter (131 ft) walkway.
- In the first run, he carried 27 steins and broke his own record.
- The waiter then decided to up the ante and try for 31, but one stein fell and another lost more than 10 percent of its beer, therefore counting as 29 steins.
Twenty-nine steins of beer weigh about 70 kilograms (154 pounds). “I have been training since February three or four times a week in the gym, and that is awesome when I think that is 200 hours all for the 40 seconds I just ran,” Strümpfel said. At next year’s Gillamos fair Strümpfel plans to beat his own record again.
Is it safe to drink out of pewter?
Modern pewter is entirely safe to use for food and drink. In the distant past, pewter contained small amounts of lead, but this has not been true for a long time now. All our pewter products are made from lead-free pewter so are safe to eat or drink from. As modern pewter contains no lead it is perfectly safe to eat and drink from, however older antique pieces of pewter may contain traces of lead. How can you tell? Pewter items containing lead will develop a greyish-black colouration or ‘patina’ on the surface.
The levels of fading will depend on the type of environment the items are stored in. Most people tend to leave the discolouration on as it gives a piece an antique look, something which modern pewter manufacturers try to replicate. The patina that forms on lead based pewter acts as a protective layer and should not be attempted to be removed.
Lead free pewter items can also oxidize over time but the process takes much longer and they tend to develop a more greyish colour. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Conservation Institute,
What does it mean to take the king’s shilling?
To “take the King’s shilling” simply meant to enlist in the army, the shilling being a reference to the earnest payment made to each new recruit. see “Historical Notes”, below In the 18 th century, the British Army was a professional, volunteer service. In this same spirit, we ask you to ” take the King’s shilling ” and volunteer for service in His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment of Foot. The Tenth Foot holds a military exercise on the third Wednesday of each month (except December & April) at 19:00 hours (7:00 pm).
Please see our schedule for the time and location of our Monthly Military Drills, There are openings in our Grenadier, Light Infantry, Colonel’s (Battalion) and Music companies and no military experience is required. However, dedication to hard work, excellence and a good sense of humour are a necessity.
Contact our Recruiting Officer to schedule a visit. APPLY ON-LINE Video courtesy of Aaron Gralnik
What makes a beer steins valuable?
The Materials of a Valuable German Beer Stein – 
If your beer stein is valuable, it’s likely made of porcelain, white clay, glass, or pewter. Most of these steins will have a pewter lid as well, although some may use porcelain depending on the region. Of course, many modern mugs will utilize these materials as well, so you’ll need to dig a bit deeper to see if it’s older and worth more.
- A real pewter lid should be darker on the outside than on the inside.
- If both tones are the same, then it’s likely a more modern mug or the lid is not entirely pewter.
- When looking at the mug itself, pay attention to whether it’s made from a single material or a combination of materials.
- A valuable stein will usually utilize one single material for the mug, and then pewter for the lid.
For example, if your stein combines both glass and porcelain, it’s likely more modern and not particularly valuable. As for the lid, most pre-WWII lids were made with pewter molds that had multiple molds, where modern lids are generally made from a single mold.
Why do beer mugs have glass in the bottom?
Why do beer steins have glass bottoms? – Many beer buffs believe that a glass bottom allows people to see the overall quality of the beer. True, but beer steins ended up with glass bottoms due to a very different reason. The stein’s glass bottom dates back to the 1800s.
One anecdote claims that a captain decided to cut a hole at the bottom of his tankard and replace it with glass. That way, he could keep an eye on his crew, even while drinking. Nowadays, beer steins have a glass bottom to demonstrate the beer’s clarity. That’s an important aspect of quality, so glass has become a staple in recent years.
Not all beer steins have it, but many modern models do.
Why do beer glasses have hole on the bottom?
Here’s why some pint glasses have grooves lasered onto the bottom of the cup quite peculiar/Flickr
Commercial brewers put a ton of time and research into ensuring that their packaged beers taste as if they were just poured from the tap.But the design of a pint glasses has a lot to do with how good a beer tastes as well.Carefully curved lips and double-walled constructions improve the presentation and drinking experience of beer, but some brewers and manufacturers are taking the design a step further by etching marks or patterns onto the bottoms of their glasses to make the beer bubblier.This practice is becoming increasingly more common — and perhaps you’ve had a drink out of one of these glasses without even knowing it.
These rough etchings are called nucleation points, and their job is to disturb the beer when it touches them. This gives the dissolved gas in the liquid something to latch on to and form bubbles, producing a steady stream of the bubbles as they rise from the base.
- Etchings on the bottom of glasses do not improve carbonation, they actually release some carbonation that is already dissolved as the beer hits the surfaces of the etching,” Sheri Jewhurst, the “dictator” of the homebrew club, told Tech Insider via email.
- This is similar to what happens when you into a can of Diet Coke.
The gas that has been dissolved in the soda or beer — usually carbon dioxide — is what gives the drink its bubbles. The liquid is bottled under pressure to keep the bubbles in, and when you open the can or bottle, those bubbles start to make their way out of the liquid, giving you a great fizz.
While the gas will create bubbles naturally, you can speed this process along by giving the bubbles something to latch on to. An object with rough ridges or a bumpy surface — the Mentos, for example — can catalyze bubble-making. In the classic Mentos and Diet Coke experiment, the mint drops into the soda and forms so many bubbles that it creates intense pressure.
Those bubbles have nowhere to go but up, causing an eruption. Lasered marks at the bottom of a pint glass improve carbonation of the beer. Nucleated beer glasses don’t cause eruptions, but they produce just enough bubbles to rise through the glass to “refresh” your beer, Jewhurst said. Refresh, in this case, means making it fizzier as opposed to flatter, as if were just poured from the tap.
- The photo below shows a side-by-side comparison of a glass with nucleation points (left) versus one without them (right).
- You can see how much more fizzy the drink on the left is.
- A beer glass with nucleation points (left) is much more carbonated than one without them (right).
- But this bubble stream effect, while neat in appearance, is not always welcomed.
“I believe there is also a cosmetic appeal in etchings to have little bubbles dancing through your glass,” Jewhurst said.”However, with highly carbonated beers such as wit beers, having the constant flow of bubbles coming up from the bottom can actually be kind of a nuisance since they are so prolific.” Next time you purchase a pint glass or are at your local pub, check out the inside.
What is the difference between a beer mug and stein?
4. Beer Stein – The beer stein and the beer mug are very similar. In fact, they’re so similar that people often confuse them. While they do have a similar shape, steins come with a hinged lid and a lever so your thumb can open the lid with ease. The word “stein” is short for Steinzeugkrug.
- This is a German word that means “tankard” or “stoneware jug.” Additionally, steins tend to be made from a wide variety of materials.
- You can find glass steins, porcelain steins, wood steins, pewter steins, and silver steins, just to name a few.
- Steins were particularly popular in the 16th century, as people believed that the lids helped keep the beer sanitary and prevent the bucolic plague.
And, while steins are still commonly used today, you’ll most often see them being sold as ornamental or souvenir glassware.