SMALL HISTORY OF GERMAN BEER STEINS

Created by Ernst Licht

German Beer Steins

Beer stein also called "stein" is a synonym for traditional german beer tankard or mug made out of stoneware, pewter, silver, wood, porcelain, earthenware or glass with a hinged lid or hinged pewter lids with a thumb-lift.

History of Beer Steins

The name "stein" is of German origin. The etymon of the word is either from "Stein Krug" (meaning stone jug/mug) or from "Steingut" (meaning stone goods). Steins originated in the 14th century.

Back In the 16th century Germany made several laws demanding that all food and beverage containers be covered because of the reason Bubonic Plague mass extent of flies that swarmed the country. In 1980's, Ceramarte, of Brazil, became the biggest manufacturer of beer steins in the world.

The most traditional region of beer stein production is the Westerwald in Germany called D"Kannenbaeckerland".

Beer Stein Material

Ceramic Materials : Ceramic steins are of five types according to the quality of the ceramic mass, the raw materials, the burning temperature, the color and solidity of the mass.

Stoneware

Stoneware(German-Steinzeug) : Solid material. Fired at very high temperatures with the result being less than 2% porous.. At high temperature, stoneware vitrifies.

Porcelain

Porcelain(German-Porzellan) : True porcelain, known as hard paste, Combination of Kaolin (white clay) and Petuntse (pulverized granite). At high temperature these constituents produce a white, more or less translucent, glass-like material.

Pewter

Pewter : A pliable compound consisting of tin, copper, and antimony. Copper and antimony are added to harden the metal. The higher the tin content, the more silver the final color

Crystal

Crystal : A clear, high-quality glass which is hand-cut, hand engraved and/or patterned by the mold. They are case hardened, mouth-blown and feature transparent coloring on the exterior or the interior of the body.

Glass

Glass : The least expensive of all popular materials. Unlike the procedure for making stoneware, pewter, and crystal steins, glass bodies and handles are formed in one mold.

Why Do German Beer Steins Have Lids?

The lids on beer steins serve as a sanitary measure especially to keep insects out of the beer. Today lids are decorative,conventional.

Types of lids are conical ,ornamental ,flat inlay/figurine ,figurine stoneware.

Buy Beer Steins Online

http://www.ernstlicht.com/4-beer-steins/http://www.daniellicht.com/4-Beer-Steins

References

http://www.beerstein.net/articles/bsb-1.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_stein http://www.deutscheshaus.cc/html/newsletters/ne

wsletter_june2001.html http://thehungariangirl.com/2010/05/12/german-

beer-steins-an-introduction/ http://www.ernstlicht.com/4-beer-steins/29-beer-s

teins