Why do steins have tops

The surface gets plated with either a nickel to create a shiny finish or a pewter-like alloy to create a darker antique finish. Flat — These lids are also known as semi-flat lids, as they are not entirely flat. They are typically made from pewter and have a surface that is easy to add engravings too.

Inlay — These are known to be very attractive lids, usually always with a pewter lid and flange with a stoneware figurine in the center. Figurine — Known as a top-of-the-line lid, mostly made of pewter with a figurine mounted on top. Benefits Of Beer Steins A drinking vessel that once was used to help protect beer drinkers from the bubonic plague, beer steins have now become a staple in many pubs and breweries.

Status symbol — Back in the earlier days, people who owned a beer stein were seen as having status in the community. It showed that they were someone who could afford small luxuries in a difficult time in the world. Durable — Beer steins are made with sturdy materials that are built to last through daily use. Memorable experience — Beer steins make great souvenirs to remember a beer or place you have enjoyed. Better taste — Better tasting beer is all about personal preference. Those who love the traditional design and feel of a beer stein will often say that the flavor of the beer is better.

It could be that the porous nature of the vessel helps add a flavor to the beer while the thick stoneware and the lid can help keep the beer at optimal temperature. Beer Stein Sizes Metric volume is the most common method of sizing a beer stein; one metric liter is History of the Beer Stein Lid As briefly mentioned in the opening section, after the 14th century, as a reaction to the plague, there was a law established in Germany that required any beverage containers to be covered for sanitary purposes.

Types of Beer Stein Material There are many different kinds of beer steins made these days. Pewter Pewter is a compound consisting of tin, copper, and antimony. Crystal Crystal is a clear, high-quality glass. Glass Glass is the least expensive of the most popular material used. Ceramic Ceramic steins fall into one of five categories according to the quality of the ceramic mass, raw materials, firing temperature, color, and density of the mass.

This is a white earthenware with a lead glaze. These ingredients produce a white, more or less translucent, glass-like material. Ceramic Stein Decorations There are a few different techniques used to decorate the body of a ceramic stein. Raised relief — This three-dimensional technique is easily the most popular. A highly detailed decorative area is raised above the background of the stein.

Transfer decoration or decal decoration. The least expensive of the decorations. Because of modern technology, we can now produce great details of portraits, paintings, and photography that gets transferred onto the stein quite easily. They can be made of earthenware, pewter, wood, ceramics, crystal, porcelain, creamware, silver, or glass. This is a doubled walled glass drinking vessel that holds 3 average beers for an American.

Most of our steins are made of stoneware, but you will also find some made from handcrafted pewter as well. All of our steins are safe to drink from and made with food safe materials.

Our beer steins carry a stamped seal of authenticity, so you can be assured you are getting an authentic product and not a reproduction. Most early collectible beer steins are unmarked, but that does not mean that these unmarked steins are not valuable. With beer steins , understanding pottery marks can prove helpful as some steins are marked on the underside or base with the city of origin or with the name of the manufacturer.

A tankard is usually a 1 pint vessel generally made of metal. It is unornamented and will have a handle. They also are usually elaborately decorated. Masskrugstemmen is a Bavarian feat of strength and endurance where contestants hold a 1-liter stein of beer which weighs about 5 pounds out in front of them at shoulder level for as long as they can.

Deutsches Bundes-Gebrauchsmuster. German Federal Registered Design - Post A second very common error is to conclude that a four-digit number on the base or the side of the stein beginning with "17", "18" or "19" is a date. On certain very early steins and on some which were custom decorated for a specific event like a wedding or birthday the date may appear as an integral part of the design.

How to Display Beer Steins Find a location for your display. A temperature-controlled room is ideal, but any room that does not suffer from temperature extremes or an excess of dampness will suffice. Buy a display case. Position your collection sensibly. Sizes are typically around millilitres 11 imp fl oz; 10 US fl oz , but can be as large as millilitres 18 imp fl oz; 17 US fl oz.

If there is one German phrase you learn during your time at Oktoberfest , let it be this one! Prost is a cheer that works for any social drinking occasion, and is easy enough for Americans to pronounce. From this, we can formulate Stein's Rule: Although names ending in stein can be pronounced either stein or steen , names consisting exclusively of Stein are pronounced stine. Click the button below to view our range of Beer Steins of various sizes!

Beer steins have been made for hundreds of years from many different materials and from many different makers. Most of our beer steins are Limited Edition, made by reputable businesses within Germany, using only high quality materials. Significant makers in history or one-off steins are worth more to collectors due their rarity and collectability.

We get this question a lot. Many people inherit steins from their parents or grandparents without knowing their value. These symbols represent the company or maker of the individual stein. While most steins are made in Germany, there is a large market of machine made and mass produced replicas in the market.

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