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Beer mugs were initially designed for sanitary purposes in the 1400s to prevent flies from landing in beer. They were made from wood, earthenware, and pewter before evolving into elaborate collectibles with engravings and sculptures. Today, they can be made from various materials and customized. Collectors can find them in antique stores and on eBay, but should be wary of reproductions.
A beer mug is a lidded tankard that holds beer. The handle of the cup has a small hinge which, when pressed with the thumb, opens the lid. This allows the beer user to open the lid with the same hand holding the mug, but close it when they are not drinking. The modern beer mug can be made from a number of different materials such as metals, ceramics or glass. The beer stein can also have many engravings and many collect German steins as the designs can have interesting variations.
Initially the beer mug was produced for sanitary purposes. In the 1400s, parts of Germany were plagued by flies that landed in an open beer and drowned quite easily. Since no one wanted to drink beer with this unwanted added ingredient, the crafter sought to design a cup that would only open when the drinker was using it.
There was also a fear that the bubonic plague would return and start another path of destruction across Europe. This made local German officials and leaders eager to pass laws that would keep the people safe. As a result, many areas of Germany have passed laws mandating that individual and shared beer glasses must be covered.
In the 1500s, many times a beer mug was simply shared, and these brewing steels were usually made of wood or earthenware, which tended to rot or crack after multiple uses. These materials also smelled of stale beer. Some people owned ceramic beer mugs, but they were expensive. You were actually considered rich if you owned your own mug of beer. Fortunately, the 16th century brought pewter to the fore, resulting in most beer mugs of the time being made from pewter.
As new materials emerged, brewing steels became more and more elaborate. They could have carvings, drawings and engravings. The preferred styles were pottery with a blue glaze, and many had reliefs or sculptures of drinking scenes or more modern events. The beer stein essentially became art, and many became collector’s items. Today, most beer stein collectors are Americans, and like many other things in demand, the beer stein is not only made in Germany. Some variants are made in factories in South America, reflecting global outsourcing trends.
You can buy a mug of beer in many different styles. Some feature Christmas scenes, depict cities, refer to a particular war, or can be engraved or customized for you. Many are very modern. Collectable beer mugs can be found in antique stores and on eBay. It might be a little difficult to know the difference between an original and a reproduction, as many reproductions were made as the popularity of beer steels grew in the 1960s. It’s best to work with a reputable antique dealer if you’re looking for a rare, early beer stein.
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