German Beer Steins - A Brief History

One of the most prized beer jugs among any collector of beer mugs is the German beer stein. To call a stein a mug would be incorrect since a mug does not contain a lid. Its handle and hinged lid characterize a stein. The word stein comes from Germany and translates into English word for jug. The reason that German beer steins are so valuable is due to the great amount of detail that is displayed on the outside of the stein. The steins worth the most amount of money will be out of production and will not have been massed produced. Also, the value is reflected in the size and the techniques and technology it took to produce said stein. Steins can have any sort of theme etched on the outside such as nature, coat of arms, intricate filigree, etc. One of the most well known themes is Oktoberfest. Every year Munich holds the world’s largest beer festival, and what would a festival be without steins to hold that beer!

One of the most well known producers of German beer steins is a company called Mettlach. Their steins are very popular and quickly become collectibles. As well as making some of the most beautiful steins they have also made some of the biggest I have ever seen. One very rare stein can hold a whopping 7 liters of ale or beer. I think if you managed to finish that off you would soon find yourself on the ground! After viewing Mettlach steins you can see why some of their most collectible steins can sell for up to an astounding $1,500.

Personally German beer steins are my favorite not only for their incredible craftsmanship, but also for the interesting history behind them. Ready for a quick history lesson here we go. Back in Europe the Black Death, or plague, was running rampant killing copious amounts of people. Now, the disease was spread through rats as most people know, but most people don’t know flies also spread it. Flies would buzz around, fall into people’s open topped beer mugs, drown, and people would drink their ale none the wiser, and soon after would become infected. Then the Germans though of a clever idea: put lids on the mugs in order to make them more sanitary. Germany soon passed a law stating that all food and drink must be covered, which skyrocketed the popularity of the stein. So in summary the stein not only held beer or ale but also saved people’s lives. I really think this important bit of history as well as the fact that even to this day a stein would keep any insects out of your beer has contributed to the stein remaining popular through the ages.

I strongly suggest investing a bit of money into purchasing a German beer stein because they are both practical and profitable. Use the stein for your beer, keep it in good condition and in a few years it could be worth double or triple what you paid for it.