Historical Beer Steins Were a Matter of Law
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Defined Tag: Beer Steins.

Did you know that beer steins were originally created as a matter of public health legislation? Although it sounds strange, the invention of the stein was a necessary response to laws passed back in the 1500's in what is now known as Germany. Because sanitation had become an issue in the years after the bubonic plague caused much devastation in Europe, laws were passed that required all food and beverage containers to be covered. With beer just as important back then as it is today in Germany and all around the world, it was imperative that a solution be found to allow for drinking beer in accordance with this new law and result in as little hardship to the drinker as possible.

And so the stein was born. Technically, a stein is defined as a beer container with both a hinged lid and a handle. Although some lidless containers with handles are called steins, unless they have the hinged lid, they are more appropriately called mugs. This clever invention allowed the user to keep their drink covered and sanitary while still able to manage with only one hand. The earliest of the steins were a bit different from the ones commonly seen today. Wealthier individuals typically had containers made of pewter, glass or silver. The rest of the population used containers made of wood or earthenware. However, the problem with these cheaper materials was twofold. The containers broke quite easily and they were also porous. With each use they absorbed more of the contents and eventually became quite unsanitary themselves.

Fortunately, better processes and materials were found to make better steins of stoneware. This new process resulted in a non-porous material that was chip and crack resistant and ultimately more sanitary. Because the process to make these new steins was rather involved, the cost was also higher. With the stein becoming more of an investment and somewhat of a personal statement, decorative features using ceramic art became common which is what many people think of today when the term stein is mentioned. Although the original beer steins were created out of necessity, they have become a popular item for collectors everywhere.