CELEBRATING THE ARTS
It’s that time of year when, as beer drinkers, we can picture ourselves at Munich’s Oktoberfest, raising a stein of beer with friends, enjoying the celebration of beer and beer culture in the heart of Germany.
Beer steins have become synonymous with Oktoberfest. However, beer did not originate in Germany, but is thought to have been invented by the Sumerians (present day Iraq) with their ancient cultivation of grain.
Additionally, ancient tablets have been discovered suggesting the original brewers were women. But tradition has made steins and German beer drinking one and the same.
Germans do not commonly use the word stein to refer to the beer-drinking vessel. In fact, the word stein literally means the word stone in German. Historically speaking the word stein referred to a beer-drinking vessel meaning steinkrug, meaning stoneware jug.
It was English royalty who first commissioned German glassblowers to craft vessels to celebrate their hunting celebrations, and as one would expect, Germans have stepped up to the plate and created a number of unique ceramic beer steins -- many of which have been elevated to the status of art.
Some historians believe that steins were invented during the bubonic plague with hinged lids to keep flies out of the beer. Many steins no longer use lids (nor is this origin theory necessarily true).
What we do know is that drinking vessels during the Renaissance were commonly made of earthenware or wood with only the wealthy using pewter mugs. Unfortunately, both the wood and earthenware were porous and impossible to clean thoroughly and eventually would become rancid.
The stein came along after experiments in firing earthenware resulted in the discovery of stoneware. Stoneware is earthenware fired at a high temperature for such a prolonged period that it results in a strong, stone-like material -- resistant to breakage, non-porous, and easier to keep clean.
Over time, German beer steins were crafted from several materials, including wood, pewter, metals and glass. Each material was chosen for its unique aesthetics, leading to a wide array of beautifully crafted works that are to this day highly valuable and collectible.
Today steins serve much the same purpose as in centuries past; they provide a great way to enjoy great beer.
The sixth annual Boerne BierFest is Saturday, September 23, at the Agri-Cultural Museum and Arts Center, 102 City Park Road in Boerne.
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