No one will argue that a beer mug appeared simultaneously with the creation of the drink itself. Throughout its existence, it often changed its appearance, so it is now difficult to say what the first option really was.
A bit of history
Beer is an ancient product that was well known both in Europe and in the East. As you know, the culture of drinking any drink involves the use of certain dishes. That is why a few centuries ago the first beer mug appeared. Scientists put forward many different theories, trying to prove where exactly this happened. Nevertheless, in all well-known catalogs, this type of dishes is called only Stein. Translated from German, this word means “jug” or “beer glass”. A special vessel over time has become a mandatory attribute of the famous drink. Throughout its existence, a beer mug was made from a variety of materials. Initially, it was wood and leather.
But later, people realized that such utensils are not very practical. In addition, during operation, the material absorbs the drink in itself, as a result of which its taste is deteriorated. A little later, in the 17th century, beer vessels were made from tin. This production method was the simplest and cheapest. Initially, lead was added to tin, but then, after finding out the toxic nature of the substance, they replaced it with bismuth, copper and even silver. In the Middle Ages, a beer mug must have had a lid. It was used to prevent any insects from entering the product. As you know, in the 14-15 centuries, outbreaks of plague and other infectious diseases were noted in many European countries. So the lid was a kind of sanitation tool. With the development of technological progress, the appearance of the product itself changed. It began to be prepared from ceramics and porcelain, covered with multi-colored glaze. Later, silver models appeared, and already in the 20th century, the vast majority of mugs began to be made of glass.
Traditions of the Soviet era
In Russia, beer has also been one of the most popular drinks since ancient times. This product was cooked in almost every home. For a long time it was used from clay mugs, and since the beginning of the last century, glass has become the main material for the manufacture of such dishes. In pre-revolutionary Russia, the volume of dishes was not given much importance. And after the introduction of a special system of measures in September 1918, standards were set for all household products. Later in 1927, the Soviet beer mug acquired a certain shape and size. According to the all-Union standard (GOST 3550), its volume could be 0.5 and 0.25 liters. A drawing of the product was separately attached to the document, on which its overall dimensions were clearly defined. Initially, the boundary of the volume level of the dishes was applied mechanically. Later, the appearance of the mug was slightly improved; a special ledge in the form of a ring appeared on its upper part.
Since then, the dishes have not changed. In Soviet times, many glass factories of the country were engaged in its production: Urshelsky, Popasnyansky, Artemovsky, Chernyatinsky, Chudovsky, the Sverdlov factory in the village of Zolotkovo and many others. On the bottom of each product, as a rule, a special brand was applied with an indication of the volume and the manufacturer.
Variety of species
The rich history of beer was accompanied by the creation of numerous accessories necessary for its use. Now thousands of different types and models of mugs for the popular foamy drink are known. Many of them have long been collectibles. In international catalogs you can find products of the most unusual shapes and designs, ranging from wooden models with metal hoops to elegant glass patterns. What was not made of a beer mug? Photos of each model can tell a lot about its creator. For example, their Khokhloma products with colored painting are immediately issued by a manufacturer from Russia. And spectacular specimens with covers indicate that the manufacturer was most likely in Europe.
Very often thematic drawings are applied to the surface of such objects. They may be dedicated to specific events or memorials. Recently, mugs with original inscriptions have been very popular. These may be wishes of health and happiness, as well as various jokes and jokes.