No one will argue that the beer mug appeared simultaneously with the creation of the drink itself. Throughout its existence, it has often changed its appearance, so now it is difficult to say what the first version actually 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 exactly where this happened. Nevertheless, in all known catalogs this type of cookware is called Stein. Translated from German, this word means "jug" or "beer glass". A special vessel eventually became an indispensable attribute of the famous drink. For all the time of its existence, the beer mug was made from a variety of materials. It was originally wood and leather.
But later people realized that such dishes are not very practical. In addition, during operation, the material absorbs the drink, as a result of which its properties deteriorate.taste qualities. A little later, in the 17th century, beer vessels began to be made of tin. This method of production was the simplest and cheapest. At first, lead was added to tin, but then, having found out the poisonous nature of the substance, they replaced it with bismuth, copper and even silver. In the Middle Ages, a beer mug had to have a lid. It was used to prevent any insects from getting into 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 cover was a kind of means of maintaining sanitation. With the development of technological progress, the appearance of the product itself has also changed. They began to prepare it from ceramics and porcelain, covering it with multi-colored glaze. Later, silver models appeared, and already in the 20th century, the vast majority of mugs were made of glass.
Traditions of the Soviet times
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 earthenware 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 in September 1918 of a special system of measures, 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 whichits dimensions are clearly defined. Initially, the boundary of the level of the volume of 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 in the country were engaged in its production: Urshelsky, Popasnyansky, Artemovsky, Chernyatinsky, Chudovsky, the Sverdlov plant in the village of Zolotkovo and many others. On the bottom of each product, as a rule, a special stamp was applied indicating the volume and manufacturer.
Diversity of species
The rich history of beer was accompanied by the creation of numerous accessories necessary for its use. Now there are thousands of different types and models of mugs for the popular foamy drink. Many of them have long been collectibles. In international catalogs, you can find products of the most unusual form and execution, ranging from wooden models with metal hoops to elegant glass samples. What was a beer mug made of? A photo of each model can tell a lot about its creator. For example, products of their Khokhloma with color painting immediately give out a manufacturer from Russia. And spectacular examples with lids 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 certainevents or places of interest. Recently, mugs with original inscriptions have been very popular. These can be wishes for he alth and happiness, as well as various jokes and jokes.
