Drinkware manufacturers keep pushing out new designs, but some classics are so inherent to beer styles and cultures that they are here to stay. This is particularly true for those associated with lager beer. Here’s an overview.
1. Steinkrug
First things first: North Americans often use the term “stein” to refer to a large beer mug, often made of glass. However, in German, stein means stone—so if a mug is made of glass, it’s not a stein. Germans use the term steinkrug (never just “stein”) to refer to a stoneware mug—often abbreviated to krug.
As stoneware, a krug is an exception in modern drinkware, yet its use never fully went out of fashion in Bavaria. You can also find it at more traditionally minded places in the United States, such as Notch Brewing in Salem, Massachusetts. Founder and head brewer Chris Lohring says the krug has “insulative properties and will keep your beer colder in the warm months, as well as protect the beer from UV light that will bring on a skunk aroma. So, it really is the perfect beer-garden vessel.”