The Upper Midwest Society of Steinologists

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We are a group of antique beer stein collectors.  As collectors our interests are varied. We study all types of beer steins and collect them and many related items and other antiques. Upper Midwest Society of Steinologists web-site would like to reach out to others who may have an interest in collectible beer steins, to provide some basic information about steins and then feature links to where you can find more information.  If you have an interest in collectible beer steins we hope you will join us.

 Founded in 1968, our club has about 35 members that meet in March, May, September and November.  Meetings include stein talk and interesting speakers and usually a pot luck meal.  Members come from Minnesota and across the river in Wisconsin  and Iowa too. Do check the "About Us"  page of this website for pictures and more..

We are working hard to build our membership this year and we will welcome you heartily and introduce you to many other collectors. It is a fun and interesting group.

Membership in the Upper Midwest Society of Steinologists is $10 per year. That amount is for a single or a couple.  Go to our membership page if you have any questions there is a place for you to join.

The 2012 Stein Convention  will be held in Annapolis Maryland August 15, 16, 17th.

Steve Smith, a member of SCI has begun his own website. It is a great place to learn about steins. He has an excellent page on why beer steins have lids and it is not for the reason most commonly given the German purity law (CCL --covered container law) --we must dig deeper than that stein people.  Do check his site it is very good reading   WWW.STEVEONSTEINS.COM

The Mother in Law ~

By Steve R. Johnston

I found this amusing and thoughtful stein on Ebay recently and thought it it would make for a nice paragraph in Prosit. I was struck by it’s thoughtful symbolism and its honest appraisal of the mother-in-law relationship. The transfer on this circa 1870’s lid seems to state a universal truth regarding the stature and influence-if not downright obstructionist nature of a mother-in-law. Looming large and immoveable, the stone-like, edentulate mother-in-law rests in the casket-like citadel of her making. With, walls crumbling around her, she lies unchanged and immovable in her resolve.

On a mountainous pass, hewn from stone, the children hastily attempt to exit-circumventing the obstructive, and perhaps oppressive parent. A rather amusing abstract image, acknowledging, the rigid nature of parents and in-laws, hardened by the hammer of time.

The story could end there, but like any great art, the artist yields to a greater truth. Careful to give the matriarch her due, the artist concedes status through age and experience.  Read the whole story at the website link below:

http://www.steincollectors.org/ 

Pewter Repair Services I Offer: I can attach a lid to your stein (either your original lid, your replacement lid, or a lid from my inventory), attach a thumblift to your stein (your original, your replacement, or one from my inventory), straighten or remove dents from pewter fittings, repair/restore your original pewter lid (modeling and casting) and more. I use chemicals to age my pewter repairs, and am usually able to match or reproduce the natural patina, although this cannot be 100% guaranteed. I do not sell parts, molds, chemicals or other supplies for pewter repair. steinsetc@charter.net

The "Links Page" contains links to other stein collecting chapters in the US and in Germany that are members of Stein Collectors International. www.steinverin.com, www.erstegruppe.com www.keysteiners.8k.com  

All stein collectors are familiar with the picture of a child, dressed in a cowl, with radishes in one hand, a filled beer stein in the other, smiling devilishly from a stein decoration. The saying on the stein is usually Gruss aus München, or translated, "Regards from Munich". But how many collectors know that this figure is really a semi-comic take-off of the official Munich coat-of-arms?

Here are a few historic notes about Munich, its coat-of-arms, and the Munich Child (Münchner Kindl):

The first written proof of Munich as a small settlement of monks dates from 1158 A.D. With the increase of the population, the town administration developed a constitution of the council. Soon a seal was used to prove the authenticity of town-council documents. The oldest seal of Munich, of which only fragments are left, with the presumable inscription "Sigillum Civitatis Monacensis" and the picture of a monk wearing an open hood, appears on a document of May 28, 1239.

In the course of the following centuries a number of slightly varying representations of the seal were used. But all of them show the monk with the book (of city laws) in his left hand, while his right hand with three outstretched fingers is held up. Next to most of these seals is shown a town gate and an eagle, which, in the fourteenth century, is replaced by a lion (of the coat-of-arms of the reigning dynasty of the Wittelsbachs). For some time the monk was represented in profile, later full-face and bare-headed.

Colorful representations of the town coat-of-arms go back to the fifteenth century. From then on the features of the heraldic figure began to lose their serious character, the face became more youthful, the hair sometimes even curly.

The present form of the official coat-of-arms with a monk in black cowl, (law) book and blessing in right hand, was given to Munich by the reigning king, Louis I, on September 16, 1834.

The dirndl originated as a simplified form of folk costume; the uniform of Austrian servants in the 19th century (dirndlegewand means "maid's dress"). Simple forms were also worn commonly by working women in plain colours or a simple check. Originally, each village had its own style and crest. The Austrian upper classes adopted the dirndl as high fashion in the 1870s. Today, dirndls vary from simple styles to exquisitely crafted, very expensive models.

Traditionally, lederhosen were worn for hard physical work, since the ywere more durable than textile clothing and easier to clean.  They were widespread among German men of the Alpine and surrounding regions, including Austria, the highlands and mountains of Southern Germany. The concept of Lederhosen as quintessentially Bavarian clothing, and their use at festive occasions rather than for work, dates largely from this time.

Featuring local landmark  the Hamm's Brewery located near  the Swede Hollow area of St. Paul.

And also the Archive Page have some info on steins and their history and some topics our members have researched in past months.

German Kartoffelpuffer--Potato Pancakes

2 1/2 # potatoes

1 medium onion

2 tablespoon thick sour cream

2 eggs

3 tablespoons flour

salt and white pepper

Peal and rinse the potatoes. Grate the potatoes. Let potatoes drain in a sieve if they contain a lot of water. Transfer grated potatoes into a bowl and mix the sour cream into the potatoes immediately, this prevents the potatoes from browning (oxidation), add the egg, flour (or), salt and pepper

Mix everything well until all is combined. Potato mixture can be drained at this point again if it has too much liquid. Preheat a non-stick skillet with the oil on medium-high. Reduce to medium-low and add the mixture into the hot oil (10 cm or 2-3 inches in diameter) and press flat with a spatula. Fry until golden on the bottom then flip and finish the other side until golden as well. Let pancakes drain on a plate with paper towels.

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