The Proper Vessel for Beer

When my Cincinnati ancestor Griffin Yeatman opened his tavern called the Square and Compass in the late 1790's, the alcoholic drink of choice was often punch. Punch was a concoction of liquor plus God knows what served in a common bowl or punch bowl. By the way the actual punch bowl used by Griffin Yeatman is on display at the Cincinnati Museum Center History Museum. So punch went out of style and with the large influx of Germans, Cincinnati became a beer drinkers paradise.

Before the advent of cans beer was drunk from a stein or tankard. Old beer steins were made of stoneware. Stein is German for stone. Over time these steins became highly decorative and often came with a hinged lid. The lid was to keep out insects.

In the late 19th century Cincinnatians could choose from around 1,810 saloons. If you didn't want to drink your share of the 40 gallons consumed by every man, woman and child at the saloon you could bring your beer home in a "growler". So whether you "pop open a tall one" or "hoist a few" in a stein enjoy your beer in moderation and always in a cool vessel.

For your enjoyment;


http://www.steincollectors.org/

source- Cincinnati, The Queen City by Daniel Hurley

--Lynn Conaway