Online Beer Stein Shopping – The Perfect Way to Enjoy Oktoberfest

Beer lovers all over America eagerly await the arrival of Oktoberfest. The beer fest gives an opportunity to enjoy the beer culture of Germany. Oktoberfest 2013 has begun. And, everyone is geared up for it. Are you still looking for a beer stein that stands out? You must be really tired of searching an authentic stein, but now you can complete the search in minutes. Sounds untrue? Well, this article will help you in getting a stein delivered in time for Oktoberfest.

Where to find the Best Beer Steins?

Before several years, you probably had to travel to Germany to buy an authentic stein. But, now you don’t have to go to Deutschland to get a real German stein. You can get it by just a few clicks on the internet. Today, there are several websites that sell German beer steins and glassware.

The best thing about online shopping is that these companies offer a large collection of beer steins and mugs. You can choose an authentic beer stein or even buy a replica of the real one. If you are looking forward to having your friends over, you can even shop for a set of mugs. The choice is endless!

How to Choose a Website for buying Beer Steins?

Many of us have borne the brunt of online shopping. And, so we need to be absolutely smart while choosing a website. Remember to apply with only those companies that offer genuine products. Here are few tips to help you buy the best stein from the best website:

1. Read the Website’s Home Page

It will give you an idea whether the company offers authentic products or replicas. You will know the different kind of products that are offered. Information about shipping charges can be known as well.

2. Ensure Security

To avoid any unpleasant experience, it is extremely essential to check the security of the website. If you fail to do so, you may end up disclosing your confidential information to hackers. So, inspect the security certificate. Also, ensure that the page where you give your banking details is https. Remember that other pages need not be https because you won’t be giving your personal information on them.

3. Check the Price

Every good thing has a value. No marketer will sell you a hand-painted stein at cheaper rates. The good ones usually cost more than $150.

4. Check the Description

Authentic websites give a detailed description of the product. It enables the buyer to judge the product in better light. You will get the information about the stein’s origin and its material. Compare it with the price and you will be able to know if it’s really worth a purchase.

5. Read the Return Policy

Usually, you can return the steins and mugs within 30 days of purchase. Most websites have no problem in accepting the returned-product in case of damage. But, you must still read the terms and conditions before buying beer steins.

6. Check for Special Offers

In the wake of competition, many beer stein websites offer incredible discounts. Also, many of them have financial solutions for stein buyers. There are few websites in the market that provide “Buy Now Pay Later” option to its customers. If you come across such an offer, grab the chance of buying your favorite stein from the respective website. This way you won’t have to spend all your money on the stein. By making affordable monthly payments for the stein, you will be able to save money for your favorite beer and Oktoberfest festivities.

Now that you know all about online options for buying beer steins, get ready for some stein shopping! It’s time to celebrate Oktoberfest with your cool beer stein!

Happy shopping to all beer lovers!!!

A Historical Look at Beer Steins

The common material for making beer mugs before 1892 was stone, or stoneware. The 1892 Oktoberfest brought the introduction of the beer glass or the beer mug made of glass. Even though, the name Stein, the German abbreviation for stoneware, has been thought of to mean generally any robust vessel beer enthusiasts use to drink beer.

The unique history of the Stein begins with the lid, and it is in fact what actually differentiates the beer steins from the beer mug and any other beer drinking vessel for that matter. The beer mug doesn't have a lid. The Stein does, and it is commonly attributed to keeping the flies out of the mug, thus keeping them out of your beer. Only there is a deeper history than that because the actual flies that prompted the addition of the lid were bringing death, thus the lid was added because of a series of German laws put into place for public hygiene purposes.

The Black Death was a bubonic plague that originated around China and eventually spread to Western Europe in the fourteenth century. It has been said that the Black Death was carried by fleas on rats through the various trade routes famously known as the Silk Road, land and sea routes that connected merchants in the Asian and African countries to merchants in European countries. The Black Death resulted in thousands of people dying a day and to fend off as much death as possible, laws were put in place.

Invasions of small flies sweeping through Central Europe caused fear of the Black Death and successive possibilities of plagues due to the fact that flies can carry disease every bit as good as fleas can. Therefore, German laws called for covering food and beverages to protect consumers of restaurants and pubs. Thus, brings us back to the origin of the Stein.

But, Steins weren't just covered. They were covered in style! A Stein has a hinged lid with a thumb handle for ease of drinking. In one swift move, a beer enthusiast can lift the Stein, pop the lid off and take a drink. Who would want the hassle of having to do that in several steps?

Different materials for making Steins in the early days include pewter or silver for the rich, and wood was used among the poor. But, wood is very porous. Beer would soak into the wood and be very hard to clean. Can you imagine what skunk beer, days to even weeks old caught in the pores of wood smells like? Here's a hint. You don't want to know.

Therefore in the experimentation stages trying to find the materials that would make a cheap Stein the poor could afford, a new firing chamber was designed so that heat could get to higher temperatures. Additionally, clay is a very cheap material that can easily be found in the ground, thus the name earthenware often used for pottery of various sorts. Creating a furnace made completely of brick allowed for the perfect environment to raise temperatures high enough not only to completely dry the clay, but also melting it to stone-like. Much harder to break, it's often referred to as stoneware.

A simple Stein is basically a ceramic mug with a pewter lid hinged at the top. But, the science of creating Steins has developed since the 1500s to include an artistic appeal that often alludes to German legends. Raised-relief decorating brings the art to life in three-dimension that is raised from the surface of the Stein. However, etched decorations and decals can often be used as well. In fact, modern technology has allowed us to make decals that can easily be transferred to the Stein with ease and permanence.

Even though German legends have traditionally been the focus of Stein art, any parable can become the subject of a Stein from Biblical to political, mythological to historical. Today, a Stein can have the subject of last year's Superbowl or yesterday's NASCAR race, biking, Christmas, eagles and lighthouses. There is no subject not worthy of German beer steins artistry.

Beer glasses, bottles and cans have become the more popular drinking vessel of the beer enthusiast. That's because it's easy. That's the way most beers come. But, the Beer Stein will always make for an awesome beer enthusiast collection. As long as we have beer enthusiasts who like to collect stuff and we keep making stuff for them to collect, the Beer Stein will enjoy a long and prosperous life.

Steinsandglassware.com is your ideal destination for getting beer steins, glasses and mugs. Make your collection luxurious by adding hand-made Oktoberfest beer steins. Special discount on account of Oktoberfest can be availed by every beer enthusiasts in America.