Beer Steins

Beer steins built for Oktoberfest and the long haul

A beer stein is the classic German tankard, usually with a handle and often with a hinged lid, and it carries more history than any other glass on this page. The lid was originally a hygiene measure during the plague years, and it survives today as the signature of a proper stein. Whether you want a showpiece for the shelf, a genuine beer glass for Oktoberfest, or a heavy vessel that will outlast everything else in the cupboard, this range collects the best reviewed steins on Amazon, sorted by owner ratings.

New to this? Our guide on how to choose beer steins helps you choose.

Glass, ceramic and pewter

Steins come in three main materials. Glass steins let you see the beer and are often the most affordable, and many hold a full liter for the true Oktoberfest experience. Ceramic and stoneware steins are the traditional choice, keeping beer cold and carrying the painted or embossed Bavarian designs people collect. Pewter and metal-accented steins are the heirloom option, heavy and ornate, made to be handed down rather than used every night. Lidded steins add a thumb lever and a touch of ceremony, while open-topped tankards are simpler and easier to clean.

What a stein is for

Steins suit the beers you drink in volume and with company, above all the Marzen and Festbier styles poured at Oktoberfest, plus everyday lagers and dunkels. The thick walls hold temperature, the handle keeps your hand off the body, and the sheer size makes them a centerpiece on the table. Because most steins hide the colour of the beer, they are more about occasion and tradition than fine tasting. If you want to actually study a beer, a clear tulip glass or weizen glass will serve you better.

Size, care and authenticity

Capacity is the first thing to check. A half-liter stein is easy to handle for a full evening, while a one-liter Mass is the full festival pour and genuinely heavy when filled. Ceramic and pewter steins are usually hand wash only, so keep them out of the dishwasher, and dry lids and hinges to stop tarnish. If you want a genuine article, look for German-made stoneware and traditional Bavarian detailing rather than a plain printed mug. Many of these are as much display piece as drinking vessel, which is worth bearing in mind if you want something to use nightly.

The history in the lid

The stein carries more story than any other glass here, and most of it is in the lid. Hinged lids became common in central Europe during the plague years, when laws required drink vessels to be covered to keep insects and airborne contamination out. The thumb lever let a drinker lift the lid without putting the tankard down, and the custom stuck long after the health scare passed. Traditional steins were made of stoneware and decorated with regional scenes, coats of arms and Bavarian motifs, which is why antique and reproduction steins are so collectible today. Buy one and you are buying a small piece of that tradition.

Using a stein the right way

A stein is built for volume and company, so serve it with festival lagers, Marzen and dunkel rather than delicate, aroma-led beers. Because the walls are thick and often opaque, they keep the beer cold without a frosted glass, and the handle keeps your hand off the body. A full one-liter Mass is heavy when filled, so if you plan to drink for a whole evening a half-liter stein is easier on the wrist. Toast the proper way, glass base to glass base rather than rim to rim, which is both tradition and, with a heavy stein, a lot less risky for the glassware.

For yourself or as a gift

A single characterful stein makes a memorable present, and a matched beer glass set of steins suits a household that hosts Oktoberfest every year. For lighter everyday drinking, a dimpled beer mug gives you the handle without the weight, and for a clear-bodied alternative a tall weizen glass shows off a wheat beer better. Browse the full beer glasses range to compare, or the beer gift ideas for pairing a stein with the right festival beer. Each stein links to its live Amazon price so you can check the current cost.

Beer stein questions

Why do beer steins have lids? Hinged lids date from the plague years, when covered drink vessels were required for hygiene. The thumb lever let drinkers lift the lid without setting the stein down, and the custom survives as a signature of a traditional stein.

How big is an Oktoberfest stein? The full festival pour is a one-liter Mass, which is heavy when filled. A half-liter stein is easier to handle for a whole evening.

Can you put a ceramic or pewter stein in the dishwasher? No, ceramic, stoneware and pewter steins are hand wash only. Dry lids and hinges to prevent tarnish.