2012 Beer Stein

By common usage, stein is referred to as being a beer container with a handle and a hinged lid. Steins originated around the 14th century; many believe that the lid was implemented during the Black Plague to prevent diseased flies from getting into the beer. The spread of the bubonic plague throughout Europe forced Germany to take some precautions, so a new law was written starting that all beverage containers needed a lid.