Maß
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Maß (pronounced [ˈmaːs]) or Mass (Swiss and Bavarian spelling, elsewhere used for dialectal [ˈmas]) is the German word describing the amount of beer in a regulation mug, in modern times exactly 1 liter (33.8 U.S. fl oz; 1.8 imp pt). Maß is also a common abbreviation for Maßkrug - the handled drinking vessel containing it - ubiquitous in Bavarian beer gardens and beer halls, and a staple of Oktoberfest. This vessel is often referred to as a beer mug by English speakers, and can be correctly called a beer stein only if it is made of stoneware and capable of holding a regulation Maß of beer.
Linguistics
[edit]The word "Maß" can be of either neuter or female grammatical gender. In its neuter form, das Maß, it is the German word for "measure". Its feminine version - "die Maß" - is used in southern Germany and Austria to refer to a one-liter, glass beer-mug or its contents.[1] It is spelled "Maß" or "Mass" (both spellings are permissible) in Germany and Austria, and "Mass" in Switzerland.[2] The plural is also Maß.
A stoneware mug is a form of beer stein, another type of vessel which may only be referred to as a Maßkrug if capable of holding a regulation quantity of beer.
Measurement
[edit]
In the Southern German areas (Austro-Bavarian), the Maß originally measured 1.069 liters (2.26 U.S. pt; 1.881 imp pt).[3] Other German-speaking areas had different measures; in Switzerland between 1838 and 1877, and in Baden until 1871, the Maß was 1.5 liters.
The modern Maßkrug is slightly larger than 1 liter, with a fill line denoting the level to which the beer must be filled; the area above the line denotes space for the head to expand. Selling beer in mugs with a fraudulent or missing calibration mark is also prosecuted as fraud. An "Association Against Fraudulent Pouring [of Beer]" ("Verein gegen betrügerisches Einschenken") in Munich fights for the customer rights of beer drinkers, and is mostly active on Oktoberfest.[4]
In the more northerly parts of Germany, the Maß has mostly fallen out of use, except for Bavarian-themed events, since beer for immediate consumption there is usually sold in smaller amounts, from 0.2–0.5 liters (6.8–17 U.S. fl oz),
Other
[edit]
Mugs are frequently decorated with a print of the logo of the brewery.
Some beer gardens and restaurants rent space out to patrons to store their mugs, which often have personalized engravings on their lids. For a small monthly fee, the establishment will also wash one's mug.[citation needed]
According to physicist Erich Schuller of the Institute for Forensic Medicine at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, a Maßkrug is an "effective percussion tool" in which each strike is potentially life-threatening. An empty Maß weighs 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb) and can produce a force of 8,500 newtons (1,900 lbf) in a violent blow, far surpassing the 4,000 newtons (900 lbf) required to break a human's skullcap. Some cases have occurred, though, in which the Maßkrug yielded. Presumably, these mugs had reduced strength due to wear.[5]
Maßkrugstemmen/Masskrugstemmen/steinholding
[edit]The endurance sport of Maßkrugstemmen involves holding a filled 2.4-kilogram (5.3 lb) Maß at arm's length.[6] The world record is 45 minutes and 2 seconds.[7] While the sport is believed to have originated in Bavaria, Germany, competitions are now seen worldwide. A governing body has been created in the United States as the U.S. Steinholding Association.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Maß, die". duden.de. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ "Maß, das". duden.de. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Vom Keferloher zur Wiesn-Maß". Mittelbayerische Zeitung (in German). 22 September 2008.
- ^ VgbE (German), retrieved 22 November 2021
- ^ "Effektives Schlagwerkzeug: Der Physiker Erich Schuller, 62, vom Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München über Kopfverletzungen durch Maßkrugschlägereien" ["Effective Percussion Instrument": The Physicist Erich Schuller, 62, from the Institute for Forensic Medicine at LMU Munich]. Der Spiegel (in German). 27 September 2010. p. 149. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Bernstein, Joshua M. (21 September 2013). "10 brew-tiful ways to rock Oktoberfest". New York Post. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ "Weltrekord im Dauer-Maßkrugstemmen". Bayerischer Rundfunk (in German). 11 March 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019 – via ARD.
- ^ Logsdon, Jason. "US Steinholding Association". US Steinholding Association. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition of Maß at Wiktionary
