Purchased during the festival while stationed in Germany. This is the last of my collection of these, but i have other steins and glasses from the old country.

Starting with the first Oktoberfest in 1810, beer has always been an integral part of the celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. Of course in order for one to consume the “liquid bread,” a good quality drinking vessel was needed, hence the birth of the Oktoberfest beer mug and stein. As we all know, where there are mugs and steins, collectors are not far behind.

The Jahreskrug is produced by Rastal GmbH & Co. KG, located in Höhr-Grenzhausen in the Westerwald region of Germany. This region is known as the Kannenbächerland or Land of the Pot Bakers because of the abundant availability of the clay needed to produce stoneware. The Jahreskrug is manufactured in the Keferloher style which is a simple clay mug. The name Keferloher originates from a small town near Munich where as early as the 19th century there was a cattle market where people would gather and drink beer from this style of clay mugs.

Although not produced in Keferloh, the name Kefeloher became commonly used to describe this style. The Jahreskrug or Annual Commemorative Mug is a spin-off product from the Oktoberfest-Plakatwettbewerb (Oktoberfest Poster Competition).