bavarikon4UDescription
The jug, made of copper and brass in 1809, bears the inscription "BAIER. MAAS". The Bavarian government sent these so-called "Muttermaße" (standard measurements) to local and regional authorities as templates for calibrated measuring instruments. With the help of such measuring cylinders, it was possible to determine whether innkeepers were using correct pouring vessels. Because these test vessels were often used for pouring beer, the terms "Maßkrug" (Maß mug) and "Maß Bier" (Maß beer) developed.
Bavaria had gained large territories in Franconia and Swabia at the beginning of the 19th century and celebrated its elevation to a kingdom in 1806. Max I Joseph (1756-1825) and his senior minister Maximilian Count Montgelas (1759-1838) transformed the country into a centralised administrative state. In the course of this, the more than 90 different units of measurement for liquids were also to be standardised. The "Münchner Maß" with a volume of 1.069 litres was chosen for this. When the German Empire was founded in 1871, it was finally decided to use the "litre" as the standard measure. Since then, a properly poured Maß beer should contain exactly 1,000 ml.
Author
Matthias Bader