Bavaria = Keller, Pschorr Bräu - Maßkrug
This 1-liter salt-glazed stoneware masskrug was most likely produced for use at the Oktoberfest “Bavaria Keller” beer tent, operated by Hacker-Pschorr Bräu, one of Munich’s historic breweries. The bold blue design on the front features the iconic statue of Bavaria—a crowned woman standing beside a lion, holding a laurel wreath aloft—symbolizing Bavarian pride, sovereignty, and strength.
The text reads: “Bavaria = Keller, Pschorr-Bräu“ marking it as a stein associated with the Bavaria Keller tent located just below the imposing Bavaria statue at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds. The use of the equals sign—“=”—is a distinctive stylistic choice occasionally seen in Oktoberfest marketing from the mid-20th century, emphasizing the direct link between the symbolic location and the brewery’s tent.
The stein itself features a smooth salt glaze with no visible potter’s throw lines on the interior or exterior. The 1L capacity mark is positioned on the side near the handle, away from the rim, and uses the characteristic “fishhook” L with a period—a form commonly associated with 1970s to early 1980s German production. The calibration line is flanked by hash marks, another trait of masskrüge from that transitional period between fully hand-finished and more standardized factory methods. The hole atop the handle indicates that a pewter lid was originally attached, possibly hand-applied in keeping with production techniques of that time.
Taken together, the production cues and design suggest this stein was made circa 1975–early 1980s, likely for use at the annual Munich Oktoberfest. The Bavaria Keller tent—backed by the imposing Bavaria statue and operated by Hacker-Pschorr—is one of the festival’s oldest and most picturesque beer halls. This stein, then, not only functioned as a serving vessel but also as a vivid cultural artifact celebrating Munich’s brewing traditions and the pride of the Bavarian capital.
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References.
YouTube Video: Hacker-Pschorr Beer Tent.
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German wiki: Hacker-Pschorr Brewery
[link]
Hacker-Pschorr Beer Brewery
November 11, 2023 by Likewolf
[link]
Of monks and marks: Munich beer
[link]
View the collection of Jorge O. Soriano
| type | stein | material | stoneware |
| producer | mold | - | |
| designer/decorator | |||
| capacity | 1L. | ||
| design date | c. 1975 to early 1980s |
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