Engel-Brauerei Kübele (Zum goldenen Engel) Schwäb. Gmünd
Masskrug Description:
This 1-liter salt-glazed stoneware mug features the iconic blue-glazed logo and script of Engel-Brauerei Kübele from Schwäbisch Gmünd. The glaze is a classic soft salt finish with a smooth exterior, typical of mid-20th-century production, and carries no lid. The incised 1L. capacity and calibration marks on on the side, not the front of mug. The front proudly displays the blue angel emblem, surrounded by the inscription: “Engel-Brauerei – KÜBELE – Schwäb. Gmünd.”
The Brewery:
Founded in 1783 under the name Adler-Brauerei, the brewery was renamed in 1824 to “Zum goldenen Engel” (“The Golden Angel”), aligning itself with the devout character of the town. For generations, the golden angel became a beloved symbol in Gmünd—adorning pub signs, beer mats, festival tents, and even large-scale promotional signage. The angel was more than a marketing emblem; it became a cultural figure in the region, fondly remembered by locals and workers alike.
Kübele’s beer gained international recognition, particularly as Fliegerbier (“aviator beer”) and Soldierbeer, often bottled in aluminum and stoneware containers now prized by collectors. I have the “Fliegerbier” aluminum bottle in my collection. The brewery eventually ceased operations, and its buildings were demolished to make way for redevelopment. Yet the angel was saved from destruction by longtime employee Martin Nuding, who has sought to relocate this cherished emblem to a visible public space in Schwäbisch Gmünd—a lasting tribute to the brewery’s role in the town’s memory.
This mug is not only a collectible for its design and quality but also a tangible link to the spirited legacy of the Engel brewery and its flying, beer-loving angel.
View the collection of Jorge O. Soriano
| type | stein | material | stoneware |
| producer | mold | - | |
| designer/decorator | |||
| capacity | 1L | ||
| design date |
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