The old beer mug "Star of the brewer"

From the collection of Paulo Vik Falcon

The old beer mug "Star of the brewer".

The cent of the beer mug is decorated with a six-pointed star. This symbol is often mistaken for the Star of David, but in the context of brewing it is the Brewer's Star (Zoigl-Star or Brauerstern). It symbolizes the three alchemical elements (air, fire, water) or the three ingredients of beer (water, malt, hops). The phrase "Wohl Bekomms!" is placed above the Star of the Brewer. "To your health!" or "May it do you good") is a traditional German toast often found on antique mugs. Scrolls with identical inscriptions in old German are placed to the left and right of the center: "Gerstensaft gibt Muth und Kraft". The word "Gerstensaft" literally means "barley juice" in German. This is a traditional German euphemism for beer. The word "Muth" is an old spelling of the modern German word "Mut" (courage). This spelling is typical for items made before the reform of German spelling in the early 20th century. In general, translated from German, this phrase means: "Barley juice [beer] gives courage and strength".

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