German Beer Steins are the most collected beer steins in the world. They include among other things, Military, Character, Munich Breweries, Oktoberfest and Mettlach. The lids on the steins are believed to have originated in Bavaria after the plague outbreaks. One of the expert centers for German steins is at Munich Steins http://www.munichsteins.com. They offer a great selection of antique tankards as well as research material such as books, auctions, photos and the ability for avid collectors to participate in Q&A. The materials used to manufacture the beer mugs are most commonly from stoneware, pewter, porcelain, silver, wood and crystal glass.