Hear ye, hear ye! We’ve got a Steinholding Competition at Oktoberfest!

Got what it takes to hold your stein high and proud? Prove it. Join us on the grand evening of September 28, 2024 (Saturday), at 6 PM for the U.S. Steinholding Association (USSA) Competition. Get your shot at ultimate steinholding glory in the Eureka Heights taproom.

Grab your bootylicious lederhosen glass, fill it up with some of zee best festbier around, and see how long you can hold a full stein without a bend or spill. 

This is a qualifier event for the state championship. The best Steinholders from Texas will come together on November 10th, 2024 (Saturday), where the winners will be crowned the 2024 Texas State Steinholding Champions and will each receive over $500 worth of prizes.

Here are the do’s and don’t for the USSA Competition. Make sure to read through to the end of this post for some pro tips that could help you clinch some of those bragging rights!

U.S. Steinholding Association Competition

What’s Steinholding?

Steinholding, or “Masskrugstemmen,” is a traditional Bavarian strength contest that challenges participants to hold a 1-liter stein of beer straight out in front of them at shoulder level. No bending the elbow, no spilling a drop. 

Sounds easy? Think again! The U.S. Men’s National Record is currently 21 minutes, 17 seconds, set by Michael Tyler.

Official U.S. Steinholding Association Competition Rules:

1. A 1L dimpled glass stein with handle weighing approximately 3 lbs must be used. Steins used for each competition should be of the same brand and style, and should be provided by the establishment hosting the competition to ensure consistency.
2. The stein must be filled with liquid up to the 1L line marked on the stein.
3. The stein must be gripped by the handle.
4. The thumb may not rest on top of the stein handle; it must rest on the other fingers.
5. The pinkie finger may be held outside of the stein handle. If positioned outside the handle, it may touch the stein handle, but it may not touch the body of the stein.
6. The stein must be gripped such that the front (the side of stein opposite the handle) faces directly away from the competitor, extending in parallel with the arm.
7. Limited arching of the back is permitted, however only minimal leaning is acceptable. In the vertical plane, the competitor’s elbow must never cross behind the back of the ankle of either foot, and the competitor’s armpit must never cross in front of the hips or toes of either foot.
8. Significant leaning to the left or right side is unacceptable. The upper torso may not be noticeably angled to the competitor’s left or right side, and the line between a competitor’s shoulder blades should remain close to parallel to the ground.
9. The stein must be held out directly in front of the competitor, not out to the side. The line between a competitor’s shoulders should remain close to perpendicular with the arm holding the stein.
10. The arm holding the stein must remain close to parallel with the ground and from a side view should remain close to perpendicular with the line of the torso from the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. The arm holding the stein must be extended straight with no bending at the elbow.
11. The arm holding the stein must remain separated from the chest and torso of the competitor. The chest and torso may not be used to support the arm.
12. The off-hand should remain at the competitor’s side and may not touch or support the stein or the arm holding the stein. The off-hand/non-holding arm may be held in a straightened position against the competitor’s side but may not otherwise be used to brace or support the competitor’s torso.
13. Competitors may not contact any other structures, objects, or people during the competition.
14. Competitors must stand within their personal area and may not move more than is necessary to make adjustments ensuring proper form during the competition.
15. If any amount of the liquid filling the stein spills or drips off of the stein, the competitor is immediately disqualified, regardless of the number of strikes otherwise assigned. NOTE: During outdoor competitions or in humid conditions, judges must take care to differentiate between dripping resulting from condensation or sweat, and dripping resulting from spillage.

How to Compete and Win:

1. The competitor who can hold their stein with proper form (as described in the rules below) for the longest without being disqualified by the judge will be considered the winner.
2. An infraction of any rule will result in a strike being issued by the competition judge. After two strikes, the third strike results in immediate disqualification of the competitor.
3. If any amount of beer spills or drips off of the stein, the competitor is immediately disqualified, regardless of the number of strikes previously assigned.
4. Once the match has started as signaled by the judge, the competitors will immediately extend their arms, and may not set the stein back down, switch hands, or touch the stein with their off-hand (hand not holding the stein).

U.S. Steinholding Association Competition Apparel:

1. No brace, support, or strap of any kind may be worn during competition.
2. Athletic compression clothing is acceptable, however stiff or supportive clothing (such as a bench press shirt) may not be worn.
3. The elbow of each competitor must be visible to the judge to ensure straightness at all times. If a competitor is wearing a shirt with loose sleeves that go past the elbow, the competitor should be asked to roll up the sleeve so that the elbow can be viewed.
4. The wearing of gloves or the use of grip powders, pine tar, or any similar substance is Prohibited.

U.S. Steinholding Association Judging Guidelines:

1. Within the first 60 seconds of a competition, judges may provide corrections to competitors (hold higher, straighten back, straighten elbow, etc.) without assigning an official strike. However, if a competitor does not immediately make the correction, a strike should be issued. The allowance for corrections does not apply to spillage, which results in immediate disqualification even during the first 60 seconds.
2. Judges should be conservative but consistent and fair when assessing competitors.
3. Failing to adhere to all of the rules, or being inconsistent or too lenient with judging will negatively impact the competition experience for competitors and spectators, damage the reputation of the competition establishment, and improperly prepare competitors for further competition.

Steinholding Pro Tips

Stein must be gripped by the handle. The thumb must rest on the other fingers.

The stein must be gripped such that the front (the side of stein opposite the handle) faces directly away from the competitor, extending in parallel with the arm.

Stein must be held out directly in front of the competitor, not out to the side. The line between a competitor’s shoulder blades should remain close to perpendicular with the arm holding the stein.

Photos from the U.S. Steinholding Association Official Judging Manual
Read the U.S. Steinholding Association’s FAQs here.

Prost to the bravest stein warriors in Texas!

Cheers and Beers,
The Brew Crew

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This post was written by Brew Crew