Swiggin in Wiggin : September 2012 - Wigan

So you know about beer, but what do you know
about beer mats?
When beer mats were first made? Where first beer
mats were made? What is a collector of beer mats
called? Who were the first presidents of the British
Beermat Collectors Society? What is the world
record for flipping beer mats?
During the 19th Century, folk in Saxony popularised
the beer tankard, a hefty, moulded mug with tin lid
that was highly effective in protecting beer from
intrusion by insects or debris from the surrounding
trees. But many could not afford such luxuries and
began the practice of covering their drinks with
a felt mat. After absorbing beer spillage, water,
and debris, the odours that developed in the
felt became noxious after a few days, and newer
solutions were sought.
In 1880, the first beer mats made of cardboard
were introduced by the German printing company,
Friedrich Horn. In 1892, Robert Sputh of Dresden
manufactured the first beer mat made of wood
pulp. In 1900, brewery names appeared on the
beer mats in single colours; then expanded in
multi-coloured, eye-catching appeal with the
advent of the letterpress. Wetness brewery were
the first known British brewery to produce a beer
mat in 1920 to advertise their pale ale.
Beer mats are usually adorned with a customized
image, usually mentioning or advertising a brand
of beer, although they can also be used to
promote a drinking establishment, businesses or
special events. Over 20,000 different styles have
been produced in UK, with over 1,000 of these
representing Guinness alone.
Beer mats are used not just to protect the surface
of the table, but, because they are usually made
of paper, they also absorb condensation dripping
along the glass or serve as an ad-hoc notepad.
The newest development in the beer mat alerts
the bartender when the glass of the patron needs
a top up. This computerized beauty detects the
weight of the glass and flashes a blinking light at
the bar when the drink is nearly finished.
What do you know abour beer mats ?
19
The Katz Group, based in Weisenback, Germany,
produces 75% of the estimated 5.5 billion beer
mats in the world, including about two-thirds of the
European market and 97% of the US market. In
addition to the 2 factories in Germany there are
2 other factories in the U.S, one in Sanborn, New
York and the other in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Tegestology is a term defined as the practice of
collecting beermats or coasters, with practitioners
known as tegestologists. Some will joke about the
reasons to collect beer mats (to use in games of
Frisbee, for levelling tables, or to have something
to read that won’t stress the brain), but serious
tegestologists concentrate on historical and social
changes within designated time periods, the
processes used in production, the organization
of sets, beer mat graphics and design, and the
maintenance necessary to preserve extensive
collections.
In 1960 the British Beermat Collectors Society
was established and its first presidents were Eric
Morecambe and Ernie Wise. Yes honestly. Now
we know why their sketches had the comedy duo
playing snap with beer mats and using beer mats
as substitute medals on formal uniforms.
And did you know:
According to Guinness World Records largest
collection belongs to Leo Pisker of Langenzersdorf,
Austria: 152,860 different beer mats from 192
countries
In July 2010 Dean Gould of Felixstowe flipped
and caught 35 beer mats with two fingers whilst
blindfolded – more than doubling the previous
best of 16. He also set a new ‘flipping’ record
with 800 successful flips in just 41.06 seconds. To
make sure he then set a record by catching 108
beer mats after dropping them from his elbow,
beating the old ‘snatch’ record of 107. You can
have a good night out in Felixstowe!
Ivor Pintglass
(with grateful thanks to Guinness Book of Records,
Wikipedia, Google and other internet facilities)