Saint Joseph Shrine · Detroit, Michigan

Beer. Virtue. Glory.

All for the honor of Saint Joseph

One full liter. One straight arm. Not one drop spilled. Welcome to the St. Joseph Shrine Steinholding Competition, a time-honored tradition held every fall at St. Joseph Shrine Oktoberfest.

See the 2026 Results Notify me for 2027

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Official USSA Member Venue
Oktoberfest 2027 · Dates coming soon

8Years of competition

5:45Men's shrine record

2:50Women's shrine record

8th Annual · Official USSA Results

The 2026 Champions

Two days, 50+ competitors and a lot of shaking arms at St. Joseph Shrine's annual Steinholding Competition. Here's who held on the longest.

Men's Division Jack Carter5:03

Women's Division Becky Snyder2:39

Official Men's and Women's times under U.S. Steinholding Association rules.

The Steinly Cup, the St. Joseph Shrine Steinholding Champions trophy

Hall of Champions → Every name on the Steinly Cup, from 2017 to today.

Jack Carter, 2026 men's champion, raising his arm in victory while holding the Steinly Cup as Canon applauds — Jack Carter, 5:03, and not a quiet second since.

Becky Snyder, 2026 women's champion, holding her trophy — Becky Snyder: 2 minutes, 39 seconds, zero drips.

The Divisions

Two official divisions · USSA rules & timing

Pick your stein

The Steinly Cup is contested in two official adult divisions under U.S. Steinholding Association rules. A separate, unofficial kids hold runs earlier in the day for fun.

Men holding full liter steins at arm's length with the shrine steeple behind them

Official

Men's Division

Ages 21+

Regulation 1L glass stein, filled with the beer of your choice. Timed and judged under official USSA rules.

2026: Sunday, September 27, 5:00 PM

Women in dirndls holding full liter steins at arm's length

Official

Women's Division

Ages 21+

Regulation 1L glass stein, filled with the beer of your choice. Timed and judged under official USSA rules.

2026: Saturday, September 26, 5:00 PM

$40Adults

$20Kids

Your filled stein is included. Pay at check-in, cash or card. Official results and the Hall of Champions cover Men's and Women's only.

Notify me for 2027 Register

Official USSA Rules · Version 1.5 (May 2026)

How to win

Simple to explain, brutal to do: hold a full liter straight out in front of you, with perfect form, longer than everyone else.

Official USSA example of correct form: arm straight out and level with the ground, elbow locked, stein held by the handle — Textbook form: arm level, elbow locked, eyes forward.

Handle only, closed fistGrip the 1L dimpled glass stein by the handle, logo side facing straight away from you. Your thumb can't rest on top, and if your pinkie sits outside the handle it can't be extended.
Arm straight out in frontExtend it forward, not to the side, with no bend at the elbow, and keep it parallel to the ground.
Stand tall, minimal leanA back arch is fine, but your elbow can't drift behind your ankles and there's no leaning sideways. Keep the arm off your chest and touch nothing and no one.
Off-hand stays out of itYour free hand can't touch the stein, your arm or your body for support.

Full rulebook & form check →

60-second correction windowFor the first minute, judges can correct your form without a strike. Fix it right away.

Three strikesAfter that, every form break is a strike, and the third one ends your match. No setting down, no switching hands.

One drip and you're doneSpill a single drop and you're out on the spot, however few strikes you have, even in the first minute.

The off-season is where champions are made

Train like a steinholder

Mark Kaiser's 5:45 didn't happen by accident. Here's how to get your arm ready for next fall.

Practice with the real weight

A full 1L glass stein weighs about 5 lb. Train with a real one filled with water, because a dumbbell doesn't slosh.

ii.

Build the shoulder

Front raises, planks and slow, controlled holds with light dumbbells build the endurance that grip strength alone can't.

iii.

Drill your form in a mirror

Judges watch the elbow, the thumb and the lean. Practice side-on so a strike never catches you by surprise.

iv.

Train in intervals

Hold to failure, rest 60 seconds, and go again until you hit your total goal. Shorten the rest each week. This is where times take off.

Win the mental game

Pick a fixed point, slow your breathing, and ignore the crowd (and the MC). The last minute is all in your head.

vi.

Dress the part, legally

Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged. Braces, grip aids and stiff support gear are not. Sleeves up: elbows must stay visible.

Open the Training Camp →

Season plan, sample week, lifts, gear, game-day prep and a one-hand hold timer. Friendly advice, not medical advice.

Scenes from the Field of Competition

Arms up, steins full

It takes a crew

Get in on the glory

Referees, pourers, registrars and one loud MC make every competition happen. There's a place for you, and for your business.

Volunteer

Join the crew

No experience needed. We'll show you the ropes (and the rules).

Referees: judge form under official USSA rules
Beer crew: fill every stein to the 1-liter line
Registration: check competitors in near the beer tent
Stage & crowd: keep the energy up

Volunteer

Before you raise your stein

Frequently asked questions

How do I win?

Outlast everyone else. Hold a filled, regulation 1-liter stein straight out in front of you with proper form for as long as you can. For the first 60 seconds, judges can correct your form without a strike. After that, form breaks earn strikes, and the third strike eliminates you. A single drip or spill eliminates you immediately. See the rules, illustrated →

What rules are used?

The official U.S. Steinholding Association Rules, Version 1.5 (updated May 2026). St. Joseph Shrine is a registered USSA member venue, so the rules and timing are consistent with sanctioned events nationwide.

What does the winner receive?

Beer. Virtue. Glory. And your name permanently engraved on the Steinly Cup, all for the honor of Saint Joseph.

Is there a kids competition?

Yes—an unofficial Kids' Division, separate from the two official adult divisions. Ages 11 & under and ages 12–16 each get their own time slot with a lighter half-liter stein of root bier or apple cider. It is not a USSA division, is not timed for the Steinly Cup, and we do not publish kids' names in the Hall of Champions.

How much does it cost, and do you take cards?

$40 for the official Men's and Women's divisions and $20 for the unofficial Kids' Division. Your filled stein is included. You pay at check-in on the day, and we accept cash and credit/debit cards.

What should I wear?

Traditional German attire (lederhosen, dirndls) is strongly encouraged. It still has to follow the rules:

No braces, supports or grip aids (gloves, pine tar, grip powder).
Compression gear is fine. Stiff support wear, like bench-press shirts, is not.
The judges must be able to see your elbows, so be ready to roll up your sleeves.

Where do I check in?

At the contest registration table near the beer tent at DeSales Park.

Registering more than one person?

Submit one registration form per competitor. You can use the same email address for every entry.

Getting there

DeSales Park, Detroit

At the corner of Gratiot Avenue & St. Aubin Street, one block northeast of St. Joseph Shrine and northeast of the Dequindre Cut.

Oktoberfest tents at DeSales Park with the St. Joseph Shrine spire rising behind them

By carTake I-75 to the Gratiot Ave exit, head northeast on Gratiot, then turn north onto St. Aubin. Look for event signs at the park entrance.
Check-inAt the contest registration table near the beer tent.

Open in Google Maps ↗ Oktoberfest info ↗

Questions? Comments? Ideas?

Send us a note

Want to volunteer, sponsor, or be first to know about the 2027 competition? We'd love to hear from you.