Rainier Beer Flat Top Can

Rainier Jubilee Beer Garden Flat Top

Issued between 1953 and 1954 by Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. in Seattle, Washington, this 12-ounce metallic flat top can is part of the inaugural Rainier Jubilee 01 set. Featuring the "Party/Beer Garden" design, the lower portion displays a deep dark violet-blue metallic band illustrated with a lively social setting—including a tavern table laid with cheese and sausage, a frothing beer stein, a heart-backed wooden chair, and a figure in traditional Bavarian attire. The upper metallic field highlights Rainier’s classic dotted red "R" adorned with an alpine hat, accented by subtle ghosted hop vines and the cursive slogan "truly mild".

The Rainier brand originated in Seattle in 1878 under brewmaster Andrew Hemrich, adopting the moniker of Mount Rainier and growing into a quintessential symbol of the Pacific Northwest. In the early 1950s, the brewery reimagined retail packaging by collaborating with prominent industrial designer Walter Landor. Landor developed colorful, decorative can motifs intended to be proudly displayed during social gatherings rather than hidden away, elevating the beer can into a stylish conversation piece. Rainier maintained its regional prominence through iconic advertising campaigns before the brand eventually transitioned to G. Heileman and ultimately to Pabst Brewing Company.

This container reflects a key transitional era for the brewery. Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, brewing magnate Emil Sick launched Century Brewing at the former Bay View facility in Seattle. Sick secured the rights to use the Rainier trademark in 1935 and by 1953 gained exclusive control over the brand throughout the western states. Operating as Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., the plant served as the company's flagship production hub throughout this creative packaging boom.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, Rainier Jubilee flat tops represent one of the most ambitious and celebrated packaging campaigns in American brewing history. The multi-year series introduced a vast array of metallic color palettes and thematic social scenes, making these early party-themed issues highly prized examples of mid-century graphic commercial art.