Rainier Beer Flat Top Can

Sicks' Seattle Rainier Flat Top

Produced by Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. in Seattle, Washington, this Rainier Beer flat top is a hallmark piece of Pacific Northwest breweriana. Issued under the leadership of brewing industrialist Emil Sick, cans carrying the specific "Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting" mandatory text capture a celebrated chapter in regional beverage packaging.

The Graphic Series

Rather than sticking strictly to conventional commercial branding, the brewery produced celebrated pictorial issues, most notably the Jubilee and Party series. These illustrated cans showcased lively artwork depicting Pacific Northwest outdoor recreation, social gatherings, musical themes, and regional folklore such as Paul Bunyan. The brewery paired these vignettes with diverse metallic background hues, side-panel slogans, and stylized rim lettering.

The Seattle Wind Tunnel Discovery

A defining milestone in breweriana collecting directly tied to this can was the legendary "wind tunnel find". A vast, forgotten cache of Rainier flat tops was discovered stored inside a decommissioned Seattle wind tunnel facility. The discovery introduced a wide array of cans into the collector community, substantially broadening the cataloging of graphic prints, side seams, and metallic lacquers associated with the Sicks' Seattle plant. It remains one of the most famous historical finds among breweriana enthusiasts.

Production and Design Variations

Cans bearing the Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting imprint are closely studied by collectors for manufacturing differences across production runs. Variations appear throughout the series in American Can Company factory codes, Keglined seam markings, metallic paint finishes, and legal mandatory phrasing. These design shifts assist collectors in tracing the lineage and manufacturing history of the Seattle facility prior to subsequent corporate reorganizations.