Rainier Beer Flat Top Can

Sicks' Spokane Rainier Flat Top

Produced by Sicks' Spokane Brewery in Spokane, Washington, this Rainier Beer flat top represents a notable chapter in Pacific Northwest brewing history. Under the leadership of brewing magnate Emil Sick, the enterprise expanded beyond its flagship Seattle location, using the Spokane facility to package and supply Rainier Beer across Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and the broader Inland Empire.

Mandatory Markings and Design

The can features classic Rainier branding, highlighted by bold gothic script and regional heraldic motifs set against metallic paneling. What distinguishes this can for breweriana enthusiasts is the mandatory text explicitly identifying Sicks' Spokane Brewery, differentiating it from versions packaged at the primary Seattle plant.

Known Variations

Collectors document several variations originating from the Spokane plant. Known variations include subtle adjustments to the formatting and placement of mandatory statements, shifts in metallic background hues, and distinct top lid stampings applied to satisfy regional alcohol content labeling requirements across adjacent distribution territories. The Spokane facility was also involved in decorative illustrated theme series and promotional releases.

The Seattle Wind Tunnel Discovery

Rainier cans from this era gained broader prominence in the breweriana collecting hobby through what is widely celebrated as one of the most remarkable discoveries in beer can history: the Seattle wind tunnel find. A massive cache of preserved Rainier cans from both the Seattle and Spokane packaging lines was discovered sealed inside a decommissioned aeronautical wind tunnel in Washington. This landmark event brought major hobby attention to Rainier canning history and highlighted the graphic variety and regional mandatory variations produced across Emil Sick's brewing network.