Rainier Beer Flat Top Can

Sicks' Rainier Flat Top Legacy

Produced by Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. in Seattle, Washington, the Rainier Beer flat top can represents one of the most prominent chapters in Pacific Northwest breweriana. Issued under the leadership of Emil Sick, these cans are central to regional canning history.

The Jubilee and Party Graphic Series

Rather than adhering strictly to standard corporate livery, the brewery issued celebrated thematic graphic designs, widely recognized by collectors as the Jubilee and Party series. These illustrated cans featured artwork depicting mid-century social life, outdoor recreation, regional folklore such as Paul Bunyan, and musical gatherings. The brewery accentuated these designs with varying metallic background hues, side-panel slogans such as "Rainier for Life," and diverse rim text layouts.

The Seattle Wind Tunnel Discovery

A landmark event in breweriana history directly tied to this can was the discovery of an enormous cache of preserved cans inside an unused Seattle wind tunnel facility. This discovery brought an extensive assortment of Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. flat tops into the collecting community, significantly advancing the documentation of the label's graphic variations and metallic finishes.

Label and Production Variations

Collectors study these flat tops for various manufacturing and graphic differences across production runs. Subtle shifts in mandatory text phrasing, factory codes, side-seam construction, and color shades differentiate cans produced under the Sicks' Seattle corporate name from subsequent corporate transitions and other regional facilities.