Rainier Beer Flat Top Can

Sicks' Spokane Rainier Flat Top

Produced by Sicks' Spokane Brewery in Spokane, Washington, this Rainier Beer flat top can represents an important regional chapter in Pacific Northwest brewing history. Under the leadership of brewing magnate Emil Sick, the enterprise expanded beyond its flagship Seattle operations, utilizing the Spokane facility to package and distribute beer across Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and the broader Inland Northwest.

Identifying Features and Variations

The can displays traditional Rainier branding, centered on the signature red gothic lettering and heraldic crest elements against metallic paneling. The key distinguishing feature for collectors is the mandatory statement text explicitly reading "Sicks' Spokane Brewery," setting it apart from cans filled at the primary Seattle facility.

Collectors recognize several variations associated with Spokane production runs. These variations include subtle shifts in mandatory typography placement, differences in metallic background shading, and regional tax or alcohol content stampings applied to the top lids to meet state-by-state distribution laws. The Spokane plant also produced decorative runs tied to illustrated scenes and celebratory toast motifs.

The Seattle Wind Tunnel Discovery

Rainier flat tops from this era earned legendary status in breweriana history following the celebrated Seattle wind tunnel discovery. A massive cache of Rainier cans originating from both the Spokane and Seattle packaging lines was discovered stored inside a decommissioned aeronautical wind tunnel in Washington. This landmark event brought major collector attention to mid-century Rainier packaging and highlighted the regional mandatory variations across Emil Sick's brewing network. Today, Rainier cans bearing the Spokane brewery line remain key regional artifacts among breweriana collectors.