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 represents a celebrated milestone in Pacific Northwest breweriana. Following the repeal of Prohibition, brewing industrialist Emil Sick reorganized the regional brewing operation, acquiring the historic Rainier brand name and cementing the Seattle plant's position as a dominant Northwest beverage producer.

Graphic Themes and Pictorial Sets

Beyond standard corporate branding, the brewery gained immense acclaim among collectors for issuing decorative graphic sets, most notably the Jubilee and Party releases. These cans featured intricate illustrated scenes showcasing mid-century leisure, outdoor recreation, Northwest natural scenery, and regional folklore such as Paul Bunyan. Lithographed across a diverse palette of vibrant metallic colors, these cans were paired with promotional slogans like "Rainier for Life" alongside classic red gothic lettering.

The Legendary Seattle Wind Tunnel Discovery

A defining chapter in the history of this can involves what breweriana collectors celebrate as the "Seattle wind tunnel find." Decades after production, an immense cache of Rainier flat tops was discovered undisturbed inside a decommissioned local wind tunnel facility. The discovery sent waves through the hobby, revealing an extensive array of graphic scenes, factory proofs, and metallic finishes from the Seattle canning lines. It remains widely regarded as one of the most famous discoveries in can collecting history.

Collector Variations

For breweriana enthusiasts, cans bearing the Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. imprint offer significant depth due to multiple variations. Manufacturing differences can be traced through American Can Company factory canning marks, "Keglined" side-seam construction methods, metallic rim text layouts, and subtle alterations in mandatory brewery statements reflecting corporate transitions. These structural variations make the can an essential cornerstone for regional breweriana researchers.