Rainier Old Time Krausen Beer Flat Top Can

Rainier Old-Time Kräusen Flat Top

Manufactured in the early 1950s by the Rainier Brewing Company of San Francisco, California, this twelve-ounce flat top can represents one of the final packages issued before the brewery ceased local operations. Set against a metallic gold body, the front design centers on a vibrant red oval medallion crowned by an illustrated character: an anthropomorphic beer stein featuring a flesh-toned, mustachioed face, a peaked Alpine cap, and green shorts. Bounding the oval are the bold slogans "DOUBLE AGED" above and "DOUBLE MELLOW" below, framing the brand's Old-Time Kräusen designation rendered in gothic and script lettering. The label also carries the "© R. B. Co." copyright mark along the bottom rim.

Rainier introduced Old-Time Kräusen Beer in May 1951, seeking to capitalize on traditional German brewing methods. "Kräusening"—the time-honored practice of blending actively fermenting wort into aged beer to induce natural carbonation—was promoted heavily in regional newspaper advertisements. The marketing campaign touted the lager as being brewed once like ordinary beers and then conditioned a second time to bring back the mellow flavor of classic European recipes. Despite the spirited advertising, the product arrived at a difficult juncture as local operations confronted fierce competition from rival regional powerhouses such as Lucky Lager and aggressively expanding Midwestern shipping brewers.

The San Francisco plant itself had roots stretching back to 1915, when the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company established California operations under Louis Hemrich to navigate around Washington State’s early prohibition laws. The Bay Area facility survived national Prohibition by producing soft drinks and near-beer, emerging after Repeal to become a dominant West Coast presence throughout the 1930s and 1940s. However, postwar market dynamics proved insurmountable. In July 1953, Emil Sick acquired the San Francisco business, retaining the Rainier brand rights while selling the physical facility to the Theo. Hamm Brewing Company. Rainier production subsequently returned exclusively to the Pacific Northwest.

For breweriana enthusiasts, this can remains an important artifact from the final chapter of Rainier’s San Francisco lineage. Collectors of mid-century flat tops and character cans prize the package for its animated mascot artwork and expressive mid-century design.