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The History of Rainier Beer - part 2
(1933-1999)
 

The History of Rainier - Part 1 covers the period from the brand's inception to the end of Prohibition, and includes the brands introduction into Canada in the 1920s.

This part of the Rainier history covers the period after Repel, and is further divided into two parts:

 

In 1915, Washington's state-wide prohibition gave brewers until 1 January 1916 to liquidate their inventories and cease operations. The Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. chose to build a new plant in California believing that national prohibition would not happen. Before the year was out the Rainier Brewing Company of San Francisco was on-line with Louis Hemrich overseeing the operation.

Of course, Prohibition was voted in, but the plant continued to operate by producing soft drinks and near-beer. By 1932 people had had enough and elected Franklin Roosevelt, in part for his promise to end Prohibition. With the Repeal in sight, Rainier geared up.

 

Rainier letterhead c.1937 - image
Rainier Brewery of San Francisco letterhead, c.1937
 

The Rainier Brewing Company, Inc.
San Francisco, Calif.
(1933-1953)


Rainier Brewery of San Francisco c.1933 - photo
Rainier Brewery of San Francisco, c.1933

Built in 1916, the plant underwent extensive improvements and additions in preparations for Repeal on 7 April, 1933. The company was still under the leadership of Louis Hemrich who, with partner Joseph Goldie, bought the Seattle and San Francisco breweries from the Hemrich family in 1925.

To celebrate the return of its flagship brand, the company reprised its pre-prohibition "Rainier Beer" label (below left). Then months later, in Sep. '33, they introduced "Rainier Dark" - a Culmbacher-type dark beer (below right). The ad at right introduces these to early products.
 


first Rainier Beer label, Apr. '33


first Rainier Dark Beer, Sep. '33


Rainier Pale, 1st Pre-Pro. strength beer, Jan. '34


first Rainier Bock, Jan. 1934

When beer was legalized on April 7, 1933, this was actually not the end of Prohibition. On that date the Cullen Act went into effect, allowing the sale of 3.2% beer. It was not until Jan.1, 1934 that repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified. It then became legal to produce and sell pre-prohibition "full strength" beer.

Joseph Goldie, Rainier's chairman of the board, stated that "the brewery had enough 5½% beer in aging tanks to release thousands of cases of their "pale" beer in anticipation of Repeal. He described this pre-prohibition style as a "pilsner-type beer that originated in old Austria, and was made with low-kiln-dried malt and Bohemian Saazer hops."

The "Rainier Pale Beer" label, shown above (left) gives the actual strength - a practice that is no longer allowed. This label soon changed to a more colorful version, similar to the image at the top of the page.

Each spring it's traditional for breweries to offer a Bock beer, and Rainier was the first to  release its own version. The Jan. 1934 ad for "Rainier Bock" is shown here (left), and the first Bock label used by Rainier, shown above (right).

 

 

 

 


 

 


One of ten 1937 GMC Streamlines produced for Rainier


The brand had a successful run, but faltered in the early 1950s. The introduction of new brands and different packaging did nothing to slow the loss of market share to Lucky Lager and the influx of eastern brewers.

On 22 July, 1953, Rainier was purchased by Emil G. Sick, who then sold the plant to the Theo. Hamm Brewing Co. of MN, retaining sole rights to the Rainier brand.
 

Breweriana from Rainier of SF

 


Rainier Beer coaster, Honolulu, c.1937

 

 

 

 

The Rainier Brand in Seattle
(1933-1999)

Emil Sick was responsible for returning the venerable brand back to the place of its birth, but it was a struggle that lasted 20 years and cost him over a million dollars.

With the end of Prohibition this Canadian brewer sought opportunities in the U.S. market. He began with the 1933 acquisition of three breweries in Montana. First he formed a partnership with the owners of the Montana Brewing Co. and the American Brewing & Malting Co., two Great Falls firms dating from the 1890s. They turned the Montana Brg. plant into a malt house, and the American plant into the primary - thus forming Great Falls Breweries, Inc. They remained a part of the Sick empire until September of 1949 when Sick returned control to the Jensen and Johnson partners.

Next he partnered with the owners of the old Garden City Brewery in Missoula. The new company was established as the Missoula Brewing Co. The brewery remained a Sick satellite for 16 years. Then, at the same time he relinquished his interest in his Great Falls holdings, he sold his shares back to the Steinbrenner family. The Missoula Brg. Co. was then more commonly referred to as the Highland Brewing Co.

Sick then joined forces with an old friend, Harry Goetz, and re-opened the old Henco Brewery in Spokane. Demand soon exceeded the plants capacity and in December of 1936 they bought the old Galland-Burke Brewery, establishing Spokane Breweries, Inc. While Rainier was never brewed in Montana, it was produced in Spokane until Sick closed the plant in 1962.


Century Brewery Association, Inc.
(1933-1935)

painting of Century Brewery c.1935 - image
painting of Century Brewery for 1935 calendar
 

Century's Rheinlander Beer label - image
Beer label c.1934

 

 

Seattle Brewing & Malting Company
(1935-1944)

Rainier Brewery c.1939 - photo
Rainier Brewery c.1939

In May of 1935, Emil Sick and Louis Hemrich of San Francisco agreed to a $2M merger agreement and formed Seattle Brewing & Malting. This allowed Sick to brew and market "Rainier Beer" in WA, ID, MT, and AK, under a royalty arrangement.

 

Sicks' Seattle Brewing & Malting Company
(1944-1957)

Rainier Brewery letterhead c.1945 - image
Rainier Brewery letterhead c.1945

 

 

Sicks' Rainier Brewing Company
(1957-1970)

 

 

 

Rainier Brewing Company
(1970-1999)

 

 

 

Occasionally I'm asked if Rainier is still being brewed. The answer is yes and no! Of course there is no longer beer flowing from the Seattle plant, however the Pabst Brewing Company still owns and markets the brand. Currently the Miller Brewing Company has been contracted by Pabst to produce Rainier Beer in their Irwindale, CA. So yes, you can still get a Rainier Beer! But only in these Western States - CA, NV, OR, WA, ID, MT, and WY. Check the "Locator" to see if it's available in your area of


A book on the Rainier Brewing Co. and the Rainier brand is in the works ......
so there won't be many changes to this page.


But for those of you nostalgic for the classic Rainier commercial of the motorcycle..

 

For any comments, additions, or corrections - or if you have brewery items for sale -
please contact me:

Gary@BreweryGems.com
 

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