Rainier Beer: Can You Buy It In Colorado?

Rainier Beer is an American-owned beer brand, established in Seattle, Washington, in 1884. The beer is currently brewed by Pabst in Irwindale, California, and remains popular in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. While it is unclear whether Rainier Beer is sold in Colorado, it is available across the United States and has been reviewed by drinkers in various states, including Texas, Illinois, Alabama, and California.

Rainier Beer's history and origin

The Rainier Brewing Company is an American-owned beer brand that was originally established in Seattle, Washington, in 1884. However, the Seattle site had been brewing beer since 1878, when A.B. Rabbeson opened Washington Brewery, Seattle's first commercial brewing company. Rabbeson renamed his brewery the Seattle Brewery in 1872 and launched Rainier beer in 1878, producing and distributing it for the next decade.

In 1883, John Kopp and Andrew Hemrich, a first-generation German from a long line of brewmasters, founded the Bay View Brewing Company in Seattle. Hemrich's father, who had previously operated a brewery in Alma, Wisconsin, bought out Kopp's interest in the company soon after. The Hemrich family relocated to Seattle, either joining Andrew's brewery or starting new ones. In 1888, Rabbeson sold his brewery and the Rainier brand to Hemrich.

In 1893, the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company was formed by the merger of the Bay View brewery with the Claussen & Sweeney brewery at Georgetown and the Albert Braun Brewing Company. Andrew Hemrich became president of the new company and remained so until his death in 1910, when he was succeeded by his brother Louis. The Georgetown brewery became the headquarters of the new corporation and underwent a significant expansion in the early 1900s, making it one of the largest in the world.

The Hemrichs produced Rainier beer in Washington until 1916, when the state of Washington enacted prohibition, four years before the 18th Amendment established nationwide prohibition. During this time, they opened a brewery in San Francisco, where they brewed Rainier beer until 1920, when the 18th Amendment was ratified. The company survived prohibition by producing a range of non-alcoholic products.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, the Bay View brewery was purchased by Lethbridge, Alberta brewers Fritz and Emil Sick, who repurchased the Rainier brand and resumed brewing in 1935. The company went through several name changes during this period, including Sicks' Seattle Brewing and Malting and Sicks' Rainier Brewing Company.

In the 1970s, Rainier launched a series of memorable television advertisements in the Pacific Northwest, conceived by Seattle designer Terry Heckler. These included parodies of movies, TV shows, and famous spokespeople of the time.

In 1977, the Rainier brewery was sold to the G. Heileman Brewing Company and changed hands several times before being acquired by Pabst, which closed it in 1999. The Rainier brand was sold to the General Brewing Company, and production was moved to the Olympia brewery in Tumwater, Washington. The Olympia Brewing Company closed in 2003, and Rainier Beer is now brewed by Pabst in Irwindale, California.

Where to buy Rainier Beer

Rainier Beer is an American-owned beer brand, established in Seattle, Washington, in 1884. The beer has been brewed since 1878 and remains popular in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. While the brand's popularity declined in the mid-20th century, it has experienced a resurgence in recent years due to a partnership with Pabst Brewing Company, which now owns and operates the brand.

Rainier Beer is widely available for purchase in the Pacific Northwest region, particularly in Washington state, where it has a strong presence. You can find Rainier Beer at various retailers, including liquor stores, supermarkets, and specialty beer shops throughout this region.

Online options are also available for purchasing Rainier Beer. Websites such as Drizly offer a convenient way to buy the beer and have it delivered directly to your doorstep, often within 60 minutes. This option may be especially useful if you live in an area where Rainier Beer is not commonly found in physical stores.

Additionally, Rainier Beer can be found on tap at select bars and restaurants, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Some establishments may feature it as a rotating or guest tap, while others might have it as a regular offering. Checking local bar and restaurant menus or contacting them directly can provide information on their availability.

It is always a good idea to call ahead to your local retailers to confirm the availability of Rainier Beer before making a special trip, as inventory can vary.

Rainier Beer's ABV

While I cannot confirm if Rainier Beer is available for purchase in Colorado, I can provide information on the ABV of Rainier Beers.

Rainier Beer, a brand established in Seattle, Washington, in the late 19th century, has a range of beers with varying alcohol content. The brand's flagship product, Rainier Beer, is an American Adjunct Lager with an ABV typically ranging from 4.2% to 5.0%, depending on the source. Some reviews mention a 4.6% ABV for this beer.

In addition to their classic lager, Rainier Brewing Company has expanded its portfolio in recent years. They introduced the Rainier Pale Mountain Ale, a beer handcrafted with two-row barley and Washington-grown hops, with a crisp, citrus finish. Unfortunately, I could not find the exact ABV for this beer. Rainier also offers seasonal beers, such as the Rainier Radler, a light-bodied lager brewed with lemon zest and orange peel, with an ABV of 4.2%.

The company has also branched out into other alcoholic beverages, including the Rainier Mountain Fresh Gin, inspired by the forests of Mount Rainier and distilled in Seattle, with an unknown ABV.

Awards won by Rainier Beer

The Rainier Brewing Company has won several awards for its beer, including:

• Silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1987 in the Best American Light Lager category.
• Gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1990, 1998, and 2000 for Best American-Style Lager.
• Silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2003 and 2005 for Best American-Style Lager.
• Gold medal at the World Beer Cup for Best American Style Lager.
• Gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for Best Cream Style Ale.

In addition to these accolades, Rainier Light and Rainier Ice have also received medals in their respective categories from the Great American Beer Festival. The brand was also recognized as one of the top 100 beers by Cold Cans, and its Pale Mountain Ale was inspired by pale ales brewed by the company after Prohibition.

Rainier Beer's ingredients

The ingredients used to make Rainier Beer include golden barley, malted barley, special corn syrup (not high fructose corn syrup), hops, filtered water, and cultured yeast. The beer is fermented slowly with a pedigree yeast culture under tightly controlled conditions. The result is a beer with a satisfying malty flavour over a slightly fruity background, spiced with Chinook, Mt. Hood, and Willamette hop notes.

The beer was first introduced in 1878, before the state of Washington existed, and was named after the majestic Mount Rainier. Rainier Beer is now brewed by Pabst in Irwindale, California, and distributed across the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

The company behind Rainier Beer, Rainier Brewing Company, was originally established in Seattle, Washington, and has changed hands several times since its founding. The beer is no longer brewed in Seattle, but the company remains American-owned, with a Seattle-based sales and marketing team.

The ingredients used in Rainier Beer make it a vegan-friendly option, as confirmed by Barnivore, a vegan beer guide.

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