Rainier Beer: Is It Available In Wyoming?

Rainier Beer is an American lager brewed with pure spring waters, golden barley, and hops to create a rich taste and texture. The beer is currently brewed in California by Pabst Brewing Company, which acquired the brand in the late 1990s. While Rainier Beer is particularly popular in the Pacific Northwest, it can also be found in other parts of the United States, including Wyoming. In fact, some residents of Wyoming have reported purchasing Rainier Beer in their state, specifically in the towns of Rock Springs and Sheridan.

Rainier beer in Wyoming: availability and locations

Rainier Beer, originally from Seattle, Washington, is a popular brand in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The beer is now brewed by Pabst in Irwindale, California, and distributed across the country.

Rainier Beer is available in Wyoming, with reports of it being sold in a liquor store in Rock Springs, and at the Rainbow Bar in Sheridan. It appears that the beer is predominantly sold in cans, with some sources stating they have never seen it sold in bottles.

One source mentions that most people in Natrona County use the same distributor for their beer, but it is unclear who this distributor is. It may be possible to find Rainier Beer in other locations in Wyoming by searching for beer distributors or stores that sell a wide range of beers.

In addition to its availability in Wyoming, Rainier Beer is also sold in other states, including Washington, California, Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The brand has a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest, with memorable television advertisements in the 1970s and 1980s that contributed to its popularity in the region.

Rainier Beer has also made appearances in various films and television series, such as "Stand By Me", "The Bridges of Madison County", and "Longmire", further increasing its recognition across the country.

Rainier beer: history and ownership

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 brewery. 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 1888, Rabbeson sold his brewery, along with the Rainier brand, to Hemrich. In 1893, the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company was formed by the merger of the Bay View brewery with two other breweries. Andrew Hemrich became president of the new company and remained so until his death in 1910, when he was succeeded by his brother, Louis Hemrich. The Hemrichs produced Rainier beer in Washington until 1916, when the state enacted prohibition, four years before the nationwide prohibition. During this time, they opened a brewery in San Francisco, where they brewed Rainier until 1920 when the 18th Amendment was ratified. The company survived prohibition by producing non-alcoholic products.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, the Bay View brewery was purchased by Lethbridge, Alberta brewers, Fritz and Emil Sick, who then repurchased the Rainier brand and began brewing Rainier in 1935. The brewery went through several name changes during this period, including Sicks' Seattle Brewing and Malting and Sicks' Rainier Brewing Company. The Sicks also brewed Rainier at a branch brewery in Spokane, which closed in 1962.

In the 1970s, Rainier ran a series of memorable television ads in the Pacific Northwest, largely conceived by Seattle designer Terry Heckler. Some of these advertisements included the Running of the MFRs (Mountain Fresh Rainiers), a parody of the Running of the Bulls, and frogs croaking "Rainier Beer", a motif later appropriated by Budweiser. The brand also featured in several films and TV shows, including Stand By Me (1986), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), and the A&E series Longmire (2012).

After a series of ownership transfers beginning in the 1970s, the company was sold to Stroh's and then to Pabst Brewing Company by the late 1990s. Pabst closed the brewery in 1999 and sold it, but they continue to brew and sell Rainier beer. The Rainier brand is currently owned and operated by Pabst Brewing Company, while in Canada, it is owned, brewed, and distributed by Sleeman Breweries as Rainier Lager.

Rainier beer: taste, ingredients and production

Rainier Beer is an American-owned lager brand established in Seattle, Washington, in 1884. The beer has been described as "mountain fresh" and is particularly popular in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Ingredients

Rainier Beer is brewed using a blend of malted barley, corn syrup, hops, filtered water, and cultured yeast. The corn syrup is not high-fructose and is instead made of carbohydrates and some simple sugars like dextrose and maltose. The sugars are fermented into alcohol and CO2, while the carbohydrates contribute to the beer's flavour, colour, and body. The beer is not gluten-free due to the presence of barley. Additionally, it is vegan-friendly as no animal products are used in the brewing or filtration process.

Taste

Rainier Beer has been described as having a satisfying malty flavour with a slightly fruity background. The use of Chinook, Mt. Hood, and Willamette hops adds spice notes to the beer. It has a smooth and drinkable texture, with a decent body and a stronger taste than other beers in its category. It is also noted for its balanced flavour and easy drinkability.

Production

The original Rainier brewery dates back to 1854 when A.B. Rabbeson opened Washington Brewery, Seattle's first commercial brewing company. The brewery changed hands several times over the years, and the beer is no longer brewed in Seattle. Today, Rainier Beer is owned and operated by the Pabst Brewing Company and is brewed in Irwindale, California. In Canada, it is owned, brewed, and distributed by Sleeman Breweries.

Rainier beer: awards and recognition

Rainier Beer has a long history of awards and recognition. The brand was awarded a silver medal by the Great American Beer Festival in 1987 in the category of Best American Light Lager. The festival recognised Rainier again in 1990, 1998, and 2000 with the gold medal for Best American-Style Lager, and silver medals in the same category in 2003 and 2005. Both Rainier Light and Rainier Ice have also received medals at the festival. In addition, Rainier Beer was recognised as the number one beer on Cold Cans' list of top 100 beers.

The brand's iconic red "R" logo has become a symbol of the Rainier Brewing Company, dating back to the 1900s and undergoing several redesigns over the years. The logo has become an integral part of the company's marketing and advertising campaigns, often featured in its television commercials and posters.

Rainier Beer has also made appearances in various films and television series, such as "Stand By Me" (1986), "The Bridges of Madison County" (1995), and "Longmire" (2012). In "Longmire", the main character, Sheriff Walt Longmire, is a loyal drinker of Rainier Beer and can be seen drinking it throughout the series. The brand has also been featured in the "Twilight" film series, where it is referred to as "Vitamin R" and drunk by the character Charlie Swan.

The success of Rainier Beer can be attributed not only to its awards and recognition in the industry but also to its effective marketing campaigns and cultural significance in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Rainier beer: advertising campaigns

Rainier Beer has had a number of memorable advertising campaigns over the years, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. The brand's ads have become part of the collective cultural memory in the Pacific Northwest, where Rainier remains popular.

Many of Rainier's most iconic ads were created by the Seattle designer Terry Heckler and his team at the agency Heckler/Bowker, later known as Heckler & Associates. The ads were known for their surrealism and humour, with some of the most notable including:

• A motorcycle revving "Raiiiiiiiii-nieeeeeeeer-Beeeeeeeer" while driving along a mountain road.
• A parody of the "Indian Love Call" scene from the 1936 film Rose Marie, featuring Mickey Rooney and his wife, Jan.
• A running of the "MFRs" (Mountain Fresh Rainiers), with bottles on legs, parodying the running of the bulls.
• A commercial featuring frogs croaking "Rainier Beer", a motif later appropriated by Budweiser.
• A Lawrence Welk double (played by Pat Harrington, Jr.) leading his band in "The Wunnerful Rainier Waltz", with soloists blowing on beer bottles.
• A series of commercials featuring a Rambo-like character called "R-bo", played by Dan Roland.

The Heckler/Bowker agency also created posters parodying the covers of well-known magazines, such as a *National Geographic* cover depicting tourists encountering a Mountain Fresh Rainier in the forest, and a *Star Wars* poster depicting a bar scene from the film.

In addition to these ads, Rainier Beer has also gained exposure through its inclusion in several films and TV shows, such as *Stand By Me*, *The Bridges of Madison County*, and the A&E series *Longmire*.

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