In the A&E TV series Longmire, the titular character, Sheriff Walt Longmire, is often seen drinking Rainier Beer. In fact, he drinks it so frequently that, in the pilot episode, he is accused of drunk driving when empty beer cans are found in his car. He defends himself by saying:
> Every man who's ever had a beer with me will tell you the same thing—I drink Rainier, always have, always will. Those beer cans, they weren't Rainier, none of them. I picked 'em up because I hate looking at litter. Everyone knows that, too.
Rainier Beer is a classic American lager, first created in Seattle in 1878 by Andrew Hemrich, who hailed from a long line of German brewers. The beer has a rich, malty taste and 4.6% ABV.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name of beer | Rainier Beer |
Alcohol by volume | 4.6% |
Type of beer | Lager |
TV show | Longmire |
Main character who drinks it | Sheriff Walt Longmire |
Company | Rainier Brewing Company |
Founded | 1878 |
Founded by | Andrew Hemrich |
Colour of logo | Red |
Current brewer | Pabst Brewing Company |
Location | Irwindale, CA |
What You'll Learn
Sheriff Walt Longmire drinks Rainier beer exclusively in the TV series 'Longmire'
In the TV series Longmire, Sheriff Walt Longmire drinks Rainier beer exclusively. In the pilot episode, Longmire is accused of drunk driving when empty beer cans are found in his car. He explains that he always drinks Rainier beer and would never drink anything else. This brand of beer continues to appear throughout the series, with a colleague even trying to frame Longmire for a crime by leaving an empty can of Rainier at the scene.
Rainier Beer is an American lager that was first brewed in Seattle, Washington, in 1878. The Rainier Brewing Company, which was established in 1884, is American-owned, but the beer is no longer brewed in Seattle. The company was sold to Pabst Brewing Company in the late 1990s, and the brewery was closed in 1999. Today, Rainier Beer is brewed in Irwindale, California, by Pabst.
Despite no longer being brewed in Seattle, Rainier Beer remains a popular brand in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The brand and its signature logo, a bold red "R," are trademarks in the region. Rainier Beer has also made several appearances in popular culture, including in the films Stand By Me and The Bridges of Madison County, as well as the Twilight series.
In terms of taste, Rainier Beer is described as having a "satisfying malty flavor over a slightly fruity background, spiced with Chinook, Mt. Hood, and Willamette hop notes." It has an alcohol by volume of 4.6% and has won several awards, including a gold medal in the American-Style Lager category at the 2016 World Beer Cup.
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The beer is also mentioned in the 'Longmire' book series
The beer is also mentioned in the Longmire book series. In the books, Walt Longmire drinks Rainier beer, just like the author, Craig Johnson. In the pilot episode of the TV series, Longmire's character is accused of drunk driving after empty beer cans are found in his car. He explains that he always drinks Rainier beer and that the empty cans in his car were not Rainier, so they could not have been his. In another episode, someone tries to frame Longmire for a crime by leaving an empty can of Rainier at the scene.
Rainier Beer is a classic American lager founded in 1878 by Andrew Hemrich in Seattle. Hemrich came from a long line of German brewers, and his brewing company became a major success in the Pacific Northwest. The beer has a rich, malty taste and 4.6% ABV. The brand's signature logo is a bold, red "R". While Rainier Beer's popularity declined in the mid-20th century, it has since regained popularity through a partnership with Pabst Brewing Company.
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Rainier beer is a classic American lager
The original brewery dates back to 1854 when A.B. Rabbeson opened Washington Brewery, Seattle's first commercial brewing company. In 1872, Rabbeson renamed the brewery Seattle Brewery and launched Rainier Beer in 1878. The beer was produced and distributed for the next decade until Rabbeson sold the brewery and the Rainier brand to John and Andrew Hemrich in 1888. The Hemrichs produced Rainier Beer in Washington until 1916 when the state enacted prohibition. During this time, they opened a brewery in San Francisco, where they continued to brew Rainier Beer until the 18th Amendment was ratified in 1920.
The brand survived prohibition by producing non-alcoholic products and resumed brewing Rainier Beer after the repeal of prohibition. The beer became popular in the Seattle-Tacoma area, and its advertisements became ubiquitous in the region. Rainier Beer is known for its iconic red "R" logo, which has become a trademark of the brand and is often seen on merchandise such as bucket hats and outdoor gear. The logo has undergone a few redesigns but has retained its distinctive look since the 1950s.
Rainier Beer is a lager with a rich, malty taste and a 4.6% ABV. It has been described as a "backyard beer" and is a popular choice for outdoor activities and casual occasions. The brand has a strong following in the Pacific Northwest and has recently expanded its reach to younger drinkers with new products, such as hard seltzers and gin. Rainier Beer has also made notable appearances in popular culture, including in the TV series "Longmire", where the main character, Sheriff Walt Longmire, exclusively drinks Rainier Beer.
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The beer was founded in 1878 by Andrew Hemrich in Seattle
The beer in question, Rainier Beer, was indeed founded in 1878 by Andrew Hemrich in Seattle. Hemrich, who hailed from a long line of German brewers, founded the Bay View Brewing Company in 1883 with John Kopp. Hemrich's father, John, soon bought out Kopp's interest in the company, and the rest of the Hemrich family relocated to Seattle, joining Andrew's brewery or starting new ones.
The Seattle site where Rainier Beer was brewed had been making beer since 1854 when A.B. Rabbeson opened Washington Brewery, Seattle's first commercial brewing company. In 1872, Rabbeson renamed the brewery Seattle Brewery and launched Rainier Beer in 1878, producing and distributing it for the next decade. In 1888, Rabbeson sold his brewery, along with the Rainier brand, to Hemrich.
Under Hemrich's leadership, Rainier Beer flourished in the Pacific Northwest. The Hemrichs produced Rainier beer in Washington until 1916 when the state enacted prohibition, four years before the nationwide ban. During this time, they opened a brewery in San Francisco, where they continued to brew Rainier Beer until 1920 when the 18th Amendment was ratified. The company survived prohibition by producing a range of non-alcoholic products.
After the repeal of Prohibition, the Bay View brewery was purchased, and the Rainier brand was repurchased, resuming the production of Rainier Beer in 1935. The beer continued to be a popular brand in the Pacific Northwest, with a unique and quirky marketing strategy that contributed to its enduring appeal.
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Rainier beer is currently brewed in Irwindale, California
Rainier Beer, the beer of choice for Walt Longmire, is currently brewed in Irwindale, California. This is not where the beer originated, however. Rainier Beer was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1878, before Washington was even a state. The beer was named after Mount Rainier, which was visible from Seattle and had been renamed from its original Native American name, Tahoma, by Captain George Vancouver.
The Rainier Brewing Company was founded by Andrew Hemrich, a first-generation German from a long line of brewmasters. Hemrich built the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company, which was later renamed after the mountain. Rainier Beer became a regional powerhouse in the West Coast beer world throughout the 1900s. In 1954, the iconic Rainier "R" sign was raised above the brewery and became a landmark of the Seattle skyline.
Despite its huge success, Rainier Brewing Company and its brewing operations moved away from Seattle in the mid-1900s. The company changed hands several times, eventually becoming owned by Pabst, which closed the original Seattle brewery in 1999. The brand survived, however, and in 2023, Rainier is set to deliver more beer to retailers than any year since Pabst acquired the brand.
Today, Rainier Beer is brewed in Irwindale, California, under license to Miller Brewing. The closest mountain to the brewery is Mount Baldy, at 4,193ft.
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Frequently asked questions
They drink Rainier Beer in Longmire.
Yes, Rainier Beer is a real beer. It is an American lager founded in 1878 by Andrew Hemrich in Seattle.
No, Rainier Beer is no longer brewed in Seattle. It is currently brewed in Irwindale, California.
Rainier Beer has an alcohol content of 4.6% ABV.
Besides beer, the Rainier brand also sells hard seltzers, gin, and outdoor gear such as bucket hats.