Rainier Brewing Company

The Rainier Brewing Company produces an American-made domestic lager beer and Seattle-made Rainier Mountain Fresh Gin. Rainier was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1878, before Washington was even a state. However, in 1999, after decades of ownership transfers and declining sales, the company was sold to Stroh's, then to Pabst Brewing Company, and the brewery along I-5 permanently shuttered. Though brewing operations shifted in 1999, Rainier maintains Seattle-based sales and marketing staff, working out of offices at The Old Rainier Brewery site (2023).

The brewery itself is a well-known fixture in the south end of town, adjacent to I-5 just north of the Spokane Street Viaduct. The plant was home to the Tully's Coffee headquarters, Bartholomew Winery, Red Soul Motorcycle Fabrications, as well as artist lofts, band practice spaces, and a recording studio. The trademark red neon "R" that sat atop the building was replaced with a green "T" built by Western Neon, when Tully's was using the plant to roast coffee. The neon "R" is now on display at Seattle's Museum of History and Industry which was refurbished by local Seattle sign company Western Neon. The green "T" was removed on September 30, 2013 by Tully's, and a red neon replica "R", built by Western Neon, returned to the top of the brewery on October 24, 2013. The Rainier brand is currently owned and operated by Pabst Brewing Company with PNW-based sales/marketing. In Canada, it is brewed and distributed by Sleeman Breweries as Rainier Lager.