Rainier Lager - Pabst Brewing Company

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Who can venture west to the Pacific Northwest and not enjoy a Rainier at least once? I comes in pounder cans, which are great for camping and hiking; and when you wander into a small town with just one even-smaller bar (that offers only video poker, T.V. Keno, three menu items... all deep-fried!, and a 'limited' selection of beers) what are you to do???

So... golden, crystal clear, "mountain fresh", and pretty much just as you'd expect it to be. Smooth and clean with no rough edges. There's some obvious use of adjunct but it's not overdone, and there are at least a few hops involved in the brewing process. It's an average mass produced beer.

Serving type: can

08-04-2009 23:49:48 | More by NeroFiddled

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

2.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

355ml can, Canadian version, 5% ABV. Just saw a fair bit of Mt. Rainier as it looms over the greater Seattle area last month, and it's a holiday weekend, so time for some cabin-worthy bevies...

This beer pours a clear, very pale straw colour, with a multitude of thin puffy, foamy bone-white head, which settles more slowly than expected, leaving some splotchy lace around the glass. It smells metallic and skunky, with some sweet corn graininess and fusel alcohol lurking below. The taste is thankfully devoid of most of the aspects of the nose, for better and for worse - this is one neutral 'tasting' beer - very light, hard to typify malt, and a slight drying character - perhaps the full complement of alcohol asserting itself. The carbonation is quite sedate, the body medium-light in weight, and smooth, the sugar quotient fairly low. It finishes off-dry, and pretty clean.

Don't take a big whiff of this, and you can enjoy its cheap, inoffensive, and easy 'drinkability'. Who knew.

Serving type: can

08-01-2011 03:05:20 | More by biboergosum

jdhilt

New Hampshire

1.78/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Served as a 12oz bottle ($2.50) at The Derby Steakhouse & Casino Butte, Mt. Pours with four-finger white head that goes slowly leaving some lace. Pale amber color. Very light carbonation and light bodied. Starts with a bland hoppy corn flavor, finish is insipid, good lawn mower beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2006 03:18:47 | More by jdhilt

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.25/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Straw yellow, but lively with a nice pristine white head on it. Cool. Nice corny aroma that is pleasant and not chock full of alcohol.

More light corn taste, light bitterness, above average hopping for an adjunct lager. Light body, light on the palate, good stuff for the outdoors. Pretty enjoyable for what it is. Went well with wiffle ball.

Yo thanks to john for bringing this to the cabin 2 weeks ago, really hit the spot after a long drive.

Serving type: can

11-04-2011 00:00:37 | More by Beerandraiderfan

plaid75

New York

3.13/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On draft at the Tug Boat Brewery, Portland, Oregon.

Poured a medium straw hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and good lacing.

The smell featured a touch of adjunct sweetness and subtle grassy hops.

The taste consisted of an adjunct sweetness, grainy malt and flowery hop.

The mouthfeel was full for the style.

Overall a good macro.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2009 15:20:22 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I CAN't believe that they are still making Rainier Beer! I had some as a young sailor in the late 1980's and if memory serves, even toured their Seattle plant. Now, it is made in Irwindale, CA and who knows if it the original recipe or not. Nothing like nostalgic beer drinking, though.

From the CAN: "Made with Yakima Valley hops", "Naturally brewed Mountain Fresh Beer", "All Aluminum Recyclable CAN"

Following the Crack & Glug action, I was looking at a rapidly fading finger of rocky, bone-white head. Color was a pale sunshine yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had the typical scent of lager sweetness overlain with cereal. Mouthfeel was medium with a typical AAL sweetness on the tongue. Finish was semi-dry and quite refreshing on a hot, humid afternoon in late September. Really, it was an average beer for the style, not much more, but no less, either. I have drank enough AALs on The CANQuest (TM) than I care to think about, but this was not bad. I am glad that I got to try it, but it would not be worth actively seeking out unless you have some strange desire to drink CANned beers.

Serving type: can

09-24-2010 21:40:44 | More by woodychandler

RoyalT

Ohio

1.1/5  rDev -59.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Appearance – Light yellow in color with a JB head.

Smell – The grain and cheap sweetness are there, as I suspected, but there’s something else in this can. It’s not skunk. It’s something more sinister. Whatever it is, it is big. This aroma lit up half my house. I think the best way to describe it is straight horse sweat. If you’ve every smelled a horse after he/she has had a good workout, this was it.

Taste – The grainy horse gallops out in the taste as well. There’s a hint of orange sweetness here, as is Pabst tradition, but it’s kind of hard to enjoy when you’re licking horse hair out of your rice.

Mouthfeel – The cheap carbonation was annoying. The word “light” doesn’t even begin to describe how close to water this felt in the mouth.

Drinkability – I could probably use this as a chaser after beer-bonging a case of HOTDs, but other than that it’s not fit for consumption.

Serving type: can

09-25-2003 01:39:49 | More by RoyalT

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can, brewed in Irwindale CA...Miller

A clear straw coloured pour with about an inch of foam and no lacing to speak of.

The smell has some grain and some hop bitterness.

The taste has some slightly lemon like zest up front but that turns down somewhat replaced by a grainy note and plain hop bitterness.

Usual body and carbonation for the style, light and brisk, repectively.

Drinkability? It's been many years since I had this last and though it is pretty drinkable and not really offensive at all, it'll probably be more years before I have it again.

Serving type: can

04-17-2010 17:16:00 | More by Bitterbill

beertunes

Washington

3.48/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured enough into a small glass for the visual components, drank the rest straight from the can. Poured the bright, clear yellow that was expected. A bright, white head was fuller than expected and had better retention, although almost no lacing.

Not much aroma, what there is, is the sweet corn scent usual for the style. The flavor was surprisingly good for the style, but without any standout aspect.

Typically thin and smooth body, and of course this beer has the drinkability of water.

Overall, an above average example of the style, if you're going for fizzy, yellow beer you could do worse than Vitamin R.

Serving type: can

06-23-2009 20:17:34 | More by beertunes

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

2.08/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

355ml can poured into pint glass 14/10/11

A very pale straw yellow with lots of bubbles that feed a short lived thumbs width of foam that leaves no lace

S not much really some sweet grains

T I'd complain about the flavor but there would be nothing to complain about, some soggy rice cakes and hay maybe, quite faint for sure

M watery and over-carbonated, I'd say it had a clean aftertaste but that would imply flavor of some kind to begin with

O there's just nothing going on here, it's a lawnmower thirst quencher and nothing more

this is cheap beer good for one thing

Serving type: can

10-15-2011 02:02:02 | More by wordemupg

GClarkage

California

2.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

06/20/05- Purchased at The Red Door in Billings, MT.

Presentation- 12oz bottle, undated, poured into a typical pint glass.

Appearance- Decent golden color with a 1/2 inch foamy head and light lacing.

Smell- Cardboard stinky corn or malt....whatever...

Taste- Hmmm, much better than expected. A tad watery, but decent amount of fair tasting malt and grain. For a macro....not bad.

Mouthfeel- As said before, a bit watery and moderate carbonation.

Drinkability- If you don't smell it, this would work out pretty decent for a lawnmower beer or something. I knew I liked Rainier as a kid for some reason.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2005 03:11:24 | More by GClarkage

tone77

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to resi for the trade. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a pale yellow color with a 1 inch head. Smell is mild, a bit of grains. Taste is also very mild, some grain and malt, a slight bitterness at the finish. Feels light in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a mediocre beer.

Serving type: can

10-16-2010 16:06:43 | More by tone77

Reidrover

Oregon

2.45/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Ok bought at the local cheapo canned food warehouse 99 cents for a 24 oz can..nice enough can..Mt Rainier all in silvers and white
The appearance is not great just above average for a macro..least its golden ( pale) in colour..and has a small white head.
Smell is sort of weird..like rainwater..and some chemicals..hard to place.
I have to say the taste ain't all that bad really for a cheap macro..sort of Like Miller High Life but a little less sweet.. a lot of corn..but I believe i taste a ghost of some hops in the end.
Mouthfeel is not so hot..too carbonated and watery.
Overall not a good beer but ok if you want a cheap beer to wash down the dust after some strenuous physical work.

Serving type: can

09-27-2003 05:44:17 | More by Reidrover

mdaschaf

Washington

2.98/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a two finger, foamy white head on top with low retention, but some decent lacing for style.

S: Light grain and a slight sweetness. There is some faint grassy hops at the end.

T: Again, a slight malty sweetness with some faint grassy/lemon flavor from the hops.

M: Light to medium bodied with high carbonation.

O: Not a bad adjunct. Not a beer I will likely get again, but glad I tried it. I guess.

Serving type: can

11-13-2012 04:33:20 | More by mdaschaf

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

2.93/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

This is not the same Rainier I had in Seattle many years ago. The gauntlet of the Stroh-Pabst-Miller purchases has done something to the unique brewing recipie/process of this beer... it was a pale, tart, well hopped standard US lager without adjuncts. The Rainier I had in Glacier Park yesterday was weak tasting and the tart hop quality was nearly undetectable plus I detected something like a rice or corn sugars in the flavour. The aroma was weak....what a let down. I had been looking forward to this trip to the western US to reacquaint myself with their old standards (like Olympia, rainier Coors etc) and this was a foreboding start. All in all this New Rainier is probably one of the best US standards but it certainly has lost it's distinct character since miller bought the brand.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2004 19:43:22 | More by pootz

mentor

Colorado

1.78/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Can provided amid a bunch of stuff given to me for volunteering at 2005 GABF. Uhm, thanks guys, I really appreciate the opportunity. Stamp on the bottom of the can reads 12195 B41029. "Mountain Fresh Taste" by " Rainier Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI" and brewed in Texas. They've pretty much got the US triangulated with this one.

Pours a one finger white soda pop head, yet it does have some stickiness. This beer is light in color. Wow, about the least color I've ever seen. Clear and dull very very pale straw colored. Smells weakly of wet cardboard and a hint of malt sweet that can be found with some searching. The absence of aroma is amazing. Tastes mostly of acrid carbonation with a malt sweet way below. Some floral hop flitters on the border of detection in the aftertaste, but the flavor is too weak for me to get an idea of which hop. If I had to guess, I'd say tettnanger. Thin body and highly carbonated. The carbonation burn is definitely the most distinct characteristic of this beer. Not much to this beer. Not an afront, just nothing to it.

Serving type: can

10-13-2005 04:06:18 | More by mentor

EgadBananas

Louisiana

2.65/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to woodychandler for the CAN!

Clear, yellow, bright white head that goes in an instant. Pretty typical.

Crisp, cold, wet grains and dried corn.

Slight corny sweetness, hints of malts and some aluminum aftertastes.

crisp, light in body, not much substance, and pretty plain overall.

Naturally, easily chuggable, but not something to search for.

Serving type: can

01-27-2011 23:12:15 | More by EgadBananas

Frozensoul327

Michigan

3.18/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A fair macro offering from Pabst. Pours out to a medium yellow color with a head that looks like someone spit in my beer. Aroma of corn and hay mixed with sweet hops. Not bad. Taste is your typical middle of the road macro; light malt, adjunct corn and grain, sweetness is a touch on the strong side, little if any hops. Mouthfeel was refreshing and zesty. Drinkability is average. Special thanks again goes out to Dubbercody for the sample.

THE BLOODHOUND FACTOR: Both hounds enjoyed this one immensely. These dogs identified this as a positive choice for cheap beer on a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

06-24-2006 00:32:40 | More by Frozensoul327

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance. Pours a pale yellow with a finger of white bubbly head.

Smell. Some grassy hops, light grains and corn.

Taste. Slightly sweet light grains and a little grassy hops. Corn in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel. Light body with medium, bubbly carbonation.

Overall. Not as bad as I was expecting. Light and easy to drink but not too much going on.

Serving type: can

04-23-2011 22:37:31 | More by Rutager

woemad

Washington

2.48/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12-pk of 12oz cans picked up for $7.99 at a Rosauer’s in Browne’s Addition about 10 minutes walk from my apartment. Yeah, I’m slummin’ it old school. This beer was a Northwest staple but now it’s contract brewed for the current owners of the name in Irwindale, California, many hundreds of miles from the Rainier Brewery, a true Seattle landmark, which is now home to Tully’s Coffee. I’m still pissed they took the famed giant “R” down that once greeted drivers on I-5.

Pale clear straw color. Moderate white head that dropped at high speed, yet left a small ring of foam that endured for the duration of this beer’s time in my Boundary Bay pint glass (which will probably have to go into counseling).

The smell is of sweet malt, corn (inevitable with this style of beer) and a crude, earthy, grainy scent. Not skunky at all, however, which already puts it ahead of many of it’s style-mates.

The taste of this, like the smell, is a cut above the BMC crowd. Just not a whole lot above. It's a pleasant yet unremarkable malty, corny beer that isn't bad but isn't good either. It just tastes like what most people think beer is supposed to taste like. There is a slight dry note at the end that can make one think of hops if one tries really hard.

The mouthfeel is again typical for the style. Moderate carbonation with a somewhat watery mouthfeel. I've certainly had much more water ("Paging messrs Keystone and Tsingtao...") than this.

If you are looking for a cheap warm weather beer or something to mindlessly consume while watching a game, you could do a lot worse than this, even if it is essentially a corpse of a one-time regional staple.

Serving type: can

12-05-2006 01:06:07 | More by woemad

Docer

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +43.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Nice to find the classic once again in test market. To me it brings back old memories of playing quarters and slamming pounder bottles of Rainier...not into macros.. but I just had to bum one off a bud inbetween a Hop Czar and Deschutes Cinder Cone Red...

- Very light color like I remembered... very clear... white foamy head died down quick...

- Grain, Barley.. alcohol.. and a bitter hop blast...

- Bit bitter... alcoholy.. barley, grain..

- Watery and grainy mouthfeel.. bit dry but not really... kind of only in the flavor..

- Super drinkable... goes down easy.. not too bubbly that it makes me belch half of it up in foam.... easy drinker for those that want to attempt a 12-pack again for old times sake lol...

Serving type: can

05-06-2009 02:29:11 | More by Docer

DCon

Missouri

2.73/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bought a 16 OZ. ONE PINT can of this from The Trap Bar & Grill in Alta, WY for $3. Poured from the White labeled can w/ Red/Gold writing into a 16oz Pint Glass. Has APR 09 12 on the bottom of the can.

Aroma- A good amount of malt and grain hang out in this one. Nothing else happening... Average for the style.

Appearance- Pours a 3 finger, bubbly head that has average retention. A golden, clear colored body is in here. Leaves barely suds behind.

Flavor- A crisp, nicely malty flavor starts this one out. Then without warning, an overpowering grain taste stirs up commotion. Not very favorable and has no hops or bitterness (of course).

Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, Medium-High Carbonation, Smooth, but then finishes a bit rough with a slight carbonic bite on the palate.

Overall Impression- After coming off the slopes, refreshing but would rather go for a PBR or better yet one of the Grand Teton brews on-tap. I have NEVER seen this brew before, so sought it out and didn't mind. Put down 3 more after this first one (can't be that bad of an adjunct!).

Serving type: can

01-23-2012 22:05:19 | More by DCon

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

2.45/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 4

Rainier and PBR are basically the only macros i buy, and only when I am really poor (now). This brew pours a clear yellow piss color with white head that lingers for about a minute. Smells of grain and some corn. Taste is watery and grainy with some slight crispness on the finish. grains linger in the aftertaste. mouthfeel is ridiculously thin, very light feeling. Drinkability is good, because it tastes and goes down like water. It usually takes me about 12 of these babies to get buzzin hard. Obviously there are about 780,459,997,748,097 beers I would prefer to be drinking, but i will take this one time Seattle staple over Budmilloors.

Serving type: can

03-10-2008 08:01:30 | More by AKBelgianBeast

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.11/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Formed a finger and a half of head, but quickly down to a covering. The body is golden with lots of bubbles coming up.
The smell has a good dose of grain, but too much metallic comes through too.
The taste is mildly bitter with some honey sweetness in the middle. Descent flavor for the style.
The texture is crisp with moderate carbonation.
Not too bad.

Serving type: can

03-11-2013 02:37:41 | More by Fatehunter

RJLarse

Washington

2.55/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer has a pale yellow color and is clear. Well carbonated and fizzy.

Smell and is generally unremarkable. Perfect for drinking from a can or bottle.

The taste is light, watery, unremarkable. Perfect for drinking from a can or bottle, especially if you are thirsty.

I have had a lot of this beer in my younger past, when it was brewed in Seattle. It's avergage, not a quality beer.

Serving type: can

01-08-2006 02:25:58 | More by RJLarse