By Taylor Winkel

The folks over at Rainier brewed up a little somethin’ special last Friday to celebrate “R Day,” an unofficial holiday coined by the beer company to mark the first anniversary since the iconic Rainier “R” made its way back into Seattle’s skyline. Rainier plans to make it an annual event.

“Last year we were blown away by the outpouring of support and goodwill surrounding the restoration of the Rainier R,” said Dan McHugh, chief marketing officer for Rainier Beer. McHugh wants to dedicate one day a year to a celebration of the Northwest culture Rainier encompasses.

The Old Rainier Brewery dates back to the late 1870s when it first began producing beer. But, the original Rainier R didn't show up until the 1950s. In 1999 the brewery was closed and in 2000 the R was replaced by a giant green T when the building was sold to Tully’s coffee. Now the old R lives in the Museum of History and Industry in South Lake Union.

It was a festive mood last year when a replica of the original “R” designed by Western Neon celebrated its resurrection by partying through Seattle-area neighborhoods down to the brewery on a flatbed truck, stopping for drinks and pictures along the way. Once there, it was hoisted by a crane to the rooftop as hundreds of people watched from below. “We’re really proud of our history, and we’re really proud of our Rainier beer.

The R will return to its rightful place, please bring me the big scissors,” then-Mayor Mike McGinn said before a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Last Friday, Columbia Distributing, Western Neon and Northwest clothing company Casual Industrees partnered with Rainier to celebrate the new R’s first anniversary.

The celebration was a little different this year. Instead of parading the R around town, an eleven-foot holiday-themed can of Rainier beer took its’ place. The design of the can mimics vintage holiday themed “Jubilee” Rainier beer cans. Like the replica R, the jubilee can was designed by Western Neon. It sported a continuous “beer” flow from its giant opening. Many would eventually pretend to drink out of the mock beer stream as the night carried on.

The can started its journey in Georgetown where about thirty people were waiting to greet it. “Woooohooooo!” an enthusiastic, older gentleman clad in black leather and Harley Davidson gear explained as the beer can pulled up to the corner of Airport Way South and Vale Street. “Ran-yeah, ran-yeah” he excitedly cheered.

After a couple hours in Georgetown, the beer can and a custom Rainier Beer chopper wound their way through Seattle neighborhoods before it capping off the night in Capitol Hill. The infamous “Grazing Rainiers,” no stranger to celebration, made an appearance as well.

Screen printers with Casual Industrees set up stations at most of the stops and printed free limited-edition tee’s for dedicated fans. “Much like [the] multi-hundred dollar company we started in our garage in 1999, Rainier has the Northwest in its DNA,” said Dan Reid, co-owner of Casual Industrees. Casual Industrees recently moved its headquarters into the Old Rainier Brewery building, which now houses artists’ lofts, as well as living, and commercial spaces.

The beer can arrived in Ballard a little past 6 p.m. Its’ streetside presence attracted a wide range of fans from dads to bikers, hipsters to old couples. Everyone welcomed it with open arms (and in the case of one man, an empty cup). While Ballard remained mostly tame, things got a little crazier by the end of the night in Capitol Hill. The phrases “Raaaaaiiiiiiiiiii....nnniiiieeeeeerrrrr....Beeeeeeeeeeeer” and “Vitamin R” could be heard repetitively from the crowd of loyal fans, who happily stood out in the rain to be part of revelries.

Taylor Winkel can be reached at taylorjwinkel@gmail.com and through twitter at @twinkelnews