BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington’s drunkest city also has one of the top Rainier lager sellers in the nation.
The Bellingham bar Cabin Tavern ranked ninth for top sales of the light beer in 2023.
The bar – nicknamed “The Cabin” – reopened in May 2016 after a renovation. The bar has a daily special called “tall-boy + well shot” where patrons pay $7 for a 16 oz cold-can beer like Rainier with a well, or cheap, shot of an alcohol type of your choosing. Owner Christian Danielson says that the special isn’t unique to their bar, but they haven’t changed their price on the daily special despite rising costs.
“We’d like to keep affordable options for people,” Danielson said. The Cabin also have Rainier on tap.
Sold in 11 states, Rainier is a low-cost macro-lager originating in Washington in 1878. The lager and a gin of the same name are now owned by Pabst Brewing Company, and neither alcohol is currently produced in Washington.
Danielson at first thought the establishment was named ninth in the state and he was happy with just that. According to him, one of the bar’s alcohol distributors that used to supply Hamm’s beer in kegs said The Cabin was also one of, if not the, top sellers for the product when it was available.
“I think we all love our microbrews but sometimes you just want a refreshing cold beer,” Danielson said. He sees workers from local breweries coming in to drink macro-lagers instead of microbrews, often while discussing brewing.
Danielson says that one of the bar’s main draws are its diverse clientele and the lack of televisions on the property.
The bar posted a sign they received for the honor at their establishment on Holly Street, hanging the iconic Rainier “R” behind the bar, front and center. Though there is no list of the top 10 sellers publicly available, Danielson says the number one seller is in Bend, Oregon. Danielson says the ranking for sales applies to only bars and restaurants that serve the beer.
