🍺 Johnny McClure Rainier Lager

“Born in the woods. Refined in Gorst. Brewed by gnomes.”

Style: 'Merican Light Lager
Brewer: SheppyBrew
ABV: 4.9%
IBU: 16
SRM: 3.4

Appearance

Pours a pale straw gold with brilliant clarity and a tight, snowy white head. Effervescent bubbles race upward like a mountain stream, forming a persistent cap that laces the glass with each sip.

Aroma

Clean and subtle with hints of grainy malt, a whisper of corn sweetness, and a gentle floral lift from classic American hops. There’s a faint herbal edge that nods to the evergreens of the Pacific Northwest.

Flavor

Crisp and refreshing with a light malt backbone that carries just enough sweetness to balance the delicate bitterness. Traditional hops—Willamette, Cluster, and Mt. Hood—add a touch of spice and floral character, elevating the simplicity without overpowering it. It’s Rainier Lager with a SheppyBrew wink.

Mouthfeel

Light-bodied and highly carbonated, with a smooth, clean finish. The beer dances across the palate and disappears like a mist over Puget Sound—leaving you ready for another sip.

Overall Impression

A tribute to the iconic American light lager, but with more heart and a bit more hop. It’s the kind of beer you drink after a long hike, a backyard barbecue, or while reminiscing about the kind of kid who always knew where the best view was. Easy-drinking, subtly complex, and unmistakably SheppyBrew.

The Legend of Johnny McClure Rainier Lager

Johnny McClure was the kind of kid who could vanish into the woods and reappear with a frog in one hand and a grin full of secrets. He knew every shortcut, every hidden creek, and probably had a stash of Rainier cans buried under a mossy log. His spirit was wild-hearted, rule-bending, and always just a little ahead of the grown-ups.

Years later, long after the trails had grown over and the frogs had moved on, the SheppyBrew Brewing gnomes stumbled into a dive bar in Gorst, Washington—a place where the neon flickered, the jukebox wheezed, and the light lagers flowed like river water. There, seated at the end of the bar with a mug in hand and a twinkle in his eye, was Johnny McClure.

The gnomes recognized him instantly. Over rounds of Washington-brewed lagers and tales of mischief past, they collaborated on a recipe that would honor the legend and elevate the lager. They kept it crisp and clean, but added a touch more hops—because Johnny wouldn’t have followed the recipe either.

Johnny McClure Rainier Lager is the result: a beer for the wanderers, the creek-splashers, and the kids who never quite grew up. Brewed with tradition, mischief, and a little gnome magic.

As always, stay tuned on the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with beer, barbeque, biking and other things in my life: SheppyBrew's Facebook Page; Sheppy's Twitter Feed; SheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.