Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) and Pabst Brewing Company (PBC) have signed a brewing agreement which will bring production of a new Rainier product back to the Pacific Northwest.

Under the agreement, PBC’s subsidiary Rainier Brewing Company (Rainier) will start brewing Rainier Pale Mountain Ale and other brands, at CBA’s brewery in Woodinville, Washington, US.

PBC will have an option to buy the Woodinville plant, capable of producing 200,000 barrels of beer annually.

The product is expected to hit the market in spring 2016 in 16-ounce bottles.

PBC master brewer Greg Deuhs said: "We are thrilled to be returning to Rainier’s home state and to begin brewing at this wonderful Seattle facility within sight of Mount Rainier.

"We are excited to revive many historic Rainier beers from our archives – starting with Rainier Pale Mountain Ale, which will be offered in the iconic 16oz. Rainier ‘pounder’ glass bottle."

Deuhs served as director of operations at CBA’s Woodinville facility from 2008 to 2012.

CBA is making significant investments to increase production capability and efficiency as well as support its growth in important markets.

The expansion investments include an increase in capacity in its Portland brewery to 750,000 barrels every year.The company is building a new 100,000-barrel brewery in Hawaii.

CBA CEO Scott Mennen said: "This partnership with Rainier represents an important next step in our overall brewery optimisation strategy, which is focussed on leveraging the unique strengths and capabilities of each of our breweries to better balance production across our footprint and support our long-term growth."