Apex Brewing Company, Inc. (1934-1938)
and
Rheinlander Brewery, Inc. (1938-1939)
In April of 1933, Alvin Hemrich established the Hemrich & Western Brewing Companies - referred to as Plants No.1 & 2. Then on 14 March of 1934, Alvin established a new corporation with $40,000 in capital stock. Two months later, he completed the sale of the Western Brewing Co. (Plant No.2) to Rudolph Samet, along with the rights to the Hemrich brand. The Western plant, at 5225 E. Marginal Way, became the new Hemrich Brewing Co. and continued in operation until 1940.
He then made capital improvements to Plant No.1 and resumed business as the Apex Brewing Company, Inc. in May of '34. Apex was the last Washington brewery to be issued a U-Permit number, WASH-U-1218. Alvin was president, and his youngest son, Walter, had by now earned the position of superintendent. Unfortunately, this arrangement was about to change. Failing to rally from a fall on icy pavement, Alvin Hemrich died from a blood clot on the 25th of February 1935. The new president of the company was now Edgar Maclay Steell, with Walter Hemrich assuming the position of vice president. Alvin's old partner in Hemrichs, Inc., Isadore Luxenburg, remained as secretary. The treasurer was Ray Johnson, and William Weiss was brewmaster, having replaced Hugo P. Bode, Jr. Corporate records, dated 24 December, 1935, show an increase in capital to $186,380 and the business struggled on. At some point the National Grocery Co. of Seattle became investors. A 1937 credit report showed them to own one-third of the brewery. After a fatal heart attack took Walter's brother, Elmer E. Hemrich, in early '37, he left Apex to assist his widowed sister-in-law with the running of Gold Seal Breweries, Inc. and Hemrich Wineries Corp. in Tacoma. With the Hemrichs now completely out of the picture, the Sick organization chose to acquire the business, plant, and fixed assets of the brewery. On 22 May, 1938, it was announced the company was sold, and in the following month, on the 4th of June, the board of directors filed to dissolve the Apex Brewing Company.
Lester R. McCash, formerly secretary and treasurer of the Hemrich Brewing Co., on E. Marginal Way, was named manager of the new Rheinlander Brewery, Inc. The Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. (called SeaBrew by insiders) chose not to purchase the "Apex" brand, but to use the plant solely for the production of their "Rheinlander" beer. The adjoining Century plant would then specialize in the production of the recently acquired "Rainier" brand.
Rheinlander Brewery in August of 1938
The plant at 2918 Airport Way was now the Rheinlander Brewery, but only until early 1939, when the Horluck's Brewing Co. was purchased by the Sicks' enterprise. The Horluck plant then became the new home of "Rheinander Beer" - while the original Plant No.1 was merely absorbed into the SeaBrew complex, and used for additional storage, or cellaring. By 1958 the building was in use as the brewery's chemistry/quality control lab.
Lester McCash transferred to the Horluck brewery as co-manager.
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