The following is the composite of biographies published in 1917, 1937, his obituary, and independent research. Elmer Hemrich was born 18 Sept. 1890 in Alma, WI, a son of Alvin Hemrich (see biography) and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Rutschow. Minnie was born in Ganchendorf, Germany, and his father,Alvin, in Alma, WI. Elmer's father was engaged in the brewing industry his entire life, beginning when he assisted his brother, William, manage the family brewery in Alma. He then brought his wife and young son Elmer to the West coast to join his father and another brother, Andrew, who had a brewing enterprise in Seattle (the Bay View Brewery). Alvin then took a position at the Victoria Brewing & Ice Co. in Canada, where Elmer's brother Andrew was born in 1892. Alvin returned to Seattle and the family remained their, making it their home. In 1905 Elmer's youngest brother, Walter, was born in Seattle.
Elmer passed his school days in Seattle attending public schools, as well as Wilson's Modern Business College. His father had purchased the Aberdeen Brewing Co. in 1902, and Elmer spent all his time away from school assisting with the numerous duties entailed in brewing process. By 1910, he had become proficient enough to take over the post of assistant manager of the Aberdeen plant. In the following year, just prior to his twenty-first birthday, he was placed in full charge of the brewery. With Elmer now manager and vice-president of the brewery, Alvin was free to devote all his attention to his other responsibilities in Seattle as president of the Hemrich Bros. Brewing Co. as well as the Claussen Brewing Assn., and Independent Brewing Co., all in Seattle. Surf Packing Company - In February 1915, the Surf Packing Co. was organized, with Alvin Hemrich as president; Elmer E. Hemrich, vice president and manager; and Paul F. Glaser secretary and treasurer. The cannery produced the Hemrich brand of clams and clam nectar. They erected a building ninety by one hundred and thirty feet, installed all modern machinery and electric motive power and they have a steam plant for cooking. They employ thirty-five people and had the capacity for thirty thousand cases each season. Elmer E. Hemrich also became one of the organizers, and was a vice president, of the Security Savings & Loan Association in Aberdeen.
In 1919 the family expanded their razor-clam packing business when Elmer built a second cannery at Snug Harbor, on the east side of the Alaska's Cook Inlet. This cannery, in addition to packing clams also prepared salmon, was lost by the Hemrich family during the panic of 1922. However, in spite of these set backs the family decided to give it another try. In 1923 Elmer found another site, and proceeded to build a new cannery at Kukak Bay in Southwest Alaska. This became one of the most successful fish preserving establishments in the North. 
In 1925 Elmer, leased the Alaska cannery to another packing company, and concentrated on helping his father reopen the old Bay View plant in order to brew near-beer. Also in 1925, Elmer took on additional responsibilities. On May 25, at San Rafael, California, Mr. Hemrich married Nina Irene Beckwith, daughter of Elmer Gridley and Lucina Beckwith. They were the parents of twin daughters: Zonya Mina and Zarya Lou, born June 13, 1935. In 1929 Elmer was involved with his father in the start-up of Hemrichs Inc., which operated as the Hemrich Brewing Co. He stayed on brewing near-beer with his father until new opportunities in the brewing industry became available. In August of 1932, recognizing the possibility of repeal, seven and one-half months before it actually occurred, Elmer and some Seattle interests, purchased the Columbia Brewing Co. of Tacoma. Since the brewery had been producing near-beer during Prohibition, it didn't require as extensive remodeling as might otherwise been necessary. In April 1933 sales of his Alt Heidelberg Beer commenced under U-Permit No. 1204. He remained the president of Columbia Breweries, Inc. until October of 1935, when he sold his interest to Joseph F. Lancer. With no intention to quit the brewery business, he founded Elmer E. Hemrich's Brewery, Inc. immediately after retiring from the Tacoma concern. The company was incorporated by Elmer and his wife, Nina, on 1 November, 1935. They had agent/distributors in Seattle and Everett, but company headquarters was located at 2601 So. Holgate St, Tacoma. While not manufacturing the product, their new company functioned as a "contract" brewer. They distributed various beers under their "Gold Seal Brands" banner which had been brewed and bottled by breweries under contract. One example was their "Union Beer" made by the Balboa Brewing Co. of Los Angeles (shown below). An identical label from the Mutual Brewing Co. shows that they were also producing Union Beer, but possibly after Elmer's companies were sold in 1940. 
Another brand of Elmer's, made in California, was his "Gold Seal Beer" (shown below). This beer was "As Good as Gold from Breweries of Old" and was brewed by the Regal Amber Brewing Company of San Francisco. Elmer also contracted to have his Gold Seal Beer produced in his father's brewery - the Hemrich plant No. 1, which then became the Apex Brewery. After his father death in February of 1935, the plant was still being supervised by his younger brother, Walter. In 1936 Elmer changed the name of his company to Gold Seal Breweries, Inc. and moved the company from So. Holgate to So. Tacoma Way.
 Elmer was also the founder and president of the Hemrich Wineries Corporation, which was devoted to the manufacture of wines and brandies from Washington fruit and berries. The plant was located at 6200 So. Tacoma Way, and was also headquarters for his contract brewing Company. The plant was the previous home of the Western Rubber Company, built in 1919.
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