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In 1897 Alvin M. Hemrich
(see
biography) purchased the plant and business of the
North Pacific Brewery (also known as the old Slorah Brewery), located on Howard Ave. N. (now Yale Ave. N.), between Republican and Mercer
streets. The firm was then operated as the Alvin Hemrich Brewing Co. After six
months Alvin was joined by his brother Louis, and Julius Damus, in the organization of the
Hemrich Brothers Brewing Company, which was incorporated under the laws of the state on the 4th of February, 1899.
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~ click on images for larger view ~
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"Under the effective management
of these interested principals the business was built up to a most successful standpoint, the equipment of the plant being
of the most approved modern type. The products of the brewery, including lager and porter,
were reported to be of
exceptional quality by utilizing the best material in the process of manufacture, the malt being secured from Wisconsin
and California, and the hops being the most select products from Bohemia and from the state of
Washington." quote from
early Seattle history.
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 Ad from 1901 Seattle City Directory |
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 They produced a number of beers including Seattle Pride, and an Apollo Beer, but their flagship brand was Hemrich's Select, a premium lager beer, see label (at right). By 1903 the brewery's annual production was approximately thirty-five thousand barrels, and it employed about 75 workmen. With the improvements in brewing technology, and through major changes in the equipment of the plant, having installed the latest improved accessories, they greatly augmented their productive capacity. The plant was now larger than the older Bay View Brewery. The beer was delivered in wagons pulled by purebred draft horses which were the pride of the organization. Alvin M. Hemrich was president and manager of the company from the time of its organization, and continued in that capacity until 1915. He was also the president of the Claussen Brewing Association, and was a major stockholder in the family's Seattle Brewing & Malting Company.
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With the onset of
state-wide prohibition in 1916, Hemrich Bros. began doing business as Hemrich's
Staff Products Co. On January 1, they commenced the manufacture of a cereal beverage (near
beer) called Lifestaff. The following March they added a sparkling apple juice
called Applestaff, both with the slogan "It's Liquid Food". The operation was under the management of Paul F. Glaser, who was also secretary of the company. They continued with this product until the imposition of national Prohibition in 1920. The Company struggled on for three more years, and in 1923 the Lake Union plant was sold.
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In 1929 Alvin, in partnership with Isadore
Luxenberg, established Hemrich's Inc. and resumed the production of a "near-beer"
called Hemrich's Special under permit L-27 (at left). |
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With Repeal in early 1933, Alvin M. Hemrich resumed his brewing activities with the establishment of the Hemrich Investment Corp. (U-Permit No. 1211). He modernized an old building adjacent to the Bay View Brewery at 2918 Airport Way, and commenced operation under the name the Hemrich Brewing Company - or Plant #1. Here he was joined by his son Walter who was a recent graduate of the Chicago Brewer's Institute. Walter was listed as a "Brewer" in the 1934 Seattle city Directory. The two labels (below) are for beer less than 4% alcohol which was the strongest allowed until the Repel Amendment was ratified on 5 December 1933.
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Hemrich Coronet Lager label c.1933 |
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Alvin started the Western Brewing Co. at
5225 E. Marginal Way, known as Plant No. 2 of the Hemrich Investment Corp. The firm's
brands included Happy Peppy Beer, Jockey Club, and Hemrich's Coronet. But
the flagship label was still Hemrich's Select. The picture (below) shows
Plant No. 2, c.1938. |
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In the summer of 1934, Alvin reshaped his brewing enterprises by selling his interest in Plant No. 2, along with the rights to the existing brands, including the Hemrich name. Rudy Samet headed up Plant No. 2, operating it as the Hemrich Brewing Co.
Alvin then took complete control of Plant No. 1
renaming it the Apex Brewery. Apex was the last brewery to be issued a
U-Permit number - WASH-U-1218. Walter Hemrich then assumed the position of vice president, and apparently remained in that position after the brewery was purchased by Fritz & Emil Sick later in '35. Walter may have stayed on in '36, however, he does not appear in the 1937 City Directory - in any capacity. By then plant was merged with the newly enlarged Century Brewery, and the Sicks' discontinued the Apex brand after November of 1937.
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Apex lens - 15" diameter, convex glass sign, c.1934 |
 Apex neon sign |
 Apex cone-top can |
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"Hemrich Bros. Brewing Co. - Seattle" Pre-Prohibition glass. Go to: GLASSES |
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