BREWERY GEMS PROFILES:
Elmer Hemrich - Brewer
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. Alvin then brought his wife and
young son Elmer to the West coast to join his father, John,
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 Sept. 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 early 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, Elmer's father, Alvin, was free
to devote all his attention to his other responsibilities as president of
three Seattle breweries:
Hemrich Bros. Brewing Co., the
Claussen Brewing Assn., and the
Independent Brewing Co.
Surf Packing Company - In February 1915, the Surf Packing Co. was
organized in Aberdeen, 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 Chisik Island's Snug Harbor, on the unpopulated west
side of the Alaska's Cook Inlet. This cannery, in addition to packing clams
also prepared salmon, but 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, 150 miles south, 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.
While retaining controlling interest, Elmer leased the Alaska cannery to another packing company in 1925, and concentrated on helping his father reopen an old, frame, brewhouse adjacent to the Bay View plant, in order to brew near-beer. Also in 1925, Elmer took on additional responsibilities. On May 23rd, at San Rafael, California, he married Nina Irene Beckwith, daughter of Elmer Gridley and Lucina Beckwith. Ten years later the couple adopted 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 later became the Hemrich Brewing Co. He stayed on brewing near-beer with his father until new opportunities in the brewing industry became available. In July 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 on Nov. 1, 1935, by Elmer and his wife, Nina. They had
planned to equip and operate a brewery on the premises of the former
Independent Brewing Co. at 9th Ave &
Adams St., however that venture never materialized.
Instead of opening a brewery, Elmer, Nina, along with Elmer's brother,
Andrew, established an agent/distributorship in Seattle and Everett, with
company headquarters located at 2601 So. Holgate St, Tacoma, with an office at
622 Alaska Bldg. in Seattle. 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
different breweries under contract.
c.1936
|
 c.1936 |
One example was their "Union Beer" made by the Balboa Brewing Co. of Los Angeles. Another brand of Elmer's made in California was his Gold Seal Beer. This beer was "As Good as Gold from Breweries of Old" and was brewed by the Regal Amber Brewing Company of San Francisco. He also found brewers closer to home to brew his beer. The Ellensburg Brewing Co. (1934-1937) brewed and bottled his Gold Seal Beer.
It's not surprising that he also had his Gold Seal Beer produced in his father's Apex Brewery. After Alvin Hemrich's death in February of 1935, the plant continued under the supervision of Elmer's younger brother, Walter.
Elmer suddenly died in January of 1937, and five months later his heirs sold their trademarked brands, Union Beer and Gold Seal Beer to the Williams Brothers, who purchased the Ellensburg Brewing Co. and continued doing business as the Mutual Brewing Co.
 c.1938 |
 c.1938 |
In May of 1936, Elmer purchased a property
at 6200 So. Tacoma Way, Tacoma. It was the
previous home of the Western Rubber Company, built in
1919. After a major renovation this became the home for
his wine and beer business. That Fall
Elmer changed the name of his contract brewing company
to Gold Seal Breweries, Inc. and moved operations to his
new plant in Tacoma.
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. This too was now located in his Tacoma Way
plant.
However these ventures were short lived. On 20 January 1937, 46 year old Elmer E. Hemrich collapsed at his Lake Steilacoom home, and died in a Tacoma hospital from heart failure. He left a widow and infant twin girls.
Following Elmer's death, his brother Walter left the Apex Brewery to assist his sister-in-law in running the Winery and contract brewing operations in Tacoma, and Andrew continued managing the Seattle office.
Sadly, the trio were unable to carry on, and Nina sold her interest in the newly renovated Tacoma Way plant to the other shareholders. By 1938 it had become the Interstate Wineries Corporation, and the Gold Seal Breweries business was gone as well.
Sadly there is little to be found about Elmer Hemrich's
ventures, or this visionary man. Had he lived, he would certainly have
accomplished so much more.
Article by
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to the Graham family for sharing the family history, and Elmer's portrait.
To the late Bill Mugrage for the Hemrich Wineries photo.
And to Bryan Anderson for use of the E. E. Hemrich Union Beer label.
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