Apex glass lens, c.1934 - image

Apex Brewing Company, Inc.
(1934-1938)

The Apex Brewing Company was established by Alvin Hemrich in March of 1934. It was the successor to his Hemrich Brewing Co., Inc.

Hemrich Brewing Company, Inc.
(1933-1934)

In 1929 Alvin, in partnership with Isadore Luxenberg and his father-in-law, Wm. Rutschow established Hemrich's Inc. and started production of a near-beer called "Hemrich's Special" under Federal permit No. L-27.
Hemrich's Special Brew label c.1933 - image
Alvin had plenty of experience with low alcohol near-beers. From 1916 to 1920 he produced a cereal beverage called "Lifestaff" at his Lake Union plant. He also produced a near-beer called "Golden Age" at his Aberdeen Brewery from 1916 to 1924. His process was to brew a regular strength beer and then remove most of the alcohol. However that process wasn't always adhered to. Alvin got into trouble with the Feds for selling beer stronger than allowed by law.

This newly established, Hemrich's Inc. was in the old Bay View plant of the family's Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. of which Alvin was a stockholder. At this time Hemrich's Inc. was the only functioning brewery in Seattle. In anticipation of Repeal the company obtained Federal U-Permit No. 1205 (label above).

With Repeal in early 1933, Alvin M. Hemrich resumed his brewing activities but not in the old Bay View plant were he had been producing near-beer. He established a holding company called the Hemrich Investment Corp. (U-Permit No. 1211) which would underwrite the startup of two breweries. First 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 No.1. Here he was joined by his youngest 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.

Hemrich's plant No.1 at 2918 Airport Way, c.1933

Plant No. 2 was doing business as the Western Brewing Company, located at 5225 East Marginal Way, in South Seattle.

On April 7th 1933, the first beer available in Seattle, after Repeal, was "Hemrich's Select". This was a familiar Northwest brand from the Pre-Prohibition era, produced by Alvin's Hemrich Bros. Brewing Co. Even the label (below) was a near replica of the earlier version. Hemrich's Select 1933 beer label - image

The only immediate competition from a brewer in Washington State was from Alvin's son Elmer. Following his father's lead, Elmer had purchased the Columbia Brewery in Tacoma and brought that plant on-line in time for Repeal.

Two other breweries were nearing completion, the Olympia Brewery in Tumwater, and the Horluck's Malt & Brewing Co. of Seattle. The plant came on-line as the Geo. F. Horluck Co., but before the year was out it incorporated as the Horluck's Brewing Company.

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.

Hemrich Coronet beer label, c.1933 - image
"Hemrich Coronet Lager" label c.1933

Jockey Club label, c.1934 - image
"Jockey Club Lager" label c.1934

Hemrich's Select Beer, thimble - image
"Hemrich's Select Beer" thimble c.1933

Western Brewing Co.
(1933-1934)

Plant No. 2 of the Hemrich Investment Corp. was the Western Brewing Co. located at 5225 E. Marginal Way. It was in production by mid-summer of '33, at a cost of $300,000. The plant was situated on a site affording three direct methods of transportation. A paved highway fronted the plant while shipping by rail or water was convenient to the loading platform at the rear of the building, and the company owned a deepwater wharf.

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.

Hemrich Brewing Company
(1934-1940)

On 31 May 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. Rudolph Samet was lead on the transaction and then headed up Plant No. 2, operating it as the Hemrich Brewing Co. (above). The legal name of the company was the Hemrich B & I Corporation.

Samet had been with the Hemrich family's Seattle Brewing & Malting prior to Prohibition. In 1911 he was manager of SB&M's Bottling Depot. During the 20s he was in Canada at the Hemrich's Rainier plant in New Westminster, BC.

On 25 March of 1936 the company was restructured with $250,000 capital stock, and with British Columbia Breweries, Ltd. as the majority stockholder. The plant closed four years later in 1940. The company was then liquated and on 31 Dec. 1942 the corporation was dissolved.

Perhaps one factor that lead to the Brewery's demise was the adoption of a new style bottle sealer. The 1939 ad (below) states: "Innovation! Surprise awaits you at beverage dealers! A beer in a bottle which needs on opener! A beer bottle cap which can be removed by the most delicate fingers..." This ill fated design must not have held a seal, or removing it proved problematic.

Hemrich Pop Top ad, c.1939 - image

Hemrich beer truck, c.1938 - image

Apex Brewing Company, Inc.
(1934-1938)

On 14 March of 1934, Alvin Hemrich 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 (above), along with the rights to the Hemrich brand. He then made capital improvements to Plant No.1 and resumed business as the Apex Brewing Company, Inc. This was the last Washington state brewery to be issued a U-Permit number, WASH-U-1218.
Alvin's son, Walter had by now earned the position of superintendent. Unfortunately, the arrangement was a short one. Failing to rally from a fall on icy pavement, Alvin died from a blood clot on the 25th of February 1935.

Walter Hemrich then assumed the position of vice president, and remained in that position in 1935. He may have stayed on in '36, but he does not appear in the 1937 City Directory - in any capacity. Edgar Maclay Steell was now president of the company.

Corporate records, dated 24 December, 1935, show an increase in capital to $186,380, indicating continued sales of the brand. However, on the 4th of June, 1938, the board of directors filed to dissolve the Apex Brewing Company. Two months later, on 5 August, a certificate of Final Dissolution was filed with the state.

Seattle Brewing & Malting (called SeaBrew by insiders) purchased the properties of the company, but chose not to purchase the "Apex" brand. The Sick organization was more interested in promoting their Rheinlander Beer.

Rheinlander Brewery, c.1938 - image
Rheinlander Brewery in August of 1938

The plant at 2918 Airport Way now became Sick's Rheinlander Brewery, Inc., but only until 1939, when the Horluck's Brewing Co. was purchased by the Sicks. The Horluck plant then became the new home of "Rheinander Beer" and "Brew 66" - while the original Plant No.1 was merely absorbed into the SeaBrew complex.

Apex Ale label, c.1934 - image
Apex Ale label c.1934

Apex Beer label, c.1936 - image
Apex Beer label c.1936 - minus U-Permit

Apex Beer neon sign - image
Apex neon sign

Apex Beer, cone-top can - image
Apex cone-top can

Apex Beer, ball tap knob - image
Apex ball tap knob

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Bryan Anderson for the use of the two Apex labels, and the Jockey Club Label.
And to Michael Magnussen for the images of his Apex neon and ball tap knob.

For any comments, additions, or corrections - or if you have brewery items for sale -
please contact me:

BreweryGems E-Mail icon
(Gary@BreweryGems.com)

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Apex Brewing Company, Inc. (1934-1938)

Hemrich Brewing Company, Inc. (1933-1934)

Western Brewing Co. (1933-1934)

Hemrich Brewing Company (1934-1940)

Apex Brewing Company, Inc. (1934-1938)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Apex Brewing Company, Inc.
(1934-1938)

Hemrich Brewing Company, Inc.
(1933-1934)

Western Brewing Co.
(1933-1934)

Hemrich Brewing Company
(1934-1940)

Apex Brewing Company, Inc.
(1934-1938)