In April of 1933, Alvin Hemrich established the Hemrich & Western Brewing Companies, known as plants No. 1 & No. 2 respectively. The following year he sold the Western plant (No. 2), along with the rights to the Hemrich brand and business, to British Columbia Breweries, Inc. The Western plant became the new Hemrich Brewing Co. and continued in operation until 1940. Following the sale, Alvin established the Apex Brewing Company in the original Hemrich Brewery - plant No.1.

Hemrich Brewing Company, Inc.
(1933-1934)

With Repeal in early 1933, Alvin M. Hemrich resumed his brewing activities. He first established a holding company called the Hemrich Investment Corp. (U-Permit No. 1211) which would underwrite the startup of two breweries. First he modernized the original frame brewhouse, adjacent to the old Bay View plant, at 2918 Airport Way, and resumed operation under the name Hemrich Brewing Company - or plant No. 1.

In April of '34, Alvin appointed William Weiss as Brewmaster, replacing Hugo P. Bode, Jr. Weiss had a long history of brewing with the Hemrich family, including their Georgetown plant, the Rainier plant at San Francisco, and their Rainier plant in Canada at Kamloops, B.C. in the mid-1920s.

Also in early '34, Alvin was also joined by his youngest son, Walter, who was a recent graduate of the Chicago Brewer's Institute.

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 1934 label (below) was a near replica of the pre-prohibition version. The 1933 label was identical, except for the overprint stating: "Alcoholic Content More Than 5%." This was not allowed until the Repel Amendment was ratified on 5 December 1933.

The only immediate competition from a brewer in Washington State was from Alvin's oldest 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.

Western Brewing Co. (1933-1934)

Hemrich's plant No. 2 was briefly called the Western Brewing Co., and was located at  5225 E. Marginal Way. The building had previously been a soap factory, but after an expenditure of $300,000 it was transformed into a working brewery - and was in production by mid-summer of '33.

The plant was situated on a leased site affording three direct methods of transportation. A paved highway fronted the plant while the loading platform at the rear of the building gave access to a rail head, as well as the company owned, deepwater wharf.

On 31 May of 1934, Alvin Hemrich reshaped his brewing enterprises by selling his interest in plant No. 2, along with the rights to his existing brands - including the Hemrich name.

On June 30, 1934, the new firm added "Happy Peppy Beer" to the brands purchased with the business, which included "Hemrich Coronet," and the flagship label - "Hemrich's Select." They also acquired the "Jockey Club" brand but for reasons unknown, they initially chose not to use it.
In December of 1935, the president of the Olympia Brewing Co., Peter Schmidt, introduced a new style of bottle called the "Stubby." It was an immediate success and virtually all of the major brewers adopted the new style container.

The company soon introduced their "Hemrich Coronet 'Stubby' Lager Beer" in a 12 oz. bottle (label at left). Their ads promoted the new 12 bottle case "hardly bigger than a box of candy" and the only 12oz. stubbies.

On 25 March of 1936, the company got a some needed financial help when the capital stock was increased to $250,000. At his time they changed the legal name of the company from Hemrich B & I, to Hemrich Brewing Co. The Canadian firm, British Columbia Breweries, Ltd. remained the majority stockholder. But all was not well with the majority owners. Emil Sick further recalls:

"About 1935 the Revenue Department had been checking up on certain distillers in B. C., and they built up quite a case on evasion of duties and excise taxes on liquor, which those distillers in British Columbia had shipped to the United States, during the Prohibition era. The matter broke like wild fire in Seattle, when Henry Reifel and his son, George, came to town on an inspection trip to the Hemrich Brewery No. 2. They were arrested and charged with tax evasion and put in jail. Mr. Allen then wrote a surety bond for their appearance in Court, bond being set for $100,000. Both Henry Reifel and his son, George, returned to Vancouver immediately and the bond was escheated.

The Hemrich Brewing Company No. 2 then had to carry on without the owners of the controlling stock being able to come to the United States. This, of course, did not help their business."

delivery truck, c.1936