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.

In 1925 Elmer, leased the Alaska cannery to another packing company, 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.