Spring and Summer are a busy time for the Green Bench team, partially due to the festivals and collaborations our team hits the road for. In addition to the robust events that the team puts on at the brewery and hosts out in the Greater Tampa Bay market, there are myriad events across the country that we are so grateful to be invited to.
Here’s what we’ve been up to:
Read MoreResident Saison and Cider Slinger, James, is one of our most tenured bartenders here at Green Bench. He can oftentimes be found curating the perfect vibe in Webb’s City Cellar. From the tap line-up, specialized event menus, wine list, and music…Webb’s is where James shines. Considered a mainstay of the cellar, he takes detailed care when walking customers through our complex and diverse offerings, ensuring an experience of proper presentation.
“James genuinely cares about maintaining the highest standards of exceptional quality in our product presentation and reputation. He is extremely passionate about guest experiences with beer, cider, and wine, and spends so much time and effort to be prepared for all types of interactions with customers.
Read MoreIt’s summer at Green Bench which means two things for certain - 1. We’re sweating. 2. We’re rewarding guests for swinging by when the temps are high with our Beat The Heat summer special.
That’s right! Beat the Heat is back! So when it’s 91 degrees or hotter outside (and you can pretty much guarantee it is) two of our lagers are $1 off! Speaking of beating the heat - we’ve popped up a big, beautiful tent in the beer garden to offer guests even more shady space to sip in through the dog days this year. The tent will be set up through the end of September when we celebrate Oktoberfest.
Read MoreTom's extensive knowledge of brewing (from Colorado to Florida) and beyond has made him attuned to the nuances that elevate our beers to greatness. Owner, Khris says, “the amount of experience he has in brewing and other trades has taught Tom to be uniquely aware of small details. As much as anyone on the team, Tom is an over-communicator that always asks the right questions because he cares about the products we make and the people who he makes them with. It’s rare to have a friend and co-worker that helps keep the ship afloat as often as Tom does, and it’s no small feat to contribute to an ever changing schedule like one in a fully operational production brewery.”
Read MoreStationed on the East side of the Green Bench beer garden, Webb’s City Cellar boasts offerings aplenty that both overlap with and depart from Green Bench’s main tasting room. Webb’s City is a room dedicated to exploration and conversation, with a 21+ age restriction to encourage guests to slow down, chill out (both literally and figuratively), and sip without distraction. The space is also devoid of televisions. The bartenders at Webb’s are well-versed in not only the process that the offerings go through to become what they are, but the people who make them, the lore that drives them, and the flavors they bear.
Read MoreYou know him. You love him. He has style. He has swag. He’s the one and only, Mikey! Since joining our team back in 2020, Mikey has gone from door person to bartender to live musician to wedding officiant to sound technician to event MC and beyond. To say he has left his mark on Green Bench would be an understatement.
Mikey came to us as a part-time employee during one of our most trying times as a business, immediately after our COVID re-open. He was tasked with the unenviable job of managing customer flow to ensure we were creating a safe environment for our customers during the pandemic. His infectious, upbeat personality and ability to win anyone over made him an invaluable asset to GB from the jump.
Read MoreTampa Bay Beer Week 2024 is just around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited!
Here’s a sneak peak at what Green Bench is getting into this year…
Tuesday, March 5th IPA Tap Takeover with Hazy IPA Release
Hop heads rejoice! The Green Bench tasting room will overfloweth with hoppy, hazy, citrusy, dank, and tropical crushers all day long. All that AND a new hazy IPA? You betcha. See you there.
Wednesday, March 6th Webb’s Lager Night with Bierstadt Lagerhaus & Friends
We’re thrilled to once again host our friends for an evening of celebrating all that lager can offer - from the crisp and bitter, to the dark and roasty. It’s such an honor to have offerings from both Bierstadt Lagerhaus (Denver, CO) and Sacred Profane (Biddeford, ME), so it’s surely not an evening to miss.
Read MoreJoanne loves beer, and when we say that, we mean it. Joanne is notorious for spontaneously strapping on her travel boots and jet setting around the world, always making sure to hit up the as many well-recommended breweries and eateries as her schedule will allow. Not only is she dedicated to the experience of beer, she’s dedicated to the learning and sharing of beer, cider, and wine. Joanne is one of the kindest and most approachable humans we know, making her an incredible ambassador for the beer industry.
Owner/Head Brewer, Khris thoughtfully says, “Joanne spends her time exploring different styles and traveling anywhere she can to develop her beer experiences. She's wisely opinionated and yet fiercely objective. Joanne is eager and excited, and on top of all of these intangibles, she's educated. I love talking to her, and so do our customers. She's kind and open and wants nothing more than to provide quality customer service, and we're lucky to have her.”
Read More‘Tis the season for…giving! For gifting! For Floridians to come out of hiding for fear of melting into a puddle of sunscreen and regret for leaving the house! And whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, we’ve got a cooler full of beer and some fancy new merch to show off. So let’s get into The 2023 Green Bench Gift Guide and how to shop for all the beer folks in your circle.
Gifts for…
Read MoreRepresenting Green Bench Brewing from Sarasota to Orlando, Florida Stephen has been a key factor in our sales growth since he came on board. His journey with us has been marked by a strong commitment to the brewery, a good-natured approach, and a remarkable ability to turn complexities into relatable insights.
“Stephen has been an integral part of growing our Green Bench footprint throughout the state of Florida. His calm demeanor, friendly disposition, and trusted opinions have served him well in establishing great relationships with both retailers and wholesale partners. Throughout his years with us he's been a fantastic ambassador for our brand and someone we can always count on to do what's best for our customers,” says Owner, Nathan.
Read MoreGreen Bench recently added a citrusy, zesty summer seasonal to the lineup - LIME LIFE! A zippy sibling to core brew Bench Life, Lime Life introduces all-natural lime extract and citric acid to the conversation which lends a bright, summery, sunshiney flavor to an already refreshing light lager.
It’s not often that Green Bench introduces a new seasonal brand to the catalog and I wasn’t sure of the process, so I went to three of our department heads - Khristopher Johnson, founding brewer and co-owner; Coleman Berra, sales director; Micki Bell, director of marketing and communications - to learn more about the process.
Read MoreIn the heart of our brewery, where the art of crafting exceptional beer comes to life, one name shines brightly – Dan. More than just a colleague, Dan is a cornerstone of our production team. He’s an embodiment of experience, leadership, and unwavering dedication. Dan is our most tenured employee at Green Bench, starting just 9 months after we opened. Since day one he's always shown true dedication to his craft of brewing beer and to ensuring that Green Bench is manufacturing the best product possible.
Read MoreBetween the Tampa Bay Rays’ absolutely stunning record and the Beat-The-Heat-level temps*, St. Petians are flocking inside like the Sunken Gardens flamingos taking cover before Hurricane Ian.
At Green Bench, a few upgrades have been made to the outdoor space including an abundance of umbrellas for shade, as well as two large cooling fans flanking the beer garden to keep the air circulating. But the wheels of the GB team are always turning, so guests can look forward to other means to assuage the sweaty grasp of summer.
Read MoreWith her infectious personality, commitment to Green Bench, and exceptional sales skills Estee shines bright in her role as Territory Manager for Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco county. She possesses a warm energy that effortlessly draws others towards her. Her friendly and approachable nature has enabled her to forge strong relationships with our esteemed retail partners, customers, and distributors.
Read MoreGreen Bench enthusiasts might be privy that this year the brewery is turning ten! But all may not be aware that Green Bench’s beloved neighbor, Bodega, also turned ten on March 15th.
In honor of the Edge District staples’ respective decades of delicious, here are some recommended pairings of Best Florida Beer medaling brews and eats from Bodega:
Read MoreCOLD BEER! HEY COLD BEER! If you’ve been to the brewery and heard this called out, we’re not just talking about our literal cold beer…we might also be referring to John, one of our Production team members. John came on board back in August 2021 by way of our friends at Calusa Brewing down in Sarasota, FL. Along with him came his nickname, Cold Beer. And what a fitting nickname it is!
Read MoreTo love Green Bench Brewing is to know that we’re always tweaking something. We’re always trying to make something a touch better, a little more efficient, a deeper conversation. And y’all - we’ve done it again.
If you’ve been to either tasting room in the last week or so, we may have even mentioned it to you. Our Front of House team has been pretty excited.
We got new lager glasses with…
…NUCLEATION POINTS!
Read MoreJoan is our resident Certified Cicerone, Blogger, Shift Lead, and Merchandise Extraordinaire. To say she wears a lot of hats at Green Bench is truly an understatement. From event committees to photo shoots, Joan has been our go-to, go-getter since joining the team in 2020.
Read MoreHappy Holidays from Green Bench Brewing! As the heat lifts off of Saint Petersburg and we begin our goodbyes to 2022, we’re reflecting on all we have here: the very best ownership team and staff we could ask for, an absolutely gorgeous city to host and surround us, and both our local and global communities who amaze us with their support. The feelings of gratitude are overwhelming.
Read MoreWe're excited for what 2023 has in store and for the ability to continue to grow with our community. As we close out 2022, let’s raise a glass to…our whole incredible staff. THANK YOU!
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