Raise A Glass To...James!

Resident 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. James is constantly working to improve his knowledge and interest in what we produce and serve, and he takes the responsibility of curating and explaining our concepts very seriously. His impact and dedication have helped Green Bench Brewing and our James Beard Semi-Finalist Awarded concept, Webb's City Cellar, thrive and continue to help set a standard for quality and hospitality, both locally and industry-wide,” says Head Brewer/Co-Owner, Khris. 

James has a passion for fermentation that runs deep. He is one of only three Certified Pommeliers in Florida and has a wealth of knowledge to share with anyone who ventures into Webb's to sample our ciders or any of the world-class bottles we have from cider makers around the world.

Cidermaker/Co-owner, Brian, says “James is relentlessly dedicated to providing a top-quality experience for the customer here at Green Bench. When he is not tending the bar, he's developing training materials for the staff, working with our distributor partners to curate our amazing bottle selection, and making sure Webb's City Cellar has everything it needs to maintain our standard of service.” 

Looking back on James’ journey with Green Bench and his love for fermentation forward libations, it’s no wonder it all began with our recent gold medal award winner, Saison de Banc Vert. James says, “This was a formative beer for me, the first beer that really stuck out. When I first started coming to Green Bench years ago, I didn't know much about beer so I'd always mix it up, try something new. Then I tried Banc Vert, sure enough I got hooked, a go-to at my favorite brewery. After a few visits, and due to a mutual saison preference, Sarah Love recommended I try the bottle conditioned version and explained the process to me. That’s probably the moment that started my beer rabbit hole with still no end in sight.”

Thanks for slinging saisons, cider, and wine with passion James!