Background
Named after the iconic green benches that have marked St. Petersburg’s downtown sidewalks since the early 1900s, Green Bench Brewing paved the way for the city’s blossoming craft beer scene when it opened in 2013. Co-owner and brewer Khris Johnson along with Steven Duffy and Nathan Stonecipher got the doors open.
The Bench is St. Petersburg’s first production microbrewery with an on-site tasting room and beer garden. They are one of only a handful of breweries in the eastern United States that uses these large wooden fermenting vessels — relics of Old World Belgian brewing.
Another exciting addition to the group was Brian Wing who join the crew in 2015 to found Green Bench Mead & Cider.
In 2018 Green Bench announced the start of construction of an expansion adjacent to their original building that will increase production, and focus on the brewing of sour and wild ales. This expansion will provide space for a state of the art tasting room, cellar space, additional fermentation capabilities, as well as an increased communal space to allow Green Bench Brewing to better serve individual needs.
Experience
Green Bench Brewing, plenty of room at this new brew pub, nice seating indoors, large outdoor area. No food available. A favorite was Second Stage, a Berliner and a collaboration between Green Bench and 7venth Sun and the Berliner Weisse. A must see for Berliner types. If you sit at the bar, avoid the glass washing station.
We are excited to see the new expansion. No nearby lodging noted. When in the St. Pete also check out 3 Daughters, Cycle Brewing, St. Petes Brewing and a beer bar Brewers Tasting Room.
