The minute that you walk into Green Bench Brewing Co. you know that it’s a place you want to hang out at.  The cool vibe hits you the moment you step off the sidewalk. We were told that the property was originally an auto dealership back in the early days of the auto industry. After a few years, the owner of the property turned it into a storage facility and it stayed that way until Green Bench took it over.

The guys behind the bar told us that it was the kind of place that Frank & Mike from American Pickers would have gotten excited about. There is still an old sailboat mast in the rafters, left over from the old days. They said that there are plans to re-purpose the old sail into banners for the brewery. Molds for the chassis of the long-gone St Petersburg street cars hang on the wall outside the side entrance adding some local historical charm to the property.

Not only do they have a taproom, they also have a huge outdoor beer garden on the side of the building that’s set up to enjoy our Florida weather.  There’s a large covered area for those looking to stay out of the sun or escape Florida’s “liquid sunshine” as well Adirondack chairs and table spread throughout the yard.

The taproom is roomy with several tables suited for groups as well as the customary bar. The wall behind the bar is a set of windows giving visitors a great view of what’s going on back in the15 barrel brewery.

The centerpiece of the brewery is a cool looking wooden tank that sits in the middle, right past their indoor basketball half court. We were told by the bartender that the tank is an oak foeder and that Green Bench is only one of about 15 US breweries to use one.  He explained that they are typically used by wineries but that they use it to ferment saisons on 100% oak.

We tried several of their brews and were not disappointed.  They had a number of their own beers on tap along with a collaboration that they did and as well as a couple of guest taps. There were also some meads available for those looking for something different.

Next time you are in St. Pete, make sure you swing by Green Bench. You won’t be disappointed!