A Crisp Beer and a Florida Movie: Craft Film Festival at Green Bench Brewing

We sat under the crisp, clear night sky. There was a light breeze, and the whisper of hops and wheat were carried with it. Holding a perspiring beer, I sat down a few rows back of the projector screen. Around us hanging lights glow. It's time for a movie.

On big projector screens Florida films were aired at the Green Bench Brewing Co. They were celebrating their first Craft Film Festival, put together by Green Bench and Pilot Moon Films.

On Nov. 20 and 21 chairs were set out in three different areas: the beer garden, their brewing space, and the warehouse recently acquired by Green Bench. I was there as a Journalist for the Crow's Nest, my schools newspaper. Here is the article.

It was a really great experience. On the first night I was invited to go back in the brewing space to attend a premier party for the crews of the different movies presented in the festival. It was dark, with a light projection of the Craft Film Festival symbol on the wall. A few tables littered the floor, and near the entrance a woman was taking professional photographs of the guests.

It took me a bit of time, and some encouraging words to approach the other guests. I have always been a bit of a stand-offish person, but getting a story is more important. So, I met a group of guys about my age...

They were visiting from Tampa, students of the University of Tampa. The group had worked on a movie called Blackwater, which aired the next day in the Drama block. I met with the director Zane, and we talked about the film school and beer. He was from Australia, and he brought a few of his friends with him to the event.

I've heard that films are considered little miracles, that it takes a very special set of circumstances to create one to its end. I bet getting on the big screen is next to impossible. Yet, here were a bundle of film makers all trying to learn from each other, get recognized, and share their work. Here they were, not being paid a great deal, but excited none-the-less to be involved in another film festival.

Audience watching the Drama Block in the Warehouse next to Green Bench

The Craft Film Festival was free and open to all ages. On Saturday, Nov 21 the events began at noon. I showed up earlier to see if I could get a feel for what was going on. I tried to capture a few photographs, but mostly just wrote notes and listened to Colin Lyman and Lea Umberger direct people.

All day the clouds hung, limp melancholy reminders of Florida weather. The crew had to pull all of the chairs out of the beer garden. The equipment couldn't be moved easily if the rain clouds decided to release.

I would have thought that this would have spelled disaster, but Colin and Lea had planned for this. They adjusted a bit of the schedule and there was no need to cut any of the films.

Colin Lyman, Green Bench Tap Room Manager, is on the left. David Allison, Co-Creator of Pilot Moon Films, is on the right. Here they get a movie ready to be shown in the brewing space behind the taproom

Craft beer attracts people, it provides an exclusive experience that speaks to the pride of hometowns. The beer you drink at a brewery was crafted right there, and I think people react to that affectionately.  So, mixing it with films seems more natural than I would have thought.

Throughout the day people filed in, grabbed beers, and settled down for the movies. There were some great films being shown. One director specifically captured my imagination. Banks Helfrich created the film Fat, Dumb, and Happy. It definitely had a Woody Allen feel to it, and I can dig on a Woody Allen style of film making.

Talking to a lot of the movie creators, it seemed many were impressed by the style of this current film festival. Each agreed that they enjoyed the atmosphere, and the professional way in which the event was put on.

Tap Room Bartender Matt O'Connell

I hope that events like this continue to go on. I think that it is important for breweries to tap into the communities around them. That is the difference between craft beer and mass produced, craft beer is infused within the area it is established.

Cheers!

For your enjoyment here are a few music videos created by Pilot Moon Films in Green Bench:

Have Spirit- Four Chambered Heart

Kristopher James- Fire and The Fuse

The Hummingbirds- Horses and Rattle Snakes

Take a Seat at Green Bench Brewing: A Review

It was a quiet Thursday night, people in scattered groups enjoying a few after work beers.There was a crisp breeze keeping cool those who decided to sit outside on the fine wooden tables under hanging string lights.

I was excited: another brewery review. It's been over a month since I visited Rapp Brewing in Seminole. Now, I'm just a little closer to home. For this week I decided to visit

Green Bench Brewing Company

Green Bench is pretty easy to find, at 1133 Baum Ave, right off of Central Ave. Just outside of Downtown.

I'm not really into the hustle of the bar scene that is prevalent in downtown St Pete. More often, I would rather sit and have a nice conversation with good people. This brewery caters nicely to that with their outside beer garden.

Photo credit: Keep St Pete Local

November is a great month to get down there: sitting in a lawn chair with a cold beer, the crisp air and a slightly cloudy sky, make for a serene night. Green Bench also runs a few movie nights on the brick walls that line the beer garden. Here's a link (They even have a Walking Dead night if you're into that sort of thing)

Connected to the beer garden is a over-head covered patio with long wooden tables. Groups can gather and get goofy, discussing the merits of IBC Root Beer's "crafty-ness"

Moving inside there is a lot of space. Along the front wall are long windows that face Central Avenue. The bar also has glass windows that expose the brewery behind it.

Photo Credit: I Love the Burg Blog

Now, all of this is great. I mean, atmosphere counts for so much when you're looking for a place to drink with a few friends. But, let's talk about something that's more important... How is the beer?

This is the Sunshine City IPA

They have a constant rotation of fantastic beers. A few shout outs are the Surrealist IPA, a sour IPA made with grapefruit; their Middle Eastern Brown ale, crafted with Yemeni spices, dates, raisins and allepo peppers which gives it a subtle almost curry spice; and their Stay Dry Stout, which is one of the most drinkable stouts I've ever had.

With a 15 barrel system it is no wonder they have so many beers on tap.

Green Bench is also reaching out into distributing their beer around the country. They have signed a deal with Shelton Bros. Distribution to get their cans out into retail stores. Right now, if you're in certain parts of Florida you can find Green Bench beers in ABC Liquor and Total Wine.

But, I have to say the most impressive piece of equipment in the brewery is their foeder.

This foedor is made of Oak wood, more specifically 75% French Oak, and 25% American Oak. This foedor will be used to craft their Belgian ales, with a specific Belgian strain of yeast.

The nice thing about using the wooden foeder is that with each brew, the yeast will soak into the wood saturating it, and over time the beer taste will become more complex. 

Touring Green Bench was incredibly fun, and I have to thank Matt O'Conell for showing me around the brewery. He was informative and patient with me. 

Here is a quick look at the cans to come! I've been seeing them pop up around town, and hope to see a lot more: