St. Petersburg’s Green Bench Brewing is working a new version of their Bench Life American Lager into their seasonal lineup – this new edition called Lime Life includes the addition of lime to the classic core lager.
From Green Bench Brewing:
Green 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.
Why Lime Life?
Green Bench Head Brewer Khris Johnson says “Over the years we’ve had, and continue to have, many releases everywhere on the calendar. Our first “summertime” release was an in-house favorite, DeSoto Low Micro-IPA. In addition, this summer we’re releasing seven different hop-forward products. To that end, hops have always been a big part of our DNA, so it made sense that the next summer sipper should focus elsewhere, and one of our favorite things to drink during these Florida heaters is a can of Bench Life with a lime wedge or two squeezed into it. Why not share that experience with everyone! Without having our bar staff have to cut limes, that is…”
How did Lime Life evolve?
Again, Khris says, “For Lime Life I was testing some random flavorings from an all-natural flavor company that took me over a year to find. They were suggested to me by a fellow brewer in NC after having a few conversations about their use with flavorings. There was no goal in mind, other than to get the juices flowing and taste different things. I requested many samples and one of them was Lime. I would add a drop of each flavor to the bottom of a glass and pour Bench Life Premium Lager over it to assess how it would be perceived. I used Bench Life because it’s the most neutral product that we have, and would allow the flavoring to shine the best. The Lime flavoring reminded me of squeezing a lime in a can and so I would randomly do this for my drinking pleasure for about two years. During that time, I shared the flavored products with our staff and the Lime flavored Bench Life was easily all of our favorites, so much so that many of the staff asked me to make a bigger batch. While I always wanted to try it out, the brand and concept was never really fleshed out well enough to make the jump, but last year I was interested and had some extra brewing space, so we decided to make it happen.”
Lime Life American Lager is available in the Green Bench Tasting Room on draft and in six-packs.
About Green Bench Brewing
Owners Steven Duffy, Nathan Stonecipher, and Khris Johnson all have long histories in this beautiful waterfront city they’re lucky enough to call home.
Their passion for this town and love of the community allotted them the perfect opportunity to open St. Petersburg’s first microbrewery. What started as a hobby for them evolved into a full-time, professional business of passion.