Rollin’ Oats, Green Bench roll out beer collaboration

St. Petersburg’s Green Bench Brewing Co. and Rollin’ Oats Market & Café have joined forces on a special-edition, fit-for-summer craft beer.

Made with Nelson Sauvin and Amarillo hops and some grapefruit zest, the new collaboration, a session IPA called Easy Rollin’, will debut during a free launch party at 2 p.m. July 16. Rollin’ Oats is set to offer samples of the brew and a small food pairing throughout the celebration at Green Bench, where Easy Rollin’ will also be featured by the pint or in a $10 six-pack.

The release is a first for the natural food market and café, who’s never partnered with a local brewery on a beer before.

“Working with Green Bench is something that we have wanted to do for a while,” said Rollin’ Oats director of marketing Matthew Schiel in a statement. “Our intentions are to bring our two great local businesses together to make a special brew for the Tampa Bay beer-drinking community.”

After its launch, Easy Rollin’ will be available at Green Bench and the two Rollin’ Oats locations in South Tampa and St. Pete, plus Bay area bars and retailers on tap or in cans.

This article appears in Jul 7-14, 2016.