Ep. 43: St. Pete's Grand Central Brewhouse Story with Zac Collins, Eric Trinosky, and Travis Rebstock

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In the bustling St. Petersburg craft beer scene, Grand Central Brewhouse has carved a unique identity by embracing tradition in an industry often chasing trends. Join host Mark DeNote as he sits down with Zach Collins, Eric Trinosky, and Travis Rebstock to uncover how this relatively new brewery is making waves with its focus on lagers and classic beer styles.

The conversation begins with each brewer sharing their unexpected journeys into professional brewing—from homebrewing experiments to career-changing opportunities. With candor and humor, they discuss the challenges of opening during the pandemic and how they've adapted their business model to thrive in an evolving market.

What truly sets Grand Central apart is their commitment to community. Their "Brew Good Program" has donated over $150,000 to local charities in five years by giving 15% of their top beer sales each month. This philosophy extends to their brewing approach, using domestically-grown Riverbend malt and building relationships with the farmers who grow their grain.

The team offers fascinating insights into their partnership with the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team and how they've embraced their customer demographic, which skews older than many craft breweries. This has allowed them to successfully brew styles other breweries might avoid—from smoked beers to brown ales—while maintaining a core lineup of consistent, high-quality offerings.

Perhaps most refreshing is their humility and genuine passion for beer. As Eric notes, "Every day that we wake up is the most exciting day of this industry because there's new hop stuff, new yeast stuff, new research." It's this enthusiasm, combined with their community focus, that makes Grand Central Brewhouse worth watching—and drinking—as they continue to pour their way into St. Petersburg's heart, one traditional style at a time.