Gabe Grass, EdS, is an entrepreneur, business leader and expert witness with direct experience in brewery, taproom and alcohol-service operations. As Founder and President of GrassLands Brewing Company in Tallahassee, Florida, he built and operated a craft brewery and taproom for five years. He held direct responsibility for front-of-house alcohol service, beverage production, distribution, sales, regulatory compliance and supervision of up to 15 employees across taproom, production and distribution functions.

At GrassLands, Gabe developed and implemented company policies, standard operating procedures and staff training protocols addressing responsible alcohol service, ID and age verification, patron and employee safety and front- and back-of-house operations. He also organized and hosted annual ID and age-verification training for restaurant, bar and brewery personnel in the Tallahassee area, conducted by representatives of the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. This experience gives him a practical understanding of how alcohol-service policies, staff training, documentation and management controls function in an operating hospitality environment, as well as how gaps can develop between written policies and day-to-day practices.

Gabe’s expert witness practice focuses on alcohol-service liability and dram shop matters involving alleged overservice, intoxication recognition, refusal of service, ID and age verification, staff training, management oversight and brewery and taproom operations. His case reviews examine service practices, employee conduct, written policies, training materials, documentation and management controls against relevant industry standards and accepted practices. He is available to assist plaintiff and defense counsel through consultation, case analysis, written opinions, deposition testimony and trial testimony.

Gabe holds current certifications in TiPS and ServSafe Alcohol® and holds the rank of Certified Beer Judge through the Beer Judge Certification Program. These qualifications supplement his direct operating experience with formal training in responsible alcohol service, intervention practices and beverage evaluation. He is also a member of the Brewers Association and the United States Bartenders’ Guild.

As CEO and Co-Founder of Verdant Synergies Consulting, Gabe advises operating breweries and breweries in development on operational readiness, staff training, standard operating procedures, safety practices, production workflows and business planning. Before co-founding Verdant Synergies, he spent 20 years in business development and institutional advancement across higher education and healthcare. That career provides additional experience in organizational leadership, policy implementation, program evaluation, training and executive-level decision-making.

Gabe is a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership at the University of North Florida, with completion of his Ed.D. expected in Spring 2027. He also holds an Ed.S. from Florida State University, a master’s degree from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida.