Zach Smith is the owner and operator of Ceremony Brewing in Bonita Springs. After nearly a decade of teaching in Collier County Public Schools, Zach's passion for the hospitality industry led him to open Ceremony Brewing in in 2021.

Growing up, Zach often felt like an outsider. He was raised by a single, working-class dad and they didn’t have the luxuries that people often associate with Naples. And then when he got into punk and metal as a kid that just made him feel even more disconnected from the local culture. The Brewery was created to be the kind of place he wishes had existed when he was younger: a space where people like him could feel safe, seen, and accepted.

We sat down with Zach on stage at Ceremony Brewing in front of a live audience…

SONG 1: “Bad Habit” by The Offspring off their 1994 album Smash. 3:43

https://youtu.be/EVSPyMdzMh8?si=_2iSDWNoPOjUDz18

SONG 2: “Nerdy” by Poison the Well released in 1999 on their album The Opposite of December... A Season of Separation. 2:41

https://youtu.be/IGaqD_Etja0?si=SkuwpZG6YUTiyJPI

SONG 3: “The Boy Who Swallowed the World” by AFI from their 1999 All Hallows EP. 3:05

https://youtu.be/yFA7c7uK5Ks?si=CUos9fU0QO809owV