diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 295b282c78..cab26865ac 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -106,15 +106,17 @@ Our release process generates the following packages:
 * An executable for OSX, Linux, and Windows, generated by [Pkg](https://github.com/zeit/pkg) and hosted on our [Github page](https://github.com/garden-io/garden/releases).
 * A [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) package for OSX users.
 
-To make a new release, set your current working directory to the garden root directory and follow the steps below. The examples assume we're creating a release for `0.8.0-rc2`:
-
-1. Checkout out to a new release branch: `git checkout -b release-0.8.0-rc2`.
-2. Run the release script: `./bin/release 0.8.0-rc2`. This will update the version, generate the changelog, create a tag for the version, and push the tag to Github. Pushing the tag triggers a CI process which creates the release artifacts.
-3. Open the [Garden project on CircleCI](https://circleci.com/gh/garden-io/garden) and browse to the job marked `release-service-pkg`. Open the **Artifacts** tab and download the listed artifacts.
-4. Go to our Github [Releases tab](https://github.com/garden-io/garden/releases) and click the **Draft a new release** button.
-5. Fill in the **Tag version** and **Release title** fields with the new release version (same as you used for the tag).
-6. Upload the downloaded artifacts.
-7. Write release notes (not necessary for RCs). The notes should _at least_ contain the changelog.
-8. Click the **Publish release** button.
-9. Push the branch and make a pull request.
-10. If you're making an RC, you're done! Otherwise, you need to update Homebrew package: `gulp update-brew`.
+To make a new release, set your current working directory to the garden root directory and follow the steps below.
+
+1. Run the release script: `./bin/release <version>`. The script does the following:
+    * Checks out a branch named `release-<version>`.
+    * Updates `package.json` and `package-lock.json` for `garden-service` and the changelog.
+    * Commits the changes, tags the commit and pushes the tag, triggering a CI process the creates the release artifacts.
+2. Open the [Garden project on CircleCI](https://circleci.com/gh/garden-io/garden) and browse to the job marked `release-service-pkg`. Open the **Artifacts** tab and download the listed artifacts.
+3. Go to our Github [Releases tab](https://github.com/garden-io/garden/releases) and click the **Draft a new release** button.
+4. Fill in the **Tag version** and **Release title** fields with the new release version (same as you used for the tag).
+5. Upload the downloaded artifacts.
+6. Write release notes (not necessary for RCs). The notes should _at least_ contain the changelog.
+7. Click the **Publish release** button.
+8. Push the branch and make a pull request.
+9. If you're making an RC, you're done! Otherwise, you need to update Homebrew package: `gulp update-brew`.
diff --git a/bin/release b/bin/release
index 8274f5fc79..e77dff7432 100755
--- a/bin/release
+++ b/bin/release
@@ -3,14 +3,15 @@ set -eo pipefail
 
 # Performs the following steps to prepare for a release:
 #
-# 1. Updates the version field in garden-service/package.json.
-# 2. Updates garden-service/package-lock.json by doing npm install.
-# 3. Creates a tag for the version (we need this for the changelog).
-# 4. Generates the changelog, based on the tag from the previous step. TODO: Use --next-tag flag when no longer experimental
+# 1. Checks out to a branch named release-${version}
+# 2. Updates the version field in garden-service/package.json.
+# 3. Updates garden-service/package-lock.json by doing npm install.
+# 4. Creates a tag for the version (we need this for the changelog).
+# 5. Generates the changelog, based on the tag from the previous step. TODO: Use --next-tag flag when no longer experimental
 #    and skip step 3.
-# 5. Adds and commits CHANGELOG.md, garden-service/package.json and garden-service/package-lock.json
-# 6. Updates the tag after the commit
-# 7. Pushes the tag. This triggers CircleCI process that creates the release artifacts
+# 6. Adds and commits CHANGELOG.md, garden-service/package.json and garden-service/package-lock.json
+# 7. Updates the tag after the commit
+# 8. Pushes the tag. This triggers CircleCI process that creates the release artifacts
 
 # Bumps garden-service/package.json version. Adapted from here: https://gist.github.com/timseverien/5c1ba6548df32ca3a16b
 function bump {
@@ -28,33 +29,39 @@ function release {
 Preparing to release version ${version}...
 	"
 
-	# Updating garden-service/package.json version
+	# Checkout out to a dedicated release branch
+	git checkout -b release-${version}
+
+	# Update garden-service/package.json version
 	bump ${version}
 
-	# Updating package-lock.json version
+	# Update package-lock.json version
 	cd garden-service && npm install && cd ..
 
-	# Creating tag ${tag_name}
+	# Create tag ${tag_name}
 	git tag -a ${tag_name} -m "chore(release): release ${tag_name}"
 
-	# Updating changelog
+	# Update changelog
 	changelog=$(git-chglog ${tag_name})
 	printf '%s\n\n%s\n' "${changelog}}" "$(cat CHANGELOG.md)" > CHANGELOG.md
 
-	# Commiting changes
+	# Commit changes
 	git add CHANGELOG.md garden-service/package.json garden-service/package-lock.json && git commit -m "chore(release): bump version to ${version}"
 
-	# Pushing tag
+	# Update tag
+	git tag -f -a ${tag_name} -m "chore(release): release ${tag_name}"
+
+	# Push tag
 	git push origin ${tag_name} --no-verify
 
 	echo "
-***
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Version ${version} has been tagged, committed, and pushed to Github! 🎉
 
-A CI job that creates the release artifcats is currently in process.
+A CI job that creates the release artifcats is currently in process: https://circleci.com/gh/garden-io/garden
 
 Please refer to our contributing docs for the next steps: https://github.com/garden-io/garden/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md
-***
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	"
 }