March 25 will see the expansion of Funky Buddha Brewery into a market that is seen by some across the nation as one of the best beer cities in the country: the Tampa Bay area.
Places like New Port Richey, Brooksville, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Venice, and Punta Gorda will soon be able to reach a state of Zen with Funky Buddha's beers.
See also: Funky Buddha Now Available at Select Publix Locations
This deal is a sign of the impressive growth that South Florida's craft brewing scene has made in the past few years, and especially that of Funky Buddha. Last summer, the Oakland Park brewery expanded to Orlando, and this past winter, it celebrated the addition of a new bottling line.
The initial portfolio will include Floridian Hefeweizen, Hop Gun IPA, Crusher Session IPA, and OP Porter. Not to leave well enough alone, the brewery will begin sending its seasonal series beginning with its spring seasonal More Moro Blood Orange IPA. Wide distribution, including six-pack bottles, will arrive in the months following.
"The Greater Tampa Bay area is a hugely developed craft beer market and is hungry for quality beer," Funky Buddha co-owner and General Manager K.C. Sentz said. "We've been hearing the calls to come to the area since we've opened, and we're happy to say that we can finally deliver on that."
Before March 25, Funky Buddha will be joining with dozens of area brewers for the annual Tampa Bay Beer Week. They tease with a prelaunch party on March 11 at Cigar City Cider & Mead in Ybor City that will feature 14 rarer beers from the brewery's portfolio, including Last Snow, Key Lime Berlinerweiss, and Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. Additionally, Buddha will attend the Florida Brewer's Guild Festival at Cotanchobee Fort Brook Park on March 7 and at Cigar City Brewing's Hunahpu's Day on March 14.
There you have it, Tampanians. South Florida beer is coming for you.
Doug Fairall is a craft beer blogger who focuses on Florida beers, and has been a homebrewer since 2010. For beer things in your Twitter feed, follow him @DougFairall and find the latest beer pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.
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