It's #FloridaBeerFriday. Every Friday, we take a look at a beer brewed in the Sunshine State, giving analysis to the burgeoning craft beer movement of Florida.
The Funky Buddha Brewery opened its doors last year in Oakland Park with their massive 40,000 sq-ft and 30 barrel facility.
Since then, the beers have poured out into the marketplace, and there are many local establishments that carry Funky Buddha beers on tap.
See also: Florida Beer: Pedal Brakes Dry Hopped Pale Ale From Cycle Brewing
Over the last year, we've been highlighting beers produced in Florida, with a majority of them locally-produced, and many of the spotlights shone on Buddha beers. In lieu of their upcoming first year anniversary party, happening this Saturday at the Oakland Park location, we're going to look back at some of the beverages we've covered that were produced in Broward County.
Without further ado, our last year with the Funky Buddha Brewery. Click on a header to get the full review.
This is a true summertime beer. Strong scents of lemon and a slight clove/herb character bring you into the beer. The taste is fairly similar, but with bananas and a bit of yeasty character added in to the lemony wallop, giving it an almost dry citrus banana bread taste - minus all that sugar. There's light body, and a carbonation to match. It finishes with a lingering and complementing acidify.
I was poured a tumbler full of the golden amber India Pale Ale, which kept a nice two finger head for the majority of my experience. The carbonation of the bitter brew constantly kicked up lovely herbal and citrus pith-like hop aromas. A bit more mild than a full-on pine forest in the glass, which I found to be a relief compared to some examples of the style produced recently.
It pours jet black. Raven black. Motor oil black. It's a dark brew with little head or lacing. It almost looks like black coffee. The aroma is sweet coffee, too, with maple syrup notes sneaking out as the beer warms up. Patience is key with this beer: too cold and all you'll get is coffee, but allow it to come up in temperature, and you'll be rewarded with a better flavor profile of roast coffee, a hint of umami saltiness, and sweet golden syrup like flavors. The mouthfeel is thick for a porter, but not too syrupy.
Fuhgeddaboudit has an orange-red to deep amber color with a mild white head. On the nose lies a slightly sweet malt aroma. The flavor is clean and almost marzen-like, but with a hint of caramel. There is a low, but noticeable, hop profile... definitely in the family of European hop flavors.
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Get out there and #DrinkLocal.
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 Instagram.
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