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.
We've covered it for 'Maple Bacon Coffee Day' in January. It's been hailed in various national publications, including Draft magazine. It is a monumental brew that demands to be had whenever it is available.
Funky Buddha Brewery does many things right, and the cornerstone of their success in recent years has been the production of the famous Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. Having been released into the wild lately, at both bars across the area and at Buddha's humble lounge in Boca Raton, I decided to take an in depth look at this complex and sought after brew.
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Having sampled the beer numerous times over the past year, I've noticed the flavors changing ever so slightly from batch to batch. For this sampling, I will be reviewing the batch currently on offer at the Funky Buddha Lounge.
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.
If you live in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and you've yet to have this beer, you're missing out. If you have had it before, get it again. Consider it our area's Pliny (have I gone too far?). Or, just consider it one of those limited release beers that, when you see it once every couple of months, you grab a pint and savor... and then wish you could have some breakfast.
Follow #FloridaBeerFriday for more reviews of Sunshine State brews.
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 Clean Plate's Instagram.
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