Well I wish I lived in the northern part of Fort Lauderdale so Funky Buddha could become my new hangout. I was really impressed with the time and thought put not only into the beers, but into the tasting room. The majority of brewery tasting rooms have a kind of thrown together look that often brings to mind the brewmaster’s basement.  Comfort or class often seem to be secondary to the beer, which is OK. However, to attract a non-craft beer aficionado, you might need to add some style.  The Funky Buddha’s tasting room is spectacular with a huge bar, warm wood tones, lots of tables, comfortable seating areas, and accents that highlight the breweries name, like Buddha water fountains and trendy Pier One style decorations.

Not to harp too much on the tasting room, the beers are very good here too.  The Floridian Hefeweizen was very light and refreshing with traditional hints of clove and banana.  I had to go for a whole pint of this one as I am starting to rekindle my taste for hefeweizens.  The Crusher Session IPA was a low to medium hopped beer that would be great for someone who wants some hops but is not a true “hop head.”  The Missionary Blonde was not my favorite as it had a little bit of an aftertaste that reminded me of tar.  The Hop Gun IPA was similar to the Crusher Session in taste but had a bit more alcohol content and a more amber color. The Red Dawn Ale was OK according to my husband because as everyone knows I am not a fan of reds.  The taste reminded me a bit more of brown ale than a red and had a hint of spice reminiscent of nutmeg.  The OP Porter was a good solid porter and would be great if we ever had a cold night. The Combat Rock Amber was very mild and reminded me a bit of Killian’s red.  The most surprising beer of the evening was Fire in the Hole, a raspberry Habanero brew.  I personally would have never though that raspberries and Habaneros would go together, and I certainly wouldn’t think they would mix well in a beer.  However, I actually quite enjoyed this beer.  The raspberry and Habanero were both very evident on the nose and in the taste.  The Habanero imparted a short burn on the back of the throat that was not overpowering.  I don’t think it is a beer that I could drink more than a few ounces of– but it was a great and unique taste sensation.

Next time I am headed over to Fort Lauderdale. I am definitely going to make another stop at Funky Buddha!

In a previous review, I looked at the Fort Myers Brewing Company during its first week of business. This previous post generated more discussion than almost all my other blog posts combined.  Why? Because I didn’t like the beers.  I understand they were new and I wanted to give them benefit of the doubt.  Therefore, a few weeks ago I returned, on their almost one year anniversary. The long and short of my visit was that the beers were very much improved. The flavors were more robust and more true to the name.  I think I previously referred to them as “beer for the masses” which I would say has definitely changed.

The Caloosahatchee Kolsch was a very good, light beer and would be great for a hot day after some serious yard work. The hint of yeast was refreshing and true to a kolsch.  The Gateway Gold is the signature beer and I can see why.  This one was not my favorite as it still had a very bland taste.  It truly reminded me of Budweiser– thus its mass appeal.  The City of Palms was good but there was a slight taste of something on the finish that didn’t appeal to me personally.  The Tamiami Tan was a solid brown ale with a hint of chocolate. Remember I am not a fan of any brown ales!  The Intercoastal IPA was also a solid beer with a good piney taste.  The Black IPA was even better and probably my favorite out of the bunch. I am finding myself drawn to more and more black IPAs and pale ales. The Cypress Strong is a bit on the sweet side but still has good flavor.

After returning, I have to say that I would now visit again. The beer process here has definitely matured.  I also like the casual laid back atmosphere of the brewery which has now been stocked with games and TVs that show many sporting events.  The brewery has also started to do more fun nights like movie nights.  A big bonus here is that, even though they don’t have a pub, there is a food truck available almost every night.  Some nights even have food and beer specials so it can be a great place to stop by for a quick bite or after a long day at work.

As a side note, I would like to encourage everyone reading this article to contact Representative Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero, Sanibel, Ft. Myers Beach) at  (239) 433-6501. Representative Rodrigues is sponsoring bill HB139 in the Florida State House that has serious implications for Florida’s craft beer industry. It seeks to make off site sales more difficult for local breweries and limit their ability to have tasting rooms.

To see a news article about this bill, click here.