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Funky Buddha to release Maple Bacon Coffee Porter in January 2015

30 Dec

funkyBeer lovers throughout the state of Florida have no doubt heard of Funky Buddha Brewing Company located in the southern region on the state near Fort Lauderdale. The brewery specializes in creating outlandish brews with names like No Crusts Brown Ale, Tripel Lindy Belgian Tripel and Fuhgeddaboudit Red Ale. And, if the names sound crazy, the flavors are just as over-the-top. No Crusts Brown Ale, for example, is a peanut butter and jelly flavored beer that is truly amazing in its ability to differentiate and highlight each flavor. One truly tastes the peanut butter, raspberry jelly and bread in the brew.

But, in the month of January, aficionados of the brewery eagerly await the new release of what some have called one of the best porters on the face of the planet: Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. The beer will be packaged in 22 ounce bottles and sold exclusively at the brewery on January 10, 2015. The bottle release will be part of a day’s worth of festivities that will include food trucks with breakfast-themed pairings, live music, and multiple bars both indoor and outdoors.

The brew has the distinction of garnering some of the highest scores on two of craft beer’s most popular rating websites; 100 out of 100 RateBeer.com and 99 out of 100 on BeerAdvocate.com. One reviewer from Denmark said of the beer, “I just love how the maple syrup, coffee and chocolate notes blend together into something that reminds me of great chocolate confectionary or perhaps an American breakfast.”

Bottles of the sought-after brew will be available at the brewery only and are limited to four per person. Each bottle will sell for $15 and sales will commence at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the festival. When you make your purchase you will be given a ticket for each bottle you purchase and a wristband. Bottles may be picked up from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and you must present your wristband and tickets at that time.

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Posted by on December 30, 2014 in Craft Beer Brewery

 

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Guinness brewery debuting two new porters

09 Sep

Photo courtesy of DiageoA pint of plain, the black stuff or Arthurs, whatever you call your pint of Guinness soon you will more choices from the venerable brewery. Inspired by two brewers’ diaries dating from 1796 and 1801, Guinness has announced a project to produce two new porters: Guinness Dublin Porter and Guinness West Indies Porter.

In a press release from the company, Marketing Director, Guinness Western Europe, Stephen OKelly said: “As beer lovers’ tastes and the beer landscape itself evolves, it is important we continue to stay at the forefront of beer innovation. Our brewers, at the core of the project, are passionate about pushing boundaries, whilst keeping true to the Guinness quality our customers know and love. Our two new beers; Dublin Porter and West Indies Porter are examples of this innovation and demonstrate the exciting things our brewers are continuing to do with stout.“

The first of the two new beers is Guinness Dublin Porter with origins going back to an entry in a Guinness brewers’ diary from 1796. At that time porter was the working man’s beer and was said to have been particularly loved by the laborers at train stations who moved luggage and cargo from one place to another. Many beer historians believe that porter was the precursor to the more modern stout. Indeed, stout means strong and in beer parlance refers to a strong porter. Guinness Dublin Porter is described in the company’s tasting notes as, “…sweet and smooth with malt and dark caramel notes.”

Guinness West Indies Porter is based on an 1801 diary entry for the first Guinness purposely brewed to maintain its freshness, on long sea voyages to the Caribbean and beyond. To guarantee the best quality upon arrival, Guinness brewers made a porter with more hops and a higher gravity in much the same way pale ales were hopped up to make the journey to India. Tasting notes in the press release claim, “West Indies Porter is complex yet mellow, hoppy with notes of toffee and chocolate.”

“It’s an exciting time in the beer market,” OKelly said. “And we have made a big commitment to growing Guinness, through innovation, in the years to come. Guinness is only 255 years into its 9,000-year lease on the St. James’s Gate brewery in Dublin; these two new releases are the first taste of what’s to come.”

The Jax Beer Guy has partnered with the UBER car service in Jacksonville. Because of this partnership, you can receive a $20 credit for your first ride by simply using the promo code “JaxBeerGuy” when you register for UBER on your smartphone.

Click HERE to sign up now!

 
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Posted by on September 9, 2014 in Beer Styles

 

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FunkyBuddha’s Maple Bacon Coffee Porter to be bottled and released in January

13 Dec

funky-buddha-logo-featureDown in South Florida, Funky Buddha Brewery made a splash earlier this year with the opening of their bigger and better brewery in Oakland Park. Now, the very same brewery that is legend among Florida beer lovers has announced the release date for their highly-sought Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. First released as a draft-only brew in April of 2011 at their original Boca Raton lounge and brewery, this will be the first time the brew will be bottled for release.

The beer rating website BeerAdvocate.com lists Funky Buddha’s Maple Bacon Coffee Porter as the second highest-rate porter in the world with an astounding 99 out of 100 points and over 50 raving reviews.

Ryan Sentz, Funky Buddha’s founder and head brewer said in a press release, “Maple Bacon Coffee Porter was the first beer that really earned us attention outside of our taproom. I remember thinking how crazy it was that this little brew pub in Boca Raton was being noticed nationally, and our success is definitely owed in part to that.”

The release for the first ever bottle offering of the beer will be marked with a full day of activity specially selected for the momentous occasion. Expect to enjoy live music, five food trucks – some with dishes specially prepared to pair with Maple Bacon Coffee Porter and other special release beers from Funky Buddha and other Florida breweries on tap.

The event takes place on Saturday, January 11, 2014 with bottle sales beginning at 11:00 a.m. Bottle sales are limited to two bottles per person.

Read the entire press release below:

OAKLAND PARK, FL – Get ready, Buddha fans: Maple Bacon Coffee Porter, one of the most highly sought after beers in Florida, will be commercially released in bottles for the first time ever on January 11, 2014. This limited run of 22-ounce bottles will be sold exclusively at Funky Buddha Brewery and be accompanied by a festival atmosphere featuring live music, food trucks, and a host of special release beers on tap.

A true one-of-a-kind beer, Maple Bacon Coffee Porter was initially released as a small batch run at Boca Raton’s Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery in April of 2011. Since then it has become one of the most heralded porters in the world, earning national acclaim from fans and critics alike. BeerAdvocate.com currently lists MBCP as the #2 rated porter in the world with above 50 user reviews, boasting an overall rating of 99 out of 100. Ratebeer.com also lists the beer as the #1 user rated sweet stout in the world with a perfect 100 out of 100.

“Maple Bacon Coffee Porter was the first beer that really earned us attention outside of our taproom,” says Funky Buddha’s Founder and Head Brewer, Ryan Sentz. “I remember thinking how crazy it was that this little brew pub in Boca Raton was being noticed nationally, and our success is definitely owed in part to that.”

Maple Bacon Coffee Porter’s official release will coincide with a day’s worth of activities at the brewery. Live music from local acts will be scheduled throughout the day in the brewery’s public plaza. Five food trucks – including fan favorites The Rolling Stove and Pescados Unidos – will be serving dishes specially paired with Funky Buddha’s beers. A host of special release brews from both Funky Buddha and other Florida breweries will be available on draft, with very limited beers being tapped throughout the day. Bottle sales will begin at 11am and run until 7pm, and will be limited to two per customer; first-come, first-served.

Evoking a complete diner-style breakfast in a glass, Maple Bacon Coffee Porter is a complex beer with a multitude of flavors at work. It pours an opaque, ebony brew with a frothy tan head. Aromas of sticky maple syrup and fresh-brewed coffee creep forth from the glass. The mouth feel is luxuriously creamy, with layers of sweet malt and roast giving way to waves of smoke, coffee, and dark salted chocolate. The finish is sticky, rich, and sweet, with flavors of maple syrup lingering pleasantly on the tongue.

Praise for Maple Bacon Coffee Porter

99 out of 100 – BeerAdvocate.com

100 out of 100 – Ratebeer.com

“Best Beer at the Great American Beer Fest 2013” – The Empty Growler

“Six Beers that Blew Our Minds at GABF” – Serious Eats

“10 Weirdest Beers Ever Brewed” – Mental Floss

ABOUT FUNKY BUDDHA BREWERY: Founded in 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida, Funky Buddha Brewery is committed to producing bold craft beers that marry culinary-inspired ingredients with time-honored technique. Its lineup includes year-round brews Floridian Hefeweizen and Hop Gun IPA, along with specialty releases such as No Crusts Peanut Butter and Jelly Brown Ale and the highly sought after Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. Its Oakland Park production brewery opened in June 2013 and distributes draft beer to over 250 restaurants and bars across South Florida.

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Posted by on December 13, 2013 in Beer News, Beer Styles

 

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The Porter in Atlanta much more than just a beer bar

04 Sep

Nestled in a funky, somewhat grungy corner of Little Five Points in Atlanta, Ga., The Porter Beer Bar appears rather low brow form the exterior. When you step through the door the impression does not change much with its dark wood cabinets, grey concrete bar, and Mason jar light fixtures. But, you would be wrong in setting your expectations low for this pearl of the burgeoning Atlanta beer scene.

Upon entering, a tattooed and bearded man asked if we would like a table or to sit at the bar. Because I like to be able to see how the bar runs and chat with the bartenders, we opted to sit at the bar. The bar stools seemed mismatched and held together with copious amounts of duct tape, but perhaps that is part of the atmosphere and charm.

We were greeted cheerfully by the bar manager, Justin Wickline who handed us two clipboards; one with the beer list and the other the menu. The Porter boasts around 40 taps of brews that, in the crowded Atlanta beer market, may not sound like a lot when you consider the typical Taco Mac trumps that number with over 100. But, at The Porter, it is not the quantity but rather the quality of their tap choices that draw drinkers to the bar.

On tap the morning we visited was the likes of: Duck Rabbit Duck-Rabbator, Evil Twin Freudian Slip, Green Flash Le Freak, and Lost Abbey 10 Commandments. Along with the taps, imbibers have the option of two brews on beer engines. On our visit there was only one choice, but it was the excellent Allagash Curieux. In addition the bar has an extensive bottle collection ranging from obscure Belgian brews like Pico Alvine Gaspar to excellent American brews like Founders Red Rye Ale.

Wickline was a font of information and definitely knew his beer. As we sat and chatted he presented several beers for us to taste and gave a little information on each. We worked quickly and adeptly to fill orders, take orders, and discuss the finer points of Belgian IPAs. A better bartender would be difficult to find.

Beer, though, is not the only story at the Porter. The food at this quirky little slice of heaven is phenomenal, too. The menu contained such delights as Poutine – rosemary fries covered in parmesan cheese gravy, and cheese curds, Pork & Foie Gras Terrine served with drunken raisins, whole grain mustard, pecans, bacon jam, and bacon powder, and Brasstown Pork Belly served with arugula, cherry tomatoes, bacon vinaigrette, and roasted hatch pepper.

I chose the brunch special Hangover Hash, which was a potent combination of corned beef, potatoes, red peppers, and onions topped with Buffalo sauce and three fried eggs. My companion opted for the Porter’s Half-Pound Cheeseburger of house-made fresh Angus beef patty, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, homemade pickled red onions, and homemade pickles. The hash was delightfully spicy, but not so much so that the flavor of the corned beef and potatoes were masked. My companion’s cheeseburger was perfectly cooked and heaped with toppings; she could only manage to eat half of the monster.

All-in-all, The Porter, which was recommended to me by a brewer friend, was an excellent choice for a Saturday morning lunch before an afternoon of visiting breweries. The excellent beer choices primed us for later consumption and the food kept us nourished as well as very happy. On our next road trip to Atlanta, The Porter will definitely be on our must-visit list. It should be on yours, too.

 
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Posted by on September 4, 2012 in Beer, Restaurant, Travel

 

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Irish Brew 101

14 Mar

Without a doubt the most famous brew to come out of Ireland is Guinness Draught. In fact, the brew is almost synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day in the United States and at some watering holes it is responsible for 50% of the beer sales on the St. Paddy’s Day. Guinness is also one of the most misunderstood beers on the market with many misconceptions surrounding it. Today I am going to try to dispel some of those myths and present you with a bit of history about this favored brew and a few other Irish delights.

Guinness began life as a porter beer that originated in London in the early 18th century not as a stout. Porters were a precursor beer to stouts and were brewed to try and replicate a blended beer drink known as “Entire.” Porters were relatively low in alcohol and mild in flavor. The designation stout generally meant that the beer was stronger than a regular porter therefore it was a “stout porter.” Eventually, as the beer grew in popularity, stout came to describe brew’s color and body, the word porter was dropped from the name and stouts became a recognized style of their own.

Arthur Guinness began brewing beers in 1759 when he signed a 9,000 year lease at the St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. But, it took Guinness nearly 20 years before it started selling porters in 1778 and another 60 before the brewery produced the first Single and Double Stouts in the 1840s. The Guinness beer that we enjoy today came into being in the 1970s after a decision was made by the company to make the Guinness Extra Stout recipe “more drinkable” by reducing the gravity of the brew. It is estimated that this brew, also known as “the black stuff”, is poured into 1.8 billion pint glasses a year.

Another of Ireland’s famed stouts is Murphy’s. Brewing began on this light, sweet stout in 1856 in County Cork, Ireland. Brewery construction began in 1854 with the building situated next to a famous “Holy Well.” Eventually, the brewery became known as the Lady’s Well Brewery. Murphy’s Irish Stout’s flavor can be described as chocolate milk-like with a double shot of espresso and a thick caramel scented head.

No discussion of Irish beers would be complete without taking a look at Irish red Ales. These brews are generally amber to a deep reddish copper color in appearance with a malty aroma that carries hints of caramel or toffee. The flavors of reds carry the aroma through with sweet caramel malt and, in some, buttery notes. There should be little or no hops flavor present although, more American reds will have pronounced hop character.

A prime example of the Irish red style of beer is Smithwick’s (pronounced smit-iks). Originally brewed in a part of the medieval St. Francis Abbey Brewery in Kilkenny, the brewery is still situated on the site of a Franciscan abbey where monks had brewed ale since the 14th century, and has ruins of the original abbey on its grounds. The Smithwick’s Brewery is Ireland’s oldest operating brewery, founded by John Smithwick and Richard Cole in 1710 on land owned by the Duke of Ormonde. Selling ales, porters and stouts, Smithwick’s was the third largest Irish brewery Smithwick’s is the major ale producer in Ireland. It was purchased from Walter Smithwick in 1965 by Guinness and is now, along with Guinness, part of Diageo. Smithwick’s, as most people know it today, was originally created as a special brew for the first Kilkenny Beer Festival. It was later renamed Smithwicks No. 1 and today is known as Smithwick’s.

Whether you quaff a pint of the hearty, black Irish stouts with their thick creamy heads and rich coffee and chocolate flavors or a sweet, flavorful Irish red that is full of caramel and fruity flavors, be sure to hoist a pint in remembrance of our Irish friends across the pond. The hard-working Irish helped build our great nation. Without them the westward expansion would have been much more difficult than it already was.

I close with a traditional Irish toast, “May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.”

 
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Posted by on March 14, 2012 in Beer, Beer Education, Beer Styles, Holidays

 

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