May 3, 2018

Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter

In all of my years buying beer in Virginia, I had never crossed paths with Florida’s Funky Buddha. I’d certainly heard of the company and their products, but never one spied any of their bottles on local shelves. Just seven months after the company’s purchase by Constellation Brands, however, and Funky Buddha’s Maple Bacon Coffee Porter is staring back at me on a recent beer run. I guess that larger distribution network is paying off.

Anyways, this 6.4% ABV porter is pretty darn tasty. I was worried, initially, upon smelling this beer as it poured opaque black into the glass. The aroma was dominated by maple syrup — to the point that I thought this thing was going to be cloyingly sweet. Thankfully, the coffee, roastiness and combination of salt and smokiness from the bacon help keep it in check once the beer washes over the tongue. The full bodied brew is fairly thick with a smooth array of flavors that transition nicely from maple and chocolate to the aforementioned roast and smokiness. The bacony saltiness lingers long into the lightly drying finish.

I was impressed with Maple Bacon Coffee Porter and can see why it won a gold medal at the 2016 World Beer Cup. I was surprised by the balance amongst the elements, especially when considering the dominance of the maple in the aroma. Had it been more cloying, I don’t believe that I would have enjoyed it as much as I did.