Funky Buddha: Tropical Sunrise

Discussion in 'Extreme Beer Box (2022)' started by Todd, Jan 29, 2022.

  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Please use this thread to discuss and post pics for...

    Funky Buddha Brewery
    Tropical Sunrise
    11.5% | 12oz bottle
    Imperial Cream Ale aged in tequila barrels with orange and pomegranate added.

    ...and don't forget to rate the beer (click on the beer name above and then "Rate It") on BeerAdvocate!
     
  2. dagomez

    dagomez Initiate (123) Jan 23, 2021 California

    This one sounds interesting. I have wanted to to try Funky Buddha's beers, but have never been able to find them in socal.
     
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  3. LMU_LA_85

    LMU_LA_85 Aspirant (209) Nov 19, 2015 Ohio

    Very interesting profile. One of the rare beers I actually liked better as it warmed up and breathed a bit.
     
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  4. MrPubcrawl

    MrPubcrawl Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2022

    Agree. My least favorite beer in the box thus far, but it did improve after it was able to breath and became drinkable.
     
  5. Puckdog

    Puckdog Initiate (0) Aug 14, 2014

    Umm, I really don’t know what to think about this…. It’s either really interesting and complex, or medicinal. Letting it breathe and warm a bit like you’re saying. Certainly wouldn’t go for this again, but glad I tried it.
     
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  6. Fenski

    Fenski Pundit (791) Apr 24, 2008 Ohio
    Society

    Brownish pour with a tint of purple. Head has a faint pink haze to it. Strange, don't know if I've seen this color before. Aroma is earthy, alcoholic prunes and other dried fruits, with a hint of when you leave the O.J. in the fridge a little too long. Wet wood. Tastes are the same but with more wet (maybe moldy?) wood, some citrus and also the tequila. Very interesting flavors. Won't be able to get through this one, but glad I tried it.

    [​IMG]
     
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  7. pastafarian

    pastafarian Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2011 Connecticut

    My wife and I enjoy this one, it reminds us both of a nice citrusy mixed drink, almost approaching a negroni in some aspects. Definitely not close to a flavor profile I've had in a beer before.
     
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  8. bluerabbit

    bluerabbit Pundit (800) May 30, 2012 Massachusetts

    I get like an Old Fashioned vibe from this one. For a cream ale it is very cloudy and cocktail tasting. But I can't decide if that's a good thing here.
     
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  9. dafla67

    dafla67 Pooh-Bah (1,995) Dec 31, 2010 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not a cream ale guy. I took advice from above and let warm a bit. Agee that it tastes like a cocktail. Since the idea of Extreme Beer Box is to experience "extreme" versions of styles outside your "go to" styles, I am glad it was in the box. That said, I am one and done.
     
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  10. beergoot

    beergoot Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,310) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Funky Buddha -- Tropical Sunrise
    Imperial cream ale aged in oak barrels with pomegranate and orange added
    11.5% ABV; Pouring temperature: 53 °F; bottling data: ICTEQUILA001 BB 05JAN25

    [​IMG]

    2.21/5 rDev -28.9%
    look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

    Dirty, brownish-orange body; sparse, wispy head. Pungent, woody aroma; herbal; band-aid. Oak and orange; musty sweetness. Medium-heavy body; tart with a sweet undercurrent.

    Nasty orange juice, that's what this tastes like. Not good.

    ----------------

    One of the beers I was looking forward to but won't finish. I love cream ales but this monstrosity just doesn't cut it. Too much citrus, lousy looks and smell, god-awful taste; totally unbalanced. Decent mouthfeel, though...
     
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  11. dbl_delta

    dbl_delta Grand Pooh-Bah (4,001) Sep 22, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Part of my reason for buying the Extreme Beer Box was to get me out of my IPA/Stout comfort zone. Well, this one certainly checked THAT box! It reminds me of the tropical fruit punch that you'd find at a Caribbean resort. Not quite a drain pour, but close.
     
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  12. jtads122

    jtads122 Crusader (412) Feb 11, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    This was awful. It tasted how cleaning products smell. Very medicinal. I lasted for a few sips and then dumped it.
     
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  13. Chadbo

    Chadbo Crusader (419) Feb 29, 2016 Illinois

    Big tequila barrel smell as soon as the cap pops. Taste of oak, tequila, orange, tart. Appearance is fairly off putting. Fun to try but not my favorite.
     
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  14. PurdueBrad

    PurdueBrad Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2020 Illinois

    This was a very solid and unique drink. The tequila and orange both come through nicely. It drinks better warmer but really unique and good. I agree with someone that said that the color is a touch off-putting.
     
  15. ArtMilburn

    ArtMilburn Aspirant (214) Jul 3, 2013 California

    At first, I thought it was very odd and unusual. "Odd and unusual" is a good thing in an Extreme Beer selection, but I wasn't sure it was odd-unusual-good!

    As it warmed and opened up, I found myself liking it more and more and I ended up deciding it was odd-unusual yum and I was sorry when it was all gone. It does not seem possible to get more.
     
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  16. IPAEveryDay

    IPAEveryDay Aspirant (242) Sep 16, 2011 New York

    Agreed with the sentiment here that the longer it opened up, the more I enjoyed it. Definitely not my favorite, but definitely funky and I ended up enjoying it.
     
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  17. AllenGH

    AllenGH Initiate (0) Oct 18, 2014

    Funky Buddha, Tropical sunrise w/pomegranate..
    I think it’s the pomegranate that may be the unusual and “off-putting “ flavor profile for most, as looking at some of these reviews may imply.
    I found it to have a very strong tequila nose when opened and poured, and with the first couple of sips.
    Then the mouthfeel opens up the orange and pomegranate, somewhat dusty dry pomegranate tartness.
    As this warms the tequila flavor dissipates leaving the warmth of the 11.5% ABV to finish it up. Dry pomegranate tartness lingers.
     
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  18. MiltonPyron

    MiltonPyron Initiate (194) Dec 13, 2020 Texas

    At first couple tastes, I didn’t care for it. I like barrel beers but have never found a tequila version I liked. But then it grew on me, the flavorings really complemented the barrel notes, the barrel aging here has an interesting flavor profile complexity, compared to others I’ve tasted. Would love to drink more, sad when mine was gone.
     
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  19. fcktheothertimmocahill

    fcktheothertimmocahill Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2022

    Agree with most of the comments regarding the ugly color and the off-putting aroma. I found myself intentionally holding my breath for each sip. But I appreciate the effort in pulling all this together. The flavor was delicious after sip #3, in my opinion. If was the nose that conspired to spoil everything - but thankfully easily defeated! :stuck_out_tongue:
     
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  20. MadMadMike

    MadMadMike Grand Pooh-Bah (3,465) Dec 11, 2020 France
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Funky Buddha used to matter here in SoFlo. They did! I used to do open mic beat poetry at their lounge in Boca Raton on weekends and got to know the original owner and his wife. They would brew small batches at Cigar City Brewing in Tampa and sell them to us.,. their ginger IPA will forever be a great great memory.,.
    I recall the dude grating coconut in the back room to put in the original version of ‘Last Snow’. Real maple syrup in their killer Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. Yum stuff!
    But then they got ‘big’. It all changed.
    One day I went to the “New Brewery” and was greeted with the familiar smile and had a snifter pushed up to me.
    “Whatcha got?”
    “Raspberry Stout!”
    OK.,. swirl, sip, experience.,.
    “Tastes like NyQuil”, I said.,.
    Dude’s face dropped. I walked away and never went back.
    Come to find out that all the OG effort and care was replaced with fkn flavored syrup to speed up the process and get distribution!
    They’ve done nothing, nada, since that, that merits our attention. Artificial chemistry don’t get it - at least not for this developed beer man dude.
    So - this ‘Funklightened’.,, mess.,. just reinforces my overall experience.
    Anything other than FB’s ‘Hop Gun IPA’ is a joke.
    Sink pour.,.
     
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