Bold flavor is the point at Funky Buddha Brewery. From cult-favorite Maple Bacon Coffee Porter to fruit-packed sours and clean, crushable lagers, this Oakland Park standout turns culinary ideas into memorable beers—and serves them in a sprawling taproom built for gatherings, concerts, and community events. Use this guide to plan your visit: what to drink first, where to sit, what to eat, and how Funky Buddha’s creative spirit shapes the Florida craft scene.
- Address: 1201 NE 38th St, Oakland Park, FL 33334
- Website: https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/
What You’ll Learn
- Why culinary-inspired beers like Maple Bacon Coffee Porter became Funky Buddha’s calling card
- How to build a smart tasting lineup across stouts, IPAs, sours, and lagers
- What the taproom and event spaces feel like at different times of day
- Food pairings that make bold beers sing
- Practical tips on parking, to-go beer, merch, and local add-ons
Why Funky Buddha Brewery Stands Out
Culinary Imagination, Brewer’s Precision
Funky Buddha made a name by brewing beers that taste like a chef designed them. Think breakfast-on-a-plate flavors in a stout, key-lime-bright sours, and dessert-leaning specials that remain balanced and drinkable. The trick isn’t just throwing flavors at a base beer; it’s building grists, yeast profiles, and hop choices that give those flavors structure and a clean finish. That’s why a beer like Maple Bacon Coffee Porter reads as layered—roast, smoke, maple sweetness, and coffee bitterness—without tipping into syrup.
What this means for you: if you love flavor exploration, you’ll find something new on every visit. If you prefer classic styles, the lager and IPA programs offer crisp, clear options that show the same technical discipline.
A Taproom Built to Host
The Oakland Park campus is expansive: a large main bar with strong board visibility, multiple seating zones for groups or solo tasters, an events area with stage-ready space, and seasonal outdoor seating. It can handle busy weekends, release parties, and private gatherings while staying comfortable for a weekday flight and a sandwich. Staff are fluent in pairings and happy to map your preferences—“sweet but balanced,” “citrusy and dry,” “roasty, not cloying”—to the right pour.
A Florida Original with National Pull
Funky Buddha helped define Florida’s “culinary beer” identity, proving that boundary-pushing recipes can be precise. You’ll see that influence in beer lists across the state—breakfast stouts, pastry-adjacent offerings, fruit-forward sours—yet Funky Buddha’s versions keep a brewer’s hand on the wheel: aroma first, sweetness in check, and finishes that invite a second sip.
The Beer: What to Drink First (and Next)
Maple Bacon Coffee Porter: The Icon
The legend starts here. This robust porter layers coffee roast, a brush of smoke, and maple sweetness over a sturdy malt base. Expect a cappuccino head, cocoa and espresso on the nose, and a finish that stays surprisingly tidy thanks to roast bitterness and carbonation.
- What to notice: chocolate-espresso core, a ribbon of maple, a subtle bacon-smoke nuance that reads savory—not artificial.
- Pairing ideas: candied bacon, brisket burnt ends, chocolate torte, or a vanilla ice cream float if you’re leaning dessert.
Tip: If a barrel-aged or variant version is on tap, order a side-by-side taster with the flagship to see how oak or adjuncts change body and finish.
IPAs: Citrus, Tropical, and Food-Friendly
Funky Buddha’s IPAs lean bright and aromatic with a range from West Coast-leaning bitterness to softer, modern profiles. Expect citrus peel, mango, pineapple, and a clean, dry exit.
- Why they work: late and dry-hop additions for saturated aroma; lean malt bills (cracker, light bread crust) to keep hops center stage.
- Pairings: blackened fish tacos, jerk wings, lemony salads, or anything with char and citrus.
Sours and Fruited Ales: Florida Sunshine in a Glass
Citrus- and fruit-led sours are house strengths. You’ll see kettle sours with key lime, passion fruit, guava, or berry blends that deliver mouthwatering acidity without harshness.
- What to expect: vivid color, bright aromatics, a balancing touch of sweetness, and a crisp finish.
- Pairings: ceviche, shrimp cocktail, goat cheese salads, cheesecake, or key lime pie.
Lagers and Pilsners: Reset and Refresh
Between bold beers, reach for a pils or helles. These pours showcase the brewhouse’s technical side—tight carbonation, fresh grain, clean ferment, and a snappy finish.
- When to order: first pour to calibrate your palate, between IPAs to refresh, or alongside fried seafood and salty snacks.
- Pairings: pretzel with mustard, fried chicken sandwich, fish and chips.
Seasonals and One-Offs: Keep an Eye on the Board
Rotating specialties—pastry-inspired stouts, fruited wheat beers, tiki-adjacent blends, and barrel-aged releases—give repeat visitors plenty to explore. Limited drops can go fast; ask staff what’s newest and what pairs best with the day’s menu.
Build a Smart Flight
Start clean, finish bold for the most detail in each glass:
1) Pilsner or Helles (calibrate your palate)
2) Citrus-forward IPA (aroma and dry finish)
3) Fruited Sour (acidity and fruit contrast)
4) Maple Bacon Coffee Porter (depth and dessert-friendly finish)
If you’re doing a second round, add a specialty stout or a seasonal IPA variant and insert a small lager taster between high-aroma beers.
How They Brew: Flavor with Structure
Layering Adjuncts with Intention
- Malt selection sets the canvas: chocolate, roast barley, and crystal malts provide chocolate-toffee depth for stouts; pale and Pils malts give lagers crisp lines.
- Coffee, cacao, maple, vanilla, and smoke are added where they support body and aroma, not mask them.
- Carbonation tuning matters: higher fizz refreshes after sweetness or richness, especially in Florida heat.
Hop Strategy That Enhances Food
- Late additions and dry hopping build citrus and tropical aromatics without aggressive bitterness that clashes with salty or spicy plates.
- Lean, well-attenuated grists keep IPAs brisk and repeatable.
Clean Fermentation and QA
- Tight temperature control and healthy yeast keep esters in check so adjuncts and hops stay clear.
- Strong freshness culture—busy lines and frequent canning—protects volatile hop oils and sour brightness.
Result: bold flavors in balance, with finishes that stay crisp enough to pair across a full meal.
Taproom, Events, and Vibe
What It Feels Like
The main hall is airy, with a long bar, tall ceilings, and sight lines to the draft board. Seating ranges from high-tops to communal tables and loungey corners. Weekday afternoons are ideal for slower flights and staff chats; nights and weekends bring energy—live music, trivia, themed parties, and big-release buzz.
- Sound and pace: animated but conversational; easy to order another round.
- Service style: warm, informed, and quick with pairing advice based on what’s freshest.
Events and Private Gatherings
The event spaces are built to scale—from small celebrations to brewery-sized bashes. Expect:
- Release parties for seasonal stouts, fruited sours, and collab beers
- Live music nights, trivia, watch parties, and themed food pop-ups
- Bookable private areas for birthdays, corporate mixers, or club meetups
Follow Funky Buddha’s social channels or events page for calendars and ticketed happenings. Popular events can sell out.
Family- and Dog-Friendliness
- Families: Daytime and early evenings are easy with shared plates and fast service.
- Dogs: Leashed pups are generally welcome in designated outdoor areas when weather and policy allow—check signage or the website to confirm.
The Kitchen: Beer-First, Flavor-Forward
Funky Buddha’s food program mirrors the beer lineup: crowd-pleasing, seasonal, and built for pairing. Expect:
- Shareables: pretzels with beer cheese and mustard, wings with citrus or heat, loaded fries with herby dips
- Mains: burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, tacos, and salads with bright dressings
- Specials: chef riffs that echo current releases—chocolate-forward desserts for stout nights, citrusy seafood for sour/IPA themes
Best Beer + Food Pairings
- Pilsner or Helles + fried chicken sandwich or pretzel with mustard: Carbonation and noble hops clean up salt and fry.
- Citrus-forward IPA + blackened mahi tacos or jerk wings: Grapefruit-pine snaps through char and spice.
- Fruited Sour + ceviche, arugula salad with citrus vinaigrette, or cheesecake: Acidity brightens herbs and cream; fruit aromas tie it together.
- Maple Bacon Coffee Porter + smoked brisket sliders, candied bacon, or chocolate torte: Roast and cocoa meet savory or sweet without cloying.
Pro tip: Salt amplifies bitterness. When your plate leans salty, choose lager, sour, or a softer IPA over the most bitter option.
Local Flavor: Sunshine, Art, and Coastal Add-Ons
Oakland Park sits just north of Fort Lauderdale, close to beaches, art walks, and lively neighborhoods. Build a day around your visit:
- Beach and back: Hit the sand in the morning, then refuel with lagers and a seafood plate in the afternoon.
- Art and bites: Pair the brewery with a stroll through nearby galleries or markets.
- Sports and shows: The event space often aligns with game days and concert nights—plan a pre-show flight and shareables.
Practical Planning
Getting There and Parking
- Address: 1201 NE 38th St, Oakland Park, FL 33334
- Parking: On-site and overflow options; weekends fill fast—arrive early or rideshare.
- Access: Easy add-on to a Fort Lauderdale or beach itinerary.
Reservations, Tours, and Timing
- Taproom: Typically first-come; event nights and weekends can draw waits.
- Tours: Offered on a schedule—check the website for availability and booking.
- Best times: Weekday afternoons for calm flights and staff conversations; weekend late afternoons for energy and full boards.
To-Go Beer and Freshness Tips
- Cans: Rotating IPAs, lagers, sours, and seasonal stouts are usually available cold.
- Limited releases: Variants and collabs may carry purchase limits; follow social channels for drop dates.
- Keep it cold: Florida heat mutes hop aroma and sour snap. Bring a cooler or insulated bag for the ride.
Merch Highlights
- Graphic tees and hats with playful, Florida-forward art
- Branded glassware for stouts, IPAs, and lagers (nonic pints, tulips, Willi bechers)
- Limited posters and release-specific prints for collectors
Sample Itineraries
One-Hour Flavor Sprint
- Start with a 10–12 oz Pils or Helles
- Build a three-pour flight: Citrus IPA, Fruited Sour, Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
- Pair with a shareable snack (pretzel or wings)
- Grab a mixed 4-pack to-go—one lager, one IPA, one sour, one stout
Easy Evening with Pairings (90–120 minutes)
- Begin with a lager and a salad or shrimp starter
- Move to a citrusy IPA with tacos or wings
- Close with Maple Bacon Coffee Porter and a chocolate dessert or bacon bite
- Check the merch wall and cooler before you head out
Why Beer Travelers Should Visit
- Flagship flavor with balance: Maple Bacon Coffee Porter is a benchmark for culinary-inspired stouts done right.
- Range and refreshment: Fruited sours and citrusy IPAs taste made for Florida’s climate and cuisine.
- A taproom that can host: Big space, strong service, and event programming make it easy to stay longer.
- Consistency you can taste: Clean lager baselines and fresh, aromatic hoppy beers underscore technical chops behind the creativity.
Conclusion: Plan Your Funky Buddha Visit
Funky Buddha Brewery proves that big ideas can be precise. Maple Bacon Coffee Porter delivers layered richness with a clean finish. IPAs lean citrusy and food-friendly. Sours bring sunshine to the glass, and lagers reset your palate with a snap. Add a huge, lively taproom, a pairing-savvy kitchen, and event spaces that turn a beer stop into a night out, and you’ve got a South Florida destination worth planning around.
Set your GPS to 1201 NE 38th St, check funkybuddhabrewery.com for hours, tours, menus, and event calendars, and build a tasting that runs from crisp to bold. Bring a cooler for to-go cans, ask the bar team what’s freshest, and leave room for dessert—maybe in your glass.
