Funky Buddha Brewery
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Type | Craft brewery | ||||||||||||
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Location | 1201 NE 38th St., Oakland Park, Florida 33334 | ||||||||||||
Opened | 2010 (2010) | ||||||||||||
Key people | Ryan Sentz, Giana Sentz, KC Sentz | ||||||||||||
Annual production volume | 27,000 US beer barrels (32,000 hL)[1][note 1] | ||||||||||||
Employees | 130[1][note 2] | ||||||||||||
Parent | Constellation Brands | ||||||||||||
Website | funkybuddhabrewery | ||||||||||||
Active beers | |||||||||||||
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Seasonal beers | |||||||||||||
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Funky Buddha Brewery is a large brewery headquartered in Oakland Park, Florida.[6]
The early years
It started when a Florida couple bought small brewhouse, hookah lounge and live music venue in Boca Raton, Florida in 2006.[7] On February 5, 2010, founders Ryan and Giana Sentz moved to another location and began brewing their own beers in September.[10] The new location, also in Boca Raton, was named Funky Buddha Lounge and Brewery.[11] In 2012, Funky Buddha announced it would begin using the Cigar City Brewing system to brew and bottle their beer and begin distribution.[12] In the same year they opened a homebrew supply store at the lounge and brewery.[13] The Boca Raton location has a 55 US gallon (210 L) brewhouse.[7] It was the second production brewery to open in Broward and Palm Beach counties, following Due South Brewing.[11] Funky Buddha's success "helped pave the way for what is now a thriving local brew scene".[11]
Growth
In 2013, with the help of his brother KC Sentz, Ryan Sentz opened a second location and production facility in Oakland Park.[7] The Oakland Park location is a 40,000 square foot (3,700 m2) building with a 3,000 square foot (280 m2) taproom with 30 draft lines.[7][note 3] Each year since 2013 the brewery has released a limited edition brew, Undefeated Saison. It is released once every National Football League team has lost a game in the current season to commemorate that the Miami Dolpins undefeated season of 1972 remains unmatched.[15]
In 2014, Funky Buddha's Floridian was available at 400 restaurants in South Florida.[16] At that time Floridian accounted for half of the beer the brewery made and sold.[16] Celebrity Cruises announced a four-day Funky Buddha Craft Beer Cruise in 2014 scheduled for March 2015.[17] In 2015 the brewery sold 19,500 US beer barrels (22,900 hL) making it a "regional" facility as designated by the Brewers Association.[18] Also that year Funky Buddha's distribution expanded to include North Florida.[19]
Sale
As of 2017[update] Funky Buddha was the largest brewer and most popular tap room in Florida based on dollar sales.[20] The brewery is known for its Maple Bacon Coffee Porter and Hopgun IPA beers.[20] On August 10, 2017 it was announced that Constellation Brands had bought Funky Buddha for an undisclosed price.[21] Ryan and KC Sentz will continue to run day-to-day operations.[1] After celebrating its 7th anniversary,[22] the original Boca Raton Funky Buddha Lounge was sold to Allen Steen in 2017 and rebranded Robot Brewing Co.[23] Reported in Constellation Brands’ 2018 annual report, Funky Buddha and Schrader Cellars wines are noted in a combined acquisition cost for $149 million dollars.[24] Wine Spectator later learned the purchase acquisition cost for the Schrader Cellars wine portion was approximately $60 million leaving approximately $80-$90 million attributable to the Funky Buddha acquisition.[25]
In 2023, Funky Buddha was reacquired by Ryan and KC Sentz from Constellation for an undisclosed price and the brewery celebrated its 10 year anniversary.[26][27]
Awards
- Maple Bacon Coffee Porter won the gold medal in the specialty beer category at the 2016 World Beer Cup.[28]
- No Crusts, a brown ale flavored like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, was awarded a silver medal at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival[29]
- Funky Buddha was chosen "Best Brewery" by the Sun-Sentinel for 2017, also winning the reader's choice award.[4]
References
Notes
- ^ d'Oliveira 2017 gives annual production as 45,000 US beer barrels (53,000 hL).[2]
- ^ d'Oliveira 2017 wrote the brewery employs 140.
- ^ d'Oliveira 2017 states the Oakland Park facility is 54,000 square feet (5,000 m2). As of December 2017[update] the Funky Buddha Brewery website gives a figure of 110,000 square feet (10,000 m2).[14]
Citations
- ^ a b c Valys, Phillip (August 11, 2017). "Funky Buddha hops into big beer biz - Sale to large firm won't kill local vibe, brewery owners say". News. Sun-Sentinel. Ron Hurtibise (contributor) (1 PN ed.). Broward Co., FL. p. 1.
- ^ d'Oliveira, Michael (August 18, 2017). "Recent sale of Funky Buddha makes some customers nervous, but all's well". News. The Pelican. Pompano Beach, FL. p. 16.
- ^ Grant, Justin (July 1, 2015). "Funky Buddha More Moro Blood Orange IPA". Lifestyle. Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, FL. p. 5E.
- ^ a b "Best Brewery: Funky Buddha Brewery". Special. Sun-Sentinel (1 SB ed.). Broward Co., FL. December 3, 2017. p. 3.
- ^ Pera, Eric (October 11, 2017). "99 Bottles: Drink up Sweet Potato Strong Ale before the holiday". News. The Ledger. Lakeland, FL.
- ^ "Florida Breweries". brewersassociation.org. Brewers Association. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Hutto, Emily (February 29, 2016). "Breakout Brewer: Funky Buddha". Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017.
- ^ Sweeney, Dan (March 3, 2010). "Where there's hookah smoke, there's fire - To get to South Florida's best new concert venue, follow the scent of guava tobacco". CityLink. Sun-Sentinel (Broward Metro ed.). Broward Co., FL. p. 7.
- ^ Gimpel, Vannessa (September 27, 2010). "South Florida's newest brewpub opens". Lake Worth Craft Beer Examiner. West Palm Beach Examiner.
- ^ (Hutto 2016); (Danna 2017); (Sweeney 2010);[8] (Gimpel 2010).[9]
- ^ a b c Ventiera, Sara (November 15, 2016). "Funky Buddha's Ryan Sentz is a bit freaked out by his brewery's success". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016.
- ^ Shaw, Alan (January 5, 2012). "Bright spots in craft beer for new year". Sec. E. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. FL. p. E42.
- ^ Crandell, Ben (February 3, 2012). "A reprieve for 'world famous' treasure trove". Showtime. Sun Sentinel (Broward Metro ed.). Broward Co., FL. p. 8.
- ^ "About Us". funkybuddhabrewery.com. Funky Buddha Brewery. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Yousefi, Ryan (October 16, 2017). "Funky Buddha beer release celebrates the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins". Restaurants. Miami New Times.
- ^ a b Balmaseda, Liz (August 7, 2014). "Sample more than 150 beers at Palm Beach Beer Fest". Business News. Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL.
- ^ Bates, Joe (November 2014). "Beer steers steady course". Duty-Free News International. Vol. 28, no. 11. pp. 36 ff.
- ^ Fairall, Doug (June 2, 2016). "Funky Buddha Brewery turns three June 11, takes over Jaco Pastorius Park". Broward Palm Beach New Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2016.
- ^ Bull, Roger; Stansel, Ed (August 26, 2015). "Amber Waves: Good gourd, it's too early for pumpkins, so let's get Funky". Business News. Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, FL.
- ^ a b "Constellation Brands acquires Funky Buddha". What's Brewing. All About Beer. Vol. 38, no. 4. Research Triangle Park, NC. September 2017. p. 12.
- ^ "Constellation's Chicago-based beer business buys Florida's Funky Buddha Brewery". Business. Chicago Tribune. August 10, 2017. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017.
- ^ Danna, Nicole (October 6, 2017). "Funky Buddha Lounge celebrates seventh anniversary this weekend". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017.
- ^ Danna, Nicole (June 4, 2018). "Boca Raton's Robot Brewing Co. Purchases Original Funky Buddha Lounge". Miami New Times. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ Constellation Brands 2018 annual report
- ^ Wine Spectator
- ^ "'We wanted our baby back': Funky Buddha founders to buy back brewery, celebrate 10 years & upgrade with distillery". Sun Sentinel. May 31, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Buddha, Funky. "FUNKY BUDDHA BREWERY REACQUIRES COMPANY FROM CONSTELLATION BRANDS". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Fairall, Doug (May 10, 2016). "Funky Buddha Brewery wins gold in 2016 World Beer Cup". Broward Palm Beach New Times. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016.
- ^ Habuda, Meaghan (October 10, 2017). "Here's how Florida did at the Great American Beer Festival - Seven local breweries took home accolades from the big-deal Denver event's beer competition". Food-Drink. Creative Loafing. Tampa, FL.
Further reading
- Nieuwesteeg, Tara (March 18, 2010). "Rosie's, Funky Buddha, and Antea among our happiest bars". Night Watch. Broward Palm Beach New Times.
- Nurin, Tara (August 24, 2017). "Funky Buddha's sale to big beer is bad news, or how to predict if your favorite brewer will sell out". Food & Agriculture. Forbes.
- Volgyes, Libby (December 25, 2012). "Explore the mysteries of brew at Funky Buddha". Business News. Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, FL.
External links
Official website