No Crusts - The Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

On-Tap at the Funky Buddha Lounge during their Buddha Goes Wild Night last week. Served in a 12oz Funky Buddha snifter.

A- Fairly dark in the lounge, but from what I can tell it appears to be a fairly dark Brown with a slight purplish hue to it. A thin layer of head forms that recedes at a moderate pace.

S- Wow this smells exactly like a PB&J sandwich, lots of peanut butter, bread crust, and Welch's Grape Jelly. Perfectly balanced, very aromatic, and extremely well executed for what they were going for.

T- Again tastes like the aroma with lots of peanut butter, Grape Jelly, and even a little bit of bread crust coming out. Well balanced, very flavorful, and quite tasty if you like peanut butter and jelly.

M- Medium bodied, easily drinkable, decent carbonation, fairly smooth.

O- I wouldn't say this was my favorite beer I've had or something that I would drink all the time, but definitely one of the more unique and enjoyable ones I've experienced. I think the execution on this was superb and they nailed the peanut butter and jelly smell/taste right to the tee. The best comparison I could make with this is with Jelly Belly jelly beans, it' amazing how they can make it taste so much like the real thing. I wouldn't say this beer is for everyone but I definitely recommend checking it out especially if you are looking for a unique interesting beer or you just like PB&J sandwiches.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 11:21:57 | More by jaasen64

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Churchkey. Served in a mini snifter. Pours a moderate brown color with a short head and a bit of lacing. The nose carries some peanut butter and jelly. Surprise, surprise. The peanut butter component takes over, with just a bit of berry in the background. Flavor has mild fruit and more peanut. A bit one-dimensional, and not my favorite dimension at that. Medium body with a semi-dry finish. Just okay.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2012 19:14:34 | More by Thorpe429

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Prohibition Taproom in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a dark amber, almost brown color with golden orange edges and a  two finger white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring.

Another dessert beer aroma nailed by Funky Buddha.  Smells just like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but unfortunately not like a beer.  It's odd that's it's called No Crusts because bread crust is one of the strongest characteristics of the nose.  Lots of freshly baked bread with roasted peanut and jammy jelly.   Strong roasted nut character followed by welch's grape.   A bit seedy as well.  Crazy that they replicated the aroma of one of my favorite meals but I wish that it smelled(and tasted) a bit more like beer.

Medium bodied with a nice balance of toasted peanut, sweet, slightly tart jelly and fresh bread.  Roasted with lots of peanut flavor up front along with slightly smoked malt undertones.  More peanut than peanut butter but it still replicates the flavor pretty well.  This is followed by fresh baked bread (including  crust) and a really prominent sweet, tart jam presence in the finish.   The jelly portion of the beer is really overpowering after a few ounces and provides a lingering unpleasant aftertaste.  The subtle roasted malt notes were the only element that made it taste like a brown ale.  Other than that it tastes more like a  good alcoholic dessert drink than a beer.  Decent but nowhere near as good as some of their other experimental beers.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2012 02:26:37 | More by corby112

brystmar

New York

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler thanks to Josh!

Had this on tap at EBF, honestly almost exactly as I remembered -- maybe a little better. Light brown / copper body leaving good lace. Intense peanut aroma, reminiscent of freshly ground nuts. Not much sweetness here; grape jelly is still mild but shows up later. Love the aroma!

Peanuts with minimal salt compose the flavor. Grape jelly is an afterthought, serving as an accent to everything else going on here. Quite interesting, unique, and enjoyable. Can't drink more than a few oz of this, but it's a great experience in a glass -- particularly if you home brew.

Serving type: growler

07-16-2012 01:20:14 | More by brystmar

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Churchkey in D.C.

The beer is russet brown with a half inch of head. The aroma is shocking and hilarious. I would literally think one was holding a PB&J sandwich under my nose if this were a blind test. Very impressive. The flavor follows suit. I wish I could go more in depth, but this is a straightforward brew - it smells and tastes like a PB&J beer. Light to medium bodied. Not something I would drink in quantity, but I highly recommend trying this if you have the opportunity.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 21:27:26 | More by Huhzubendah

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another very interesting beer from funky Buddha that I could only drink in small doses....had on tap at the churchkey event on 6/7.

The beer pours a dark crimson with some brown in the center of the beer, a ring of head as well. The smell is crazy, it really smells like when you open your lunch bag of pb and j, they capture the bread, peanut, and touch of sweetness of some kind of jelly perfectly.

The taste is dominated by peanut, and I do enjoy it, some bready malt undertones and some sweetness round it out, no hops to speak of whatsoever. I don't really get any kind of 'jelly' but the beer still seems pb and j like with the sweetness.

The feel is slick and decent in body, overall this beer is good in small doses but there is no way I could have drank more than the taster of 6oz or so that I got.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 17:28:40 | More by Dreadnaught33

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

From tap to snifter at ChurchKey DC on 6/7/12
*From notes

A: Chill hazy amber in hue. Kinda looks like a Rauchbier, if that was something a beer can actually look like. No real head, collar or lacing are present.

S: Boiled peanuts, which is one of my least favorite things in the world. Tea leaves follow, as does a hint of milk cocoa. As it warms, the "boiled" characteristics wear off a bit, and this does come around to being a bit more balanced. A very, very faint touch of red fruit lingers back there somewhere.

T: Peanuts, and lots of 'em. I'm also getting a bit of warm bath water. I doubt that was intentional. The mid to finish showcases some grape-like qualities. And it lingers. Some earth, and a bit of vine fruit sticks around after each sip. The biggest issue with the flavor profile is the lack of freshness. It's like a PB&J that's been sitting in my fridge for a few days, not just freshly made.

M: As with all of the FB beers this evening, this is yet again thin and undercarbonated. The lack of real texture or body puts a hurtin' on this one.

O: Not quite the stunner I was expecting. There's nothing directly wrong with the nose or flavors here, yet this isn't as expressive as I would have liked. A decent gimmick beer, no more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2012 02:56:25 | More by Rhettroactive

drabmuh

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer on tap at Churchkey, I've been avoiding these Funky Buddha reviews since I did not enjoy the event very much at all and the beers were generally mediocre or worse, the most surprising and best thing about this beer by far was the aroma. Nailed it fellows, smells like a peanut butter sandwich. The rest? eh...Also at the time of this review, this is #5 on the "Top Beers - American Brown Ale" list on beeradvocate.com. I was quite excited to try this.

Beer is dirty brown and dark with a lazy off white head of small bubbles, some lacing, moderate carbonation, looks OK.

Aroma is a peanut butter sandwich, a lot of nuts, interesting, sweet. Nailed it.

Beer tastes like peanuts, salt and dirt. Nope, not loving it. I get it but not every concept makes for a good beer. Too much peanut, too much salt, too much of everything. There is already a Short's brewing company out there making horrible beers, give up.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2012 20:04:23 | More by drabmuh

billab914

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Churchkey the other night. It arrived a caramel brown looking color with a thin white lacing scattered across the top. It's got a little bit or a ruby colored highlight to it.

Aroma is very strong with peanuts. I get a little bit of jam sweetness and some bready malts, but the peanuts dominate. It's a little like sticking your nose into a bag of ballpark peanuts.

The taste also is best described as a bag of ballpark peanuts. It's got a little sweet jam in the finish, but the peanuts dominate. The peanut flavor is pretty spot on with a bag of peanuts. While the flavors are pretty interesting, I can't say it's great.

The mouthfeel is thin and a little watery with low carbonation. Overall, it was a cool and interesting beer. It tasted exactly like peanuts to me which wasn't bad, but maybe a little odd. It was nice to try once but not something I'd want to drink often.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 15:43:41 | More by billab914

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's during PBW. This was the one FB beer that really didn't "wow me."

The beer pours a reddish brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is complex and unusual, as I pick up lavendar, light peanut butter and dust. The flavor profile seemed to replicate the nose pretty closely, but with some sweet grape jelly flavor as well. The beer was a bit thin on the palate as well, which I guess is to be expected for a 6% abv. beer. Otherwise, the beer was light to medium bodied, with a fairly long finish. Alcohol is virtually undetectable in this beer.

An interesting beer, no doubt, but I just didn't really find myself digging it. Still glad I was able to try it...

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2012 12:57:10 | More by johnmichaelsen

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at ChurchKey.

Pours a dark brown with a thin off-white head. The smell on this beer is absolutely phenomenal - as pretty much everyone has said, it smells exactly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in an incredible way. The flavor isn't quite as impressive, and I wish there was more jelly going on. The peanut really takes over the flavor and mixes nicely with the bread-y malt. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with nice carbonation. Overall, this beer earns an A+ for creativity. It's not a beer I'd want to drink a ton of, but a 4 oz. pour was perfect. Honestly, if it had more grape in the flavor, this beer might be amazing, instead it was an impressively successful experiment.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2012 00:34:19 | More by starrdogg

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark coppertinted brown, full fluffy khaki bubbles, decent retention. As advertised, leads with a combination of fresh roasted and ground nuts, creamy peanut butter, notes of dark berries solid but not as in force as the nuttyness with a bready malt backbone. Taste brings a more balanced combination of nuts and fruit, bready malts still present with some moderate toast charachter. Medium bodied, creamy. Another fantastic food-centric brew from these guys.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 13:18:32 | More by rfgetz

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at Capone's in to a little snifter.

No Crusts looks semi black but is dark brown in color with a small amount of off white foam on top leaving small splotches here and there. A brown ale indeed. Smell is peanut butter and jelly. A lot of nuts in the scent with some jam backing. small hint of roast with malt backing. Taste is all nuts with some jelly/jam. Not your typical brown ale, but the base is not totally lost. Feel is pretty light with some bubbles but not super carbed up. I could go for a pint of this and enjoy every drop. Not your typical flavor from a simple style, but what's advertised is delivered so I deem this a success.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 06:56:44 | More by onix1agr

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap into a snifter at Capones

A- pours dark brown, with no head on it. Huh.

S- aroma is strong with peanuts, and the nutty character is great

T- starts off sweet with the jelly taste, with the peanut butter flavors also coming through. Actually getting a little bit of cocoa in the finish.

M- very thin body...probably good, given how strong the flavors are

O- if you're looking for a PBJ beer, this will do it for you. It's a nice novelty, but I'm not sure I could really drink more than one in a sitting

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 01:02:10 | More by bigfnjoe

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-murky brown color at the base with a lighter red brown emerging toward the surface, no significant head or lacing

S-peanuts, yeasty bread

T-peanut butter, toasted bread, and some sweetness (jelly), not much else of note

F-light body with light carbonation, slick oily feel yet not a lot of body

O-an interesting brown ale with novel flavors but wish it had a little more body

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 00:20:23 | More by MDDMD

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap into a 5.5 oz snifter at Capone's. Funky Buddha event for Philly Beer Week.

A: Dark amber colored body with some brownish hues throughout the body. The darker color gives this one a hazy looking appearance, nothing much to see through. A small off-white head was there but gone quickly. Little retention and lace.

S: Toasted white bread, grape jelly, chunky peanut butter, oil and a general buttery aroma. It's literally dead-on to the incarnation of a PB&J sandwich. Not as potent as I would have expected but still really nice smelling.

T: It took a few sips to get all the flavors. Like others have stated, it almost was like it separated into different layers. Perhaps the oils from the peanuts caused this? At any rate, big crusty, bready flavors up front along with a sweet grape jelly. Towards the bottom was creamy, nutty peanut butter. Not too sweet and just downright delicious.

M: Nicely carbonated, medium-bodied, oily and a bit of stick from the fruit sweetness. For the ABV and style, this seemed just about right.

My only comparison to a PB&J beer is from Spring House Brewing Company and they're both awesome incarnations of the classic childhood sandwich. An absolute must try if you get the chance. Thanks for sending the awesome beers to Philly guys!

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 18:53:49 | More by ShanePB

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Thanks to Capone's, BV, and FB for bringing these beers up for Philly Beer Week.

A bit disappointed by this one, but it was definitely interesting all over. First off, you gotta be careful with this beer...it stratifies incredibly (at least it did at Capone's; it did not when I had it elsewhere). Most of the pours I saw, including my own, had two strictly defined layers: on the bottom was a murky, swampy brown layer (hello, peanut butter), and floating on top was a clear mahogany brown layer (hello, jelly). This was all topped off with a thin layer of tan head. (I have a snifter of Jell-O 1-2-3 in front of me.) Contrary to most reviews, the aroma I got was pretty much pure grape jelly. I actually decided to give this a little mix with a straw before tasting it. Grape jelly was easily the dominant factor here, and yes, it was distinctively jelly, not just "vinous notes" or like a grape beer. I really did taste the jelly. The peanut came in as more of a shady afterthought and really only when the beer warmed up a little bit, earthy and chalky at that. And actually...crusts? I tasted them. False advertising! :P Seriously though, there was a distinct breadiness going on. This was basically a nutty brown ale infused with grape jelly. The body was pretty thin and weak, which was my main gripe about the beer (but don't be offended, FB, I feel that way about most brown ales). This is not like biting into a PB&J sandwich. It's good for what it is, and quite innovative, but overall, after tonight's event, I probably wouldn't bother getting this one again even if I did get the chance. Compared to their other beers, which typically deliver what they promise and more, this was a bit disappointing.

This was definitely my least favorite of Funky Buddha's brews. Still good, but my least favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 01:40:56 | More by Rifugium

Beerisheaven

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Funky Buddha event at Capones today. Poured into a small snifter approximately 5.5 ounces in size.

A - Reddish brown with a small head that leaves no real lacing. Hard to get an accurate read, in that a lot of the glasses were per-poured so that the beer had settled somewhat when it arrived.

S - Not overpowering by any means. Aroma of earthy peanuts and not much else. To be honest, somewhat disappointing a bit. Not much else and certainly no jelly or grape characteristics from what I could make out.

T - Typical brown ale with taste of chalky, earthy peanut. Had a couple of these at different temps and not very different warmer or colder. Good but nothing extra- ordinary or over the top when compared to their porter at the event. Wanted something more out of this whether it be richness, depth, or another layer of flavor involved. For me, a traditional brown ale with a peanut infusion behind it.

M - Nice but nothing noteworthy, a tad thinning.

O - A nice beer but out of the four offered, I had this number three of the four and that is only because I am not a hop person so the ginger IPA ranks fourth by default. A great event today, thanks Matt and the gang frm FB. Please come back again!

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 01:19:19 | More by Beerisheaven

jsanford

Georgia

4.9/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at Brewvival 2012

Pours a dark amber with a thin white ring. Oh my goodness. Straight-up PB&J. This is sick. Earthy peanuts, roasted malt, baked bread, and grape jelly. You can make out every distinct aromas in this beer. Wonka-esque. Taste is similarly impressive, and once again you can taste each individual component somehow. Roasted peanuts, sweet grape jelly, toasted bread. Insane. Mouthfeel is smooth and slightly sticky, with a medium body and good carbonation. Hands-down the highlight of the day. Amazing doesn't even begin to describe it. I want more.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2012 17:33:09 | More by jsanford

brentk56

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: The Cola brown-colored liquid is capped by tan foam; leaves a decent amount of lacing behind

Smell: Grape jelly with peanut butter underneath

Taste: The grape jelly starts out the flavor profile, with the peanut butter coming by mid-palate; nicely balanced in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Really enjoyed the way this comes together in the finish, balancing out both the peanut butter and jelly elements; as unusual a beer as you will find

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 22:18:04 | More by brentk56

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap at EBF

Pours a deep brown color with some reddish hues. Thin beige head fades out and leave a collar of lacing on the edges.

Wow, this literally smells exactly like a toasted PB&J sandwich. Nutty with bread crust and some touches of sweet, fruity jam.

Bready and malty up front with plenty of peanut and nutty tones. Toasted bread crust followed by sweet, fruity jelly flavor. Touches of strawberry and grape. Nice backbone, giving way to a PB&J finish that lingers on the tongue.

Medium body, well carbonated, a little sticky on the tongue. This was another "whoa, are they serious?" moments for me at the Funky Buddha table during the fest. Such an awesome beer experience.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 16:03:31 | More by xnicknj

oline73

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this during the EBF, I was able to have several pours.

Appearance: Pours a reddish dark amber with a finger of off white head and a good amount of retention.

Smell: Nutty and full of fresh peanut butter. There is a slight malty sweetness and a hint of fruit.

Taste: The peanut butter dominates here as well. There is some fruit showing up, but no real tartness. The malt gives this one a bready flavor that works very well with the other tastes. Tastes like a PB&J.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with fluffy carbonation and a dry finish that seems to be very appropriate for the flavor.

Overall: This is an awesome beer. I wouldn't want to drink it every day, but when I'm in the mood for a beer that tastes like peanut butter and jelly, this would be my go to.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 21:46:44 | More by oline73

mdfb79

New York

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 02/03/12 notes. Had on tap at EBF day session up in Boston, MA.

a - Pours a very dark mahogany brown color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of peanuts, peanut butter, bready malts, toasted malts, and light wheat. Smells exactly like a peanut sandwich...really cool and I love the nose.

t - Tastes of peanuts, bready malts, toasted malts, peanut butter, light burnt malts and roasted malts. Not quite as peanut butter sandwich-ish as the nose, but still very nice.

m - Light to medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Very easy to drink brown ale, great body.

o - Overall I thought this was a really cool beer. A bit of a "gimmick" beer, but it works well and was one of the cooler beers I had at EBF. Nose really smells exactly like a PB sandwich, and it's easy to drink. Would love to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 02:01:44 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Keg at EBF.

Brown with hints of a rosy purplish like color, very light head covering.

Nose peanut butter, nutty all around, light toasty brown malts, faintest hint of raspberry jelly when I really breath deep.

Taste big time pbj, peanutbutter, raspberry jam fruit, light toasty malts, nutty and hint caramel like malts, even a light malty bread like flavor, with decent sweetness, juicy, dry finish, light bitterness.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

Overall really interesting, like a pure PB&J in beer form. Done pretty well, drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 18:01:37 | More by jlindros

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured out as a really nice looking brown color with a light tan head on top. The smell of the beer was loaded with Peanuts Butter aromas and some minimal grains. The taste of the beer was just out of this world really. I can't stress the fact that this beer tastes like a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. It's got the bread, it's the PB&J to the fullest level it possibly can. The mouthfeel is smooth and rich. Overall this beer is just great... It's something that you need to experience for yourself. I'm very glad to have tried this and I hope that one day I'll get to visit FBL to have more.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 05:53:25 | More by Knapp85