No Crusts - The Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery

DearthVader

California

2.7/5  rDev -36.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

22 oz poured to my Lost Abbey tumbler. Thanks dboon!

Pours a charred brown color with a very light tan head that climbs to the top of the glass at the blink of an eye. I poured maybe 3 ounces and the glass was filled with foam. After it settled, I poured very carefully and got about 8 ounces before it was near climbing over the top of the glass.

The smell is incredible. After smelling the first time, you can't believe what you just smelled coming out of this beer. It's like you're 6 years old all over again. Gobs of peanut butter, wheat bread, slight hint of strawberry jam. The peanut butter aroma has a great roasted quality to it.

Taste is upfront with the roasted peanuts. The bread character is very overwhelming in this beer. It takes over and lets slight strawberry spill through once it warms.

Mouthfeel is too light with an insane amount of carbonation. It is like drinking coke straight from the can. Almost offensive. Impossible to take down in large quantities.

Overall, I can see what they were going for. I personally didn't like it too much, but I applaud them for their creativity. I'm glad I got to try this beer and see what all the hype is about.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 07:47:45 | More by DearthVader

kfsv034

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

When Ryan first mentioned this beer to me months ago I was shaking my head thinking there is no way. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Pours a mild brown with vibrant crimson hues when held up to the light. A pillowy 1 finger head that disappears leaving a glassy top with an ever so slight cream ring around the edge of the glass.

Smells fan-freakin-tastic. If I was blind I would think mom put a peanut but and jelly sandwich in front of me. Really brings back memories of mom fixing an after snack after a long day of horsin around outside with Ur friends. Quite nostalgic!

No way the taste could live up to the nose right? WRONG! Idk what else can be said other than I'm eating a pb&j right now. Smooth creamy peanut butter, wonderfully fruity grape jelly and oddly enough a toasted bread flavor that makes the beer incredibly unique

Mouthfeel like all Buddha beers is incredible not super thick and not to thin just perfect

Overall I'm supremely impressed with this beer. As a homebrewer I've just found my next challenge. Great job guys!

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 00:04:21 | More by kfsv034

gregmoscetti

California

2.28/5  rDev -46.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Thanks to Urbancaver for pulling this one out on his visit.

Being the average middle class kid, raised solely on PB&J for the better part of 12 years, I was stoked to try this one. Furthermore, the rarity of it and relative trade frenzy around it made me curious to say the least.

In the glass... It just looked like your basic brown ale, maybe even a little light in color. On the nose... yup, it smelled exactly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I mean dead on. First taste... wtf?

I dont know how the nose was so spot on when it tasted so badly. Widly over carbonated, it just tasted like prickly peanut seltzer. The beer had little to no body, no "jelly" of and kind and a weak seltzer-like after taste. I took another sip... Yup. Exactly the same. This just tasted like a gimmicky beer that slipped out for trade bait. Glad I didn't bite.

I wanted this to be good, I really did. But it wasn't. It was easily the worst beer at the share. Hopefully the other Funky Buddha beers are worth a damn. Not that I would trade for any of them.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 17:57:27 | More by gregmoscetti

calcio360jrd

Florida

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap multiple times at the funky buddha.

I can some up the review for this beer in 1 sentence, even though most people would want to write paragraphs on it....

It tastes just like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

Ok i'll write a little more. The nose on this beer is beyond belief 10 years ago of what I thought a beer could be. Go to a store that has the machine that grinds peanut butter in front of you and stick your nose as close as you can to it, that is exactly what this beer smells like and tastes like!

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 15:40:37 | More by calcio360jrd

dimenhetfield

Florida

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer is just redonkulous. People were telling me that it was exactly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, but I was still a little skeptical. I'm now a true believe that everything about this beer is straight up a PB&J in a glass. The aroma and flavor is just so spot on that is nuts, literally. The peanuts are pretty dominate here but once you take your first sip you get the sweet jelly flavor as well. Needless to say this beer is awesome and I highly recommend it. Takes you right back to childhood.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2011 13:40:29 | More by dimenhetfield

GOGRANDE

Colorado

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Sitting here with the Buddha family. Tasting some goodies. Ryan handed me this unlabeled bottled. Let's see whats up.

A: solid murky nut brown with a little stickiness and a fair head.

S: what the heck... It smells like someone is holding a beer pb and j under my nose. If I was blind folded... I honestly could not tell the difference. I am shocked.

T: great taste. Peanut up front then grape jelly all over the place with a mild roasted nut finish. This is creative brewing at it's best.
Well done.

M: medium feel. Pretty standard for a brown. Could be a pinch more chewy, but still good.

O: this beer totally nails what they are going for. Its pretty much dead on. Great job guys. Very creative.

This review is dedicated to my good friend "Pete".

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 01:44:24 | More by GOGRANDE

dboon

Florida

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

On tap at the Funky Buddha. Murky reddish brown pour with a small white head. I thought the MBCP nose was incredible but the No Crust is down right insane. Total freakin’ chunky roasted peanut butter with undercurrents of dried berries. The taste is so cool. Massive peanut butter flavors offset by mixed berry jam, apricots, and blackberries. Kudos to Kevin, Ryan, and the rest of the Buddha crew....

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2011 22:08:42 | More by dboon

Jefe73

Florida

4.97/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this one on tap several times at the Funky Buddha last weekend for their Wide Awake Its Morning release. Words can not describe how perfectly they nailed everything about this beer, you just have to taste it.

A - Pours a sort of reddish brown with a very small tan head that quickly fades and left minimal lacing as I savored every sip of this one.

S - Bam!! As every other review has stated so far, this smells like a straight up PB&J sandwich. I can't believe how blown away I was on the smell alone...couldn't wait to take my first sip. Loads of peanut buttery goodness in the nose which is followed up by the sweet smell of raspberry.

T - Just like mom used to make. Incredible! I can't believe the way they've managed to blend these flavors and pull of PB&J in a glass. You get lots of creamy, roasted peanut flavor up front and then the jelly sweetness moves right in as you finish your sip. Notes of raspberry, strawberry and grape are present here and are balanced perfectly with the residual nuttiness on the back end. Perfection!

M - Medium body with a nice level of carbonation. Again, everything is perfectly balanced.

O - It has been awhile since I tasted a beer that floored me just on one sip alone. The creativity in this beer is amazing and I wish everyone could taste this just once. Nice job, Funky Buddha!

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 16:13:38 | More by Jefe73

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Casey or this bottle. Nice dark brown with light lacing. The smell is as described, peanut butter and jelly. Peanuts is stronger than the jelly which is more hidden. Taste is roasty, buttery, with a light tropical jelly taste. Lighter mouthfeel than would have expected but still good. Overall the beer delivers as expected for a specialty beer. Would gladly drink this again and recommend for those who seek the unique styles.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 22:37:29 | More by spycow

vdoz3

New York

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

Tasted during a recent visit to the lounge. From notes.

The head dies down quickly on this brew without much lacing, and while held up to the light it's surprisingly translucent; seems more like a small amber beer than a brown ale. But for such a light appearance the smell is overwhelming. Smooth, earthy peanut butter. There's some faint sweetness of jelly, but it's definitely a PB dominated nose.
The jelly comes up in full force in the taste, though. Neither flavor dominates, rather the peanut butter smoothness and fruity sweetness trade the limelight back and forth as the brew goes down. Smooth, clean finish, reminding me that it's actually a brown ale and not a sandwich.
Delicious until the end, the beer indeed offers the taste of PB&J (smooth and sweet) without the crusts (no roasty/malty/wheaty/bready flavors anywhere!). Great beer to try, but how many could I drink? That's a good question. How many PB&J sandwiches could I eat? I think its rich flavors might overwhelm me before I got to a second pint, no matter how easy to drink the beer itself is.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2011 15:47:10 | More by vdoz3

polisanl

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On draft @ Funky Buddha

No carbonation, head or lacing, the reason for average on appearance. Something about bubbles and head, takes my eyes to a happy place. Seriously tastes and smells like a PB&J sandwich after coming out of a blender. Incredibly unique. Not thick making it easy drinking, until the sweetness in it creeps up. Somewhat difficult finishing the last bit of my second one. A must try for any beer drinker, even if liquid PB&J is not your speed...

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 17:46:44 | More by polisanl

islandboi8204

Hawaii

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

Pours brown with reddish hue and a foamy head that quickly dissapates.

Wow. This smells incredible, like a straight up PBJ sandwich. Tons of peanuts, bread, raspberries and strawberry jam. Unbelievable aroma.

Doesn't taste quite as good as it smells. Basically peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread. The strawberry jam is well balanced with the roasty peanuts, very impressive.

Low to medium body a ton of carbonation. Almost like a can of soda.

Overall, the beer tastes great, but the smell is out of this world. A really interesting beer that I'd like to try again.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 03:16:00 | More by islandboi8204

biggsbowler

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Funky Buddha - This beer is great!!! I never like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and still do not like them. However, this beer makes me want to like them. Lot of peanuts and jelly in the nose. The taste is just how wish a peanut butter and jelly sandwich should taste like. Keep up the solid work, Funky Buddha.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 17:25:54 | More by biggsbowler

jcreegan

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Once I heard the Funky Buddha released this beer I rushed over to check it out. I didn't want to miss this one like I did the Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. This is a peanut butter and jelly brown ale. It smells and tastes just like the classic sandwich.

The color is a rich dark brown. The only disappointment was the minimal head which left no lacing. The smell is true to the name and exactly what you hoped for. Taste is smooth and sweet, a good mix of sweet peanut butter and jelly. No bitterness at all and not overbearing. The flavor resonated in your mouth and forced me to order a second.

Overall, if you like semi-sweet beers this could be a solid session beers. The ABV is not too strong and it is a very drinkable. I am sure they will tap out of it today so If you are in the area head over and give it a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2011 15:45:40 | More by jcreegan

electrobunny

Florida

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

Deep brown body with mahogany edges and a thin off-white head that quickly turned to lace. The aroma exudes peanut butter and bready sweetness. Reminds me of the PB&J sandwiches I lived off of in Middle school. Flavor delivers a bold peanut butter note with a fruity strawberry-like finish. Plenty of residual peanut flavor in the aftertaste but the flash of fruit comes through nicely. Sweet underlying toasted grain and maybe some subtle caramel. Medium bodied with decent carbonation. Juicy mouthfeel with a slightly dry finish. Absolutely spot on in flavor. PB&J in a bottle. Simple and not as cloying as I thought it might be. Amazed at how well put together this is. Funky Buddha does it again. 

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 13:52:54 | More by electrobunny

Delraypete

Florida

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Chimay glass filled to the brim (so no head). Aroma of roasted peanuts is prevalent as well at the front of the taste. When you swallow it switches to grape jelly - pretty unbelievable actually and the reason behind giving it a 5 for taste b/c it does what it says. The flavors are so right on. Mouthfeel is average with light carbonation. This is a fun one, but I wouldn't buy it on a regular basis b/c I want a beer, not a sweet liquid snack.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2011 19:40:28 | More by Delraypete

TheCervezaChica

Vermont

5/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have had the opportunity to have this beer on several different occasions on tap at the Buddha and each time I drink it I am amazed and very impressed. I could smell this beer all day long.

Upon drinking the beer, it has the perfect balance of the peanut taste as well as the fruity jelly taste. It is great that the base beer is a brown ale as I don't believe it would taste as good with a porter.

I don't feel that I could drink more than one of these in a sitting, but it is definitely a nice treat for a change. I will take this beer over a PB&J sandwich any day. The Buddha definitely nailed this beer spot on.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2011 22:01:40 | More by TheCervezaChica

emeister1

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A friend of mine told me that there was a beer that tasted just like peanut butter and jelly. Part of me thought that it would be terrible, but a much larger part of me wanted to have a glass. It is exactly what you would expect, the aroma is mostly peanut, but there is a fruit taste well blended with the peanut taste. In other words, it tastes exactly what you would want a peanut butter jelly beer to taste like. Personally I wouldn't have it as a session beer because I'm not a huge fan of jelly, but I think that everyone should have at least one glass of this beer. If you like peanut butter and jelly this beer is a must have.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2011 06:49:00 | More by emeister1

bbqdude

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I missed this the first time it was served a couple of weeks ago, so I was excited to have a second opportunity to try it. First, let me say that if I had been blindfolded I would not be able to tell this beer from a PB&J sandwich based on smell. It was that spot-on. For a brown ale named "No Crusts PB&J", this beer is everything I expected. The only reason I gave it a 4 for tast is because I am not a PB&J sandwich fan. However, I would definitely have No Crusts again, though not in large quantities.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 00:55:10 | More by bbqdude