Last Snow - The Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery

Agold

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Was really happy to have this beer on tap at capones. There are very few beers that literal make me say "holy shit". This was one of them. Definitely the best beer of the event.

Poured black with no head. Usually there is something, but nothing. The aroma was one of the best of any beer I have ever had. Lots of coconut, caramel, and coffee. The coffee was extremely fresh and the coconut was pungent. It smelled, and subsequently tasted like a mounds bar with coffee, except much better than any mounds bar or coffee I have had. The only complaint I would have is that It could have used a bit more of a heavy mouthfeel. Otherwise, it is astounding what this brewery could pack into 6.5%. I had high hopes for this beer and it without a doubt delivered.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 04:15:01 | More by Agold

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-dark brown black color with a small tan head and no significant lacing

S-rich coffee, chocolate, coconut

T-coffee, chocolate, toasted coconut, roasted malt, and even hint of mint

F-medium body with light to medium carbonation, smooth and rich

O-a delicious Porter, a great sipper. Makes me want to seek out the Maple Bacon Coffee

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 00:41:25 | More by MDDMD

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

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

Yes, yes, this was the best of the bunch for sure. Dark brown-black body with a thin cap of tan head; retained as a small ringlet and left a bit of lacing. Aroma: think macaroon cappuccino. This is another great example of me liking in a beer what I do not like otherwise. Specifically coconut. And coffee. Taste was an overwhelming surge of rich coffee, sweet like a sugary cappuccino, laced with chewy chocolate, vanilla, and lesser notes of coconut, and even a bit of cinnamon and mint. Great. Full body, creamy smooth mouthfeel, tasted great cooler and warmer. Could probably pass for a stout, as full-bodied as it was. Very nice. Want more.

I'll put this one down as my favorite Funky Buddha beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 01:56:15 | More by Rifugium

Beerisheaven

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Capones event today.

A - Pours a rich chocolate brown with a small head that leaves some small residue of lacing on the glass. Looks great in the glass.

S - Rich coconut wafting from the glass entices you for what is to come. Some secondary coffee and roasted malts with a bit of chocolate, but the coconut steals the show here.

T - Some might say that the coconut makes it too sweet, but I found it to be spectacular. Wonderful flavor of coconut, chocolate, and coffee all blended together perfectly in a glass. Could not ask for more to be honest.

M - Very nice, rich enough for a porter. I could drink this all night long. Tremendous.

For me, the star of the show today. Great event, if the Maple Bacon Coffee is better than this, it must be mind blowing.

This was one of the better beers I have had this year. I would search this one out if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 00:49:06 | More by Beerisheaven

islandboi8204

Hawaii

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2012, 22oz bottle split two ways.

Pours very dark brown, with a small whitish foam that settles quickly. Not particularly inviting.

The smell on the other hand is incredible. The aroma pops, just like Wide Awake and No Crusts. A lot of toasted coconut, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and a hint of lime/mint in the background. Delicious and inviting, almost like a Mounds bar crossed with a Andes mint.

The taste is close but doesn't quite match incredible nose, but it's still damn good. Again, a lot of coconut, roasted malts and coffee, milk chocolate.

Mouthfeel is pretty light, I would have liked more body to match the creamy, lush flavors.

Overall, another fantastic beer from Funky Buddha. This one is delicious and unique. I look forward to having more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 02:29:04 | More by islandboi8204

MasterSki

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Jason. Served in a Captain Lawrence tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving off-white foam settles to a thin collar, and a few wisps, but negligible lace. Very dark brown body.

S - Smells a lot like the Maple Bacon Coffee Porter, but with toasted coconut. Delicious. If you want to know more, go read my review of that beer.

T - The taste doesn't quite match the incredible aroma, but it's still very good. A nice collection of coconut, rich coffee, roasted malts, nuts, and milk chocolate.

M - Slightly light in body, even for the listed 6.5% - somewhere on the lighter side of medium in any case. Lower carbonation, and a fairly clean finish.

D - Another very enjoyable brew from Funky Buddha. A bit more heft would make this world-class. I would have no problem drinking a bomber of this on my own. Hopefully the recipes translate when they get their production facility up and running.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 06:05:32 | More by MasterSki

jsanford

Georgia

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Brewvival 2102

Pours a very dark brown with a dense ivory head. Huge aromas of coconut, chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. Like a liquid Mounds bar. Taste is spot-on with the nose, sweet and decadent with tons of coconut flavor. Medium-full bodied, with a creamy mouthfeel and good carbonation. Another amazing Funky Buddha beer, these guys easily stole the show this year.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2012 17:18:47 | More by jsanford

largadeer

California

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Kanos777 shared this one last Saturday. Thanks!

Appearance: A translucent dark brown pour produces half an inch of eggshell colored head that quickly recedes to a collar - not unexpected for a beer with this many adjuncts. Could stand to be a shade or two darker, but who cares.

Smell: Fucking wow, this is outrageously aromatic. Sweet, buttery coconut is by far the dominant quality here at first, but with a bit of swishing and swirling (and spilling) the coffee comes out, along with some cocoa-like dark malt that pairs well with the potency of the coconut.

Palate: In contrast to the aroma, this tastes much more coffee-forward and rather dry. Coconut is present, but it's dialed back a bit; the sheer intensity of coconut on the nose gives an illusion of sweetness that is surprisingly absent from the palate. There's a sturdy backbone of dark malt flavors, with moderate roasted bitterness coming from both malt and coffee. The body is unfortunately rather thin; it's the only real flaw of the beer, but it's not an insubstantial one. I may be unfairly comparing this to Minneapolis Town Hall's Three Hour Tour, which brings a lot of the same flavors with a much heftier mouthfeel due to the liberal use of lactose.

Overall: My first beer from Funky Buddha and I now understand why these guys are so damn hyped right now. Excellent stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 22:15:14 | More by largadeer

brystmar

New York

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

My brother won a 22oz bottle of this from Ryan's Funky Buddha trivia contest on the forums. Shared with him and some great BAs at the end of tonight's tasting.

Un-labeled, unmarked brown bomber with a silver cap. Brown pour like most porters, minimal head or lace. But honestly, none of that matters when you can smell this beauty from across the room.

Heaps of fresh coconut, vanilla, chocolate, and coffee blend in perfect harmony to create one of the best aromas I've ever smelled. Traces of mint in the background. Each of us was hesitant to drink our respective pours because the aroma was so damn good. It's difficult to convey just how incredible this scent actually was, but I'll say this: I would not hesitate to purchase this scent as an air freshener for every room in my apartment.

Ratings over-inflation really deprives this beer of its glory, though I'll readily admit my guilt in this regard. Last Snow is one of the few beers absolutely deserving of a 5.0 in the aroma category. I saved the final ounce of mine for many hours after the bottle kicked just so I could continue sniffing it. Only other beer I've done that with was 2010 Chocolate Rain.

Taste holds a stronger malty character, backed up by coffee and vanilla. Coconut is here too but more subtle. A touch sweet in the middle, yet finishes with a strong surge of coffee and lingering coffee bitterness. A great flavor profile -- no doubt -- but it's overshadowed by this beer's impeccable aroma.

Only real flaw is its lack of body. Toss in a few oats to thicken this brew up and you'll get more arbitrary beer geek points from reviewers like me. But more importantly, please start brewing this on a commercial scale! Ryan & crew have ridiculous talent at brewing, and it's a shame that very few people have had a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Between EBF and tonight, I'm counting my blessings. Not nearly enough BAs have gotten to try these Funky Buddha masterpieces, and I'm glad I got to share two of them with friends this evening. Can't wait for them to expand!

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 05:34:16 | More by brystmar

PorterLambic

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Arrives ensconced in a snifter sporting a wee, espresso-colored head of minuscule bubbles. Head dissipates to a heavy ring in a few moments, helped by the a/c on hurricane replication setting.
Smell is unbelievable with notes of coffee, cocoanut, chocolate, dark brown sugar, vanilla and malt.
Taste is exactly the same. Malt, coffee, cocoanut, vanilla, chocolate, dark brown sugar for some sweetness. This like a Mounds candy bar infused with coffee and put in a glass. OMFG.
Full-bodied, light effervescence and smoooth as silk. Nice coating of the tongue and palate. A hint of root beer shows briefly on the aftertaste. This is dessert for adults. I dare you not to love this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2012 21:48:35 | More by PorterLambic

Sean9689

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Hunahpu's Day 2012.

A - Pours darker brown, cream-colored head, thin ring on top.

S - Amazing nose, to say the least. Coconut, coffee beans, chocolate, light roast, expresso, burnt sugars, and vanilla. You just want to hold this up to your nose and breath...yes, that good.

T - Not quite as good as the nose, yet still excellent. Coconut, expresso, roasted coffee beans, vanilla. For 6.5%, it drinks very cream-like, which is really cool. The milk chocolate notes are quite as evident on the palate, yet still very good. Finish is toasted coconut and chocolate roast.

M - Medium body, rich and smooth, light carbonation, creamy finish.

O - One of my favorites on-tap at Hunahpu's Day. I was left thinking, "what the hell just happened there." Definitely a standout on any tap list, and truthfully, one of the top beers there.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2012 23:21:05 | More by Sean9689

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.53/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Funky Buddha, super psyched to find this on the menu.

Beer pours a near-black with a fluffy tan head. The smell on this one is ridiculous, coconut, chocolate and coffee come together just perfectly. The taste is almost as impressive and follows the aroma. The balance is wonderful, as the coconut and coffee stand out at first and the chocolate shows up in the finish. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than I would like, but that's often a common complaint I have with porters. It certainly doesn't detract from the beer at all. Overall this beer is unique and fantastic, just the kind of thing Funky Buddha is known for. It's also very drinkable for such a crazy sounding beer- I instantly ordered another.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2012 16:09:15 | More by starrdogg

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had during Brewvival 2012! Served from tap into a Brewvival sampler imperial pint. Poured pitch black with a half finger brown head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained good lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, vanilla, coffee, roasted malt, coconut, and chocolate. The flavor was of sweet malt, vanilla, coffee, roasted malt, white chocolate, and a hint of coconut. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a very good brew. When I saw this one come up on the board at Funky Buddha's booth, I kind of batted my eyes at it thinking it was a Winter Warmer based on the name. But WOW! I'm glad I went back and had a go at it. This thing was insane as far as the flavors and aromas coming off of it. I don't know how they got the white chocolate flavor to stick in the flavor, but definite kudos to that one. A definite must try if you get the opportunity, which I hope to get again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

02-29-2012 18:21:28 | More by thagr81us

jcreegan

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer the night it was released. Actually, I had a few of them.

The summary is simple. Imagine an andes mint, coffee, and an american porter. Taste is awesome, smell is great. Poured into a snifter with a little bit of head. Left a little bit of lacing as I drank through the glass.

Smell was great and it matched what the beer tasted like perfectly.

Light and smooth mouthfeel. Very balanced with the right amount of carbonation.

Great beer, which I could have gotten a growler to go. Check it out when you can.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 00:20:10 | More by jcreegan

brentk56

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a tiny mocha head that sits atop the snifter of black liquid and leaves a few strands of lace here and there

Smell: Coffee and coconut with a vague chocolate element

Taste: The coffee and coconut flavors dominate the opening, with undertones of white chocolate developing by mid-palate; the bitterness of the coffee seems supplemented by the hops as it balances out some of the sweetness in the brew through the finish, though coconut elements can continue to be discerned in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation; just a tad flabby

Overall: Very interesting flavor combination (of course, that's what Funky Buddha is known for); while I have a minor quibble with the mouthfeel, this is an outstanding beer

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 16:07:22 | More by brentk56