Morning Wood - The Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery

ELS

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at FBL's second anniversary party.

A - Dark brown with a thin layer of foam. Fairly opaque with the color somewhat murky.

S - Coffee (but not overpowering), definitely some bourbon, sweet maple. Smells enticing but not quite as great as some other FBL porters and stouts.

T - Hands down one of the best tasting stouts I've ever had. The bourbon blends so well with the other flavors that you feel like you are sipping an excellent, smooth cordial not a beer. The 11.2 % abv is well hidden and makes it easy to drink fast but who would want to do that?

M - This beer feels very smooth/velvety and almost as enjoyable before its swallowed. I don't recall any stickyness like other FBL offerings. I know "that's what she said"

O - Definitely my favorite beer from Funky Buddha. I feel very lucky to have tried it since it is rarely brewed. I've never had Dark lord, KBS or even BCBS but I would have to believe Morning Wood is at least in the same league.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 18:12:17 | More by ELS

bbes347

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.3%

05-13-2013 15:42:37 | More by bbes347

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev 0%

01-09-2013 21:45:18 | More by Gushue3

BeerThursdays

Delaware

4.75/5  rDev 0%

01-04-2013 17:11:13 | More by BeerThursdays

tvan

Florida

4.75/5  rDev 0%

12-05-2012 18:17:52 | More by tvan

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.68/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at the Funky Buddha's 2nd Anniversary Party. Served in a Funky Buddha snifter. This version is apparently genuinely bourbon barreled in Palm Ridge barrels.

Appearance - Like Wide Awake, it's black without being inky. Some wisps of khaki bubbles. Slightly sticky.

Smell - So it smells nice than Wide Awake, but not enough to mark it up. It's got the same brilliant coffee aroma blended with the smoked malts, but the barrel mellows both. Bourbon with just the slightest hint of earthiness and oak. Subtle barrel character.

Taste - And that subtle barrel character is what really separates this from Wide Awake. It's definitely not overpowering with the bourbon. It's there, but it blends with the coffee and mutes the acidity. It amplifies the earthy character of the coffee and amplifies the maple. The smoke acts as a counterpart to the sweetness and reminds me just a little bit of CBS. It's phenomenal.

Mouthfeel - Nothing near 11.5%. I nearly gulped it down in hopes of ordering a second, but it was long gone. None of the astringent characteristics of Wide Awake come through.

Overall - One of the best tasting stouts I've ever had. I don't know who called this an RIS, but it definitely isn't. It's all about the blending of smoke, maple, bourbon, and coffee to create a near perfect balance, a la CBS. I can't wait for Funky Buddha to open their new brewery and make this a year-round 12 ounce for $9.99 a sixer. Ok, so I'm dreaming.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 04:24:33 | More by Alieniloquium

resistdefy

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev 0%

05-26-2012 16:26:56 | More by resistdefy

KevSal

California

4.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-17-2012 06:48:50 | More by KevSal

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -15.8%

02-20-2012 15:00:10 | More by djrn2

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Keg at EBF.

Creamy darker head, super dark brown beer with a hint of rosy light.

Nose fresh espresso roasted coffee, chocolate, dark and bakers, pure cocoa, hint of bourbon and oak, with touch vanilla as well.

Taste is pure heaven, lots of dark chocolate and cocoa, fresh espresso, coffee, touch maple and some vanilla, bit more whisky but not sure if bourbon, and hints of smoke that remind me of bacon somewhat. Some bitterness, no burnt flavors, earthy hops on finish. Smooth and just delicious.

Mouth is full bodied, luscious and a bit creamy, barely any booze.

Overall just amazing. Awesome flavors, blended well and smooth, very little booze, so delicious, I wish I could get more. No bad off flavors either. This was literally THE talk of the entire fest.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 12:55:41 | More by jlindros

andylipp

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -5.3%

02-11-2012 20:17:09 | More by andylipp

mdfb79

New York

4.63/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

From 02/03/12 notes. On tap at NOTB up in Boston, MA.

a - Pours a pitch black color with an inch or two of dark tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks like a pretty great RIS.

s - Smells of coffee grinds, whiskey, vanilla, oak, roasted malts, espresso, and dark chocolate. Pure coffee smell to it, and the whiskey and vanilla comes through nicely. No real maple in the nose but still really nice.

t - Tastes of coffee grinds, roasted malts, dark chocolate, whiskey, vanilla, sweet dark fruits, maple/sugar, and oak. A little bit sweeter than the nose and less whiskey then the nose, but I still really like it.

m - Medium to full body and moderate carbonation. Thick like motor oil, but not hot at all. Very nice body.

o - Overall a really great RIS, and one of the best beers of the weekend. Pure coffee in the nsoe and taste, but the whiskey comes through nicely. Great body, would love to have this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 01:45:09 | More by mdfb79

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -5.3%

02-08-2012 21:43:09 | More by UncleJimbo

Jefe73

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -5.3%

02-08-2012 17:31:38 | More by Jefe73

oline73

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was able to grab 3 pours (2 of my own and one from my wife) at Night of the Barrels.

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown to black color with a layer of smooth tan head that fades to a ring around the pour and leaves some decent lacing on the plastic cup.

Smell: Sweet malt up front with nutty coffee, maple, and some roast. I'm getting some mild alcohol, but not very much.

Taste: This is a very sweet beer, but it works quite well. The barrel seems to enhance the maple flavor, but the coffee stands out as well. I'm not getting a whole lot from the bacon here, but everything I'm picking up I'm loving.

Mouthfeel: The body is thick with smooth carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I love me some maple stouts, so this is right up my alley. I was going to give it a 5 here, but then I tried the regular version the next day and enjoyed that even more. Fantastic and I feel very fortunate to have tried it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2012 03:48:03 | More by oline73

brystmar

New York

5/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes at NotB this past weekend. Was fortunate enough to enjoy 2.5 pours of this gem before it kicked.

Extremely viscous and pitch-black body. Mounds of dark brown head stew on the surface, clutching the sides of my tasting cup for dear life. Hard to believe this isn't nitro.

Freshly roasted coffee erupts from the foam, turning heads across the room. Roasty malts and caramel sugar join the fray. Reminds me of a fresh mocha espresso drink from my favorite coffee shop. Easily one of the best aromas I've ever smelled from *any* beverage, let alone a beer.

Taste is nothing short of revolutionary. Everything from the nose is here in full force with unbelievable depth of flavor and complexity at every corner. Whiskey barrels impart just the right amount of flavor; many brewers these days go nuts and over-emphasize the barrel character, but this was just right.

Huge, creamy body carries the torrent of flavors home flawlessly. Morning Wood is on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but still balances exceptionally well. The litmus test for this is my brother (who despises sweetness in beer, stouts in particular), and his illuminated face confirmed my suspicion that this was his new favorite beer.

It's easy to get caught up in the fury of this magical nectar while you're drinking it and make superlative claims left and right, which is why I decided to wait until after the weekend to collect my thoughts. That said, I can confidently say this is the best beer I've ever had. Morning Wood is simply on another level from every other stout.

How Funky Buddha managed to outclass every single other brewer at NotB & EBF is a mystery, but that isn't important; I just need more of this beer!

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 16:35:42 | More by brystmar

nmann08

Maryland

5/5  rDev +5.3%

02-07-2012 14:20:34 | More by nmann08

trxxpaxxs

New York

5/5  rDev +5.3%

02-06-2012 18:12:00 | More by trxxpaxxs

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -5.3%

02-06-2012 04:04:52 | More by xnicknj

JAHMUR

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +5.3%

02-06-2012 01:39:33 | More by JAHMUR

nickhiller

Texas

5/5  rDev +5.3%

02-05-2012 22:25:00 | More by nickhiller

dimenhetfield

Florida

5/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Traveled all the way from FL to show the Buddha support and to try this beer. Well the Buddha didn't disappoint in the slightest. Easily the best non sour beer at NOTB. The coffee, maple, whiskey barrel character was all there and very well balanced. Way to kill em Buddha!!!

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 19:22:43 | More by dimenhetfield

acurtis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -15.8%

02-05-2012 18:51:30 | More by acurtis

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev 0%

02-05-2012 16:37:29 | More by coreyfmcdonald

garrisonp

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.3%

02-05-2012 16:30:27 | More by garrisonp