Funky Buddha Brewery, where to start? There's a lot going on yet the vibe of this place just draws you back time and time again. It's big. And I mean cavernous. It seems like it just keeps going when you first walk in. You have the retail space (little more than a counter) just as you enter. This is where you can buy merchandise, beer or sign up for tours (highly recommend the tour). Then it opens to a massive bar that seems to keep going and loads of seating. You have high tables, low tables, eclectic, vintage furniture scattered around and some of the coolest bench seating I've seen in a while that runs along two of the walls. You have outdoor space, private spaces you can rent and as it continues further back you have a game room that consists of arcade games, cornhole and my favorite, Giant Jenga! There's a food counter in the game room which runs separately from your tab upfront (this is really weird to me and something I feel they need to change). They have food menus laying throughout the front and back but you cannot order your food where you order your beer and you cannot have it all on one tab. It's two separate entities existing within the one space. The waitstaff can tell you about the food and they will clear your dishes away, they just can't take any food orders.
Moving on, let's talk about the vibe and atmosphere. It's alive! If you are creative or you are the type of person who is energized by your surroundings, be prepared. The art on the walls and the way the main room is designed it will invigorate you. They do have free wifi so you can theoretically work or create and have a pint or two (obviously my favorite part). There always seems to be a buzz of life that echoes throughout the space. I suspect this is by design. the beauty in this is that while you are here, time slows and the stress of the outside fades away if only for a little while. It's just a well-designed space that invites you in and encourages you to stay for a while without the pressure of buying (although I do recommend trying a flight). The staff are friendly, attentive and always in a jovial mood. It's clean, bright, open and airy. The garage doors on the far wall allow a lot of natural light in and if your timing is good you will see a train or two go by. There are lots of windows that allow for the viewing of the production areas which is great for any enthusiast.
Now, let's talk about that event space in the back and the one even further back (you only see this on the tour). Behind the game room is another space that can host small or large parties, get-togethers or even a wedding. Funky Buddha was very smart to create this space. By using garage doors as a wall it allows for versatility and scaling to whatever size is needed. In the far back, there is the barrel room that also doubles as a larger event space with lots of photo ops. It's a brilliant secondary revenue stream and cost savings for anyone who is looking to host an event as you have food, venue and really good beer all under one roof.
Before I go let's talk about branding for a moment. Whoever does their marketing is brilliant. It is subtle and spread throughout from the flight boards to wall art to small statues sitting along the bar. It not only imprints the Buddha into your psyche but it also emits a certain calm and zen into your mood. But one thing is for sure, you know you are at Funky Buddha Brewery and that is the best part.
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