OAKLAND PARK, FL – April 26, 2013 – We’re pleased to announce the arrival of Funky Buddha Brewery, a full-scale production brewery and tap room located in the heart of Oakland Park. This unique facility — the first of its kind in Broward County — will instantly become South Florida’s largest capacity brewery, offering a spacious bar with 30 tap lines, live music, brewery tours, growlers to-go, and much more. To celebrate the occasion, a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting is scheduled for June 1 from 4pm to 12am.
Since its inception in 2010 at The Funky Buddha Lounge and Brewery in Boca Raton, Funky Buddha’s beers have been synonymous with innovation and flavor, winning national acclaim for melding traditional brewing methods with culinary ingredients such as chocolate, vanilla, tropical fruit, and maple syrup. The new brewery will allow for sudsy stalwarts such as Hop Gun IPA and the delectable Maple Bacon Coffee Porter — which currently ranks in the Top 200 Beers in the World according to beer ratings website Beer Advocate — to be produced on an exponentially larger scale for statewide distribution via Brown Distributing.
“We’re extremely excited that this brewery will allow us to share our passion for craft beer with a larger audience,” says head brewer and founder Ryan Sentz. “We could not have gotten here without the support of the Funky Buddha family and the entire brewing community.”
Sentz, along with brother and co-owner KC Sentz, will launch the facility with a brand new 30-barrel brew house, proudly built in North America. This hulking system will initially push out around 175,000 gallons of draught beer per year; the space’s 18,000-square foot floor plan will provide room for further expansion, allowing for up to five times that quantity. Future plans include a packaging line for bottles and/or cans to service bars, restaurants, and retailers statewide.
In addition to distribution, the Brewery promises to be a huge draw for residents and tourists alike. A 3,000-square foot tasting room and bar will feature 30 drafts lines pouring flagship ‘Buddha brews, limited releases, and beers from many of Florida’s other craft breweries. Among the tap room’s centerpieces is a 70’ bar top lined by tall windows looking into the brewery, and a 15’ tall, live-edged cherry wood back bar built by Asheville Mantle and Slab of North Carolina.
Aside from quaffing their favorite ‘Buddha beers, customers will also be able to listen to live local and national music acts, enjoy a few games of corn hole and bocce ball, or just relax in the newly renovated plaza seating. The location also includes ample outdoor space to host beer festivals, food truck rallies, and community events.
“It was critical for us to find a location that could offer a unique brewery experience,” says general manager KC Sentz. “The potential of the building, the character of the surrounding area, and the receptiveness of the community made choosing this spot an easy choice for us.”
Integral to the brewery’s success is the City of Oakland Park’s new Culinary Arts District, spearheaded by Redevelopment Management Associates. Funky Buddha Brewery will serve as the cornerstone of the district,which will also feature restaurants, markets, a culinary school, and a hydroponic farm with horticultural classes. The district’s newly renovated public plaza was a project completed by the City of Oakland Park and sits directly in front of the brewery. The plaza will be publicly unveiled along with the Brewery’s Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on June 1.
For questions and media inquiries, please contact John Linn at john [at] funkybuddhabrewery.com.
ABOUT FUNKY BUDDHA BREWERY: Founded in 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida, Funky Buddha Brewery is committed to producing bold craft beers that marry culinary-inspired ingredients with time-honored technique. Its lineup includes year-round brews Hop Gun IPA and Floridian Hefeweizen along with specialty releases such as No Crusts Peanut Butter and Jelly Brown Ale and the highly sought after Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. Its Oakland Park location, slated to open in June 2013, will distribute statewide via Brown Distributing.
ABOUT OAKLAND PARK’S CULINARY ARTS DISTRICT: The Culinary Arts District in Downtown Oakland Park was a concept created by the City’s consultants, Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA) after completing a 5-year strategic plan for redevelopment with the City of Oakland Park. The district anchors will include Funky Buddha Brewery, a European-style Central Market, an Urban Farm Park, and a Culinary School, all of which are currently either under construction or negotiation. The City hopes to encourage pedestrian traffic along NE 12th Avenue and Dixie Highway Downtown and create a district where locals and regional tourists have a place to convene and experience all things culinary. From the brewery, to future shopping, art and restaurants, to kitchen supplies and fresh produce, the goal Culinary Arts District is becoming a reality with the Grand Opening of Funky Buddha Brewery.
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