Tuesday 18th of August 2009 07:15:44 PM

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I've been digging on these guys' beers for a while now. I always have a huge soft spot for the guys trying to brew something different, and these guys definitely fit that description. I just got to hang out at their tasting room and brewery for the first time this past weekend, and enjoyed talking brewery talk with the guys. They're very down to Earth, and you can really tell they love their product.

They're doing a fantastic job of creating a brand name that sets itself apart from the norm. Some of their more unique recipes are what I think are their best: the ginger pale, mango weizen, and the purple yam porter.

Now let me talk about the purple yam porter for a second... This beer is their best beer, hands down. And just finding out while I was there that it's a seasonal and won't be back for quite a while was extremely disappointing. In my humble opinion, this beer needs to be in the regular lineup, and carried proudly as a flagship beer... *steps off soap box*

Point is: I really like this place, and see great things in the future for them. Bottom line: More purple yam porter!

Monday 15th of September 2008 10:46:59 AM

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Wow hard place to find but once I did it was worth it. They have been opened less than a year and they already have 4 great beers, the Tiki room was small but perfect for me and the others there. They have a TV going and they had 2 beers on tap with more brewing on this day. They gave a tour of the place and with is all being so new it is going to fun to watch them grow. Great ideas the brews are going to be killer with a new way of thinking and the beers are going to have a different flair altogether. Stop by and say hi and have a few tasters. Eat lunch before hand so your not hungry they do not serve food. FYI they are just a block away from Baron Brewing so you can hit two places with in a few steps of each other. The Pandam Brown is the best thus far and I really liked the Ginger ale they have brewed it is going to be a great beer for dinner with fish.

Monday 12th of May 2008 01:14:07 PM

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Laughing Buddha Brewery is what happens when two college room-mates have too many beers and decide to go into business together.

Let me qualify that: this is what might happen if they're serious about good beer!

Chris and Joe attended the University of Washington, graduating three years ago - 20-somethings going into business together brewing beer? Oh, yeah.

Chris, a marketing maven gave his friend Joe, a micro-biology major a home brew kit as a gift. After a few experiments in taste & flavors, Chris (of Asian descent) looked around the greater Seattle area and realized no one was brewing beer with Asian undertones. Being the marketer he is, a light went on and voila, Laughing Buddha Brewery was born in November of 2007.

Every year, the Air and Space Museum at Boeing holds their "Hops and Props" fund-raiser, Several breweries in the Northwest are invited to participate and this year, less than 6 months after opening, the Laughing Buddha boys said "yes."

Wife Persimmon and I visited the brewery the weekend of that event as they were one of two remaining left on our list of Washington state breweries. We were looking forward to sampling - but, they had no beer. In fact, they had run out due to demand at "Hops and Props." In fact, their distributer informed them, in no un-certain terms to "make more." So we were told, "come back in May."

The Washington Beer Lovers (WABL) Association held a tasting this past weekend and we arrived early. Didn't want to miss out a second time. Good that we did.
A steady stream of beer lovers descinded on the little brewery that has a small, jerry-rigged Asian-themed bar / drinking room with bamboo bar and wall and 4 stools. A few tables were set up in the brewery itself so customers could stand and enjoy. Chris' father was busy cooking teriyaki chicken skewers, Mom was washing glasses frantically trying to keep up -- and the beer flowed.

They have 4 kinds of beer all brewed with Asian ingredients; Dragon King Lager, Mangoweizen, Ginger Pale Ale and Pandan Brown. People who live nearby in the South Park / Georgetown area of Seattle already know about the Ginger; so much so that they call and ask if it's ready. If not, they don't come. A shame because our favorite, by far, was the Brown - brewed & flavored with Pandan leaves, this is a subtly sweet ale with a big, nutty aroma and taste from beginning to end. A smoother brown, I've never had and I'd rank it above Moose Drool or any other "award-winner" of this style.

The Mangoweizen too is a delicious blend of orange peel and mango (150 pounds in every batch) that sounds much too fruity & sweet but instead presents with a beautiful amber color, scant hint of fruit in both aroma and taste.

The atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired but these guys are just starting out. If demand continues - AND they don't compromise their product - certainly a new and more customer-friendly location is in the cards. Oh, and did I mention they bottle? So you can enjoy when you choose - at home.

And I think I choose to do so now.