Tucked away on a side street off Chestnut in the town of Emmaus is one very dedicated brewer—Kyle Funk, who’s hard at work putting out his award-winning IPAs, lagers and other assorted varieties of craft beer via is output Funk Brewing Company. Funk has been brewing in his Sixth Street building since February 2014, though his title of brewer began over 12 years ago.
Kyle started brewing out of his home as a hobby, crafting IPAs in his kitchen while working full-time in the Lehigh Valley. As many of these stories go, he found that his hobby was a passion to which he wanted to devote all of his time. Working with the Small Business Development Center at Lehigh University, Funk began to craft a business plan for his very own brewery. He and his business partner, brother-in-law Joe Percoco, formed Funk Brewing in 2012. Locations around the Valley were considered, but Kyle had become enamored with the cycling community in Emmaus and thought the charming town would make a great location for his brewery. It was only natural, then, that Kyle and Joe settled upon a location in the heart of the borough a few miles west of Allentown.
“Construction on the Sixth Street building began in September 2013,” explained Funk. By January 2014, Funk had brewed its first batch of IPA at the new location. By August of that year the bar within the brewery was complete and open for business, serving pints, growlers and flights of Funk’s beers to its thirsty fans.
The brewers have their IPA formula down pat, and it has become the most popular brew coming from their taps. They have also experimented with and explored many different beer styles, offering up very fine lagers, saisons, Belgian grand crus and Irish-style reds, among others. Funk Brewing has also partnered with Hauser Estate Winery in Biglerville, Pennsylvania, famous for its Jack’s Hard Cider. Funk has kept a dedicated tap for this crisp, refreshing beer alternative.
Funk likes to experiment with beer styles, offering one-offs like Berry There, a combination of its light, American-style lager with purees of blueberries and cherries. Fruit flavors can also be found in beers like Mango IPA, a very hoppy, fruit-forward spin on its most popular brew, Citrus IPA.
One of the newest additions to the Funk Brewing location is a revolving group of food trucks parked alongside the brewery. “Hala from The Taza Truck reached out to me to inquire about having some food trucks at the brewery,” noted Funk. Since then, The Taza Truck, Vince’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Trixie’s Treats and more have provided Funk’s patrons with sandwiches, cupcakes, barbecue and other tasty noshes that pair well with any of the beers the brewery is pouring. Visitors can grab a snack from a food truck and walk right over to the bar to enjoy it while sampling Funk’s latest varieties on tap.
Funk frequently uses social media like Facebook to provide curious customers with the latest brewing news, food truck schedules and general company info. Recent posts show that the brewery is highly involved in the community it serves, sponsoring the “Funk 5 Miler,” a five-mile race that’s part of the “Earn Your Beer” series of races in the Lehigh Valley. Funk helped sponsor the race and provided runners with beer and Funk merchandise after the run.
The most recent brewery news is that Funk will soon be canning its famous Citrus IPA, which will make the brew available to folks outside the Lehigh Valley. Funk plans to begin distribution to New Jersey once the canning process begins. Funk brews two to four times a week, so beers change pretty frequently, though you’ll always find the Citrus IPA on tap. The brewery also has a weekly unique beer with added fruit purees and spices that you can only find in the taproom, definitely something worth trying while you are there.
Summer hours for the brewery’s taproom are Thursday, 5–10 p.m.; Friday, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, noon–10 p.m., and Sunday noon–7 p.m.
Funk Brewing is located at 19 South Sixth Street in Emmaus; phone: (610) 421-8270.
- Photos: Cheryl Doll
- Opening collage: Funk Brewing Company
