“Bruguru! Are you at Valley River Brewery again? You’re there all the time!” Somebody just asked me that. Well, OK, they didn’t. But they could have. Fact is that Valley River Brewing makes some great beers indeed and is oh so close to Harrah’s Valley River Casino, where we like to go. We usually get a comped hotel night, so I like to sneak over to Valley River, have a beer or two and take a growler back to the casino.
That’s what I did this time, too, at the end of November. T’was the week after Thanksgiving, the prelude of the Christmas season, and I was on vacation. Most of the time was spent putting up Christmas lights, but we took a few days to head to Murphy, and so there I was at Murphy.
I enjoyed a pint of Bulldog Brown Ale at the brewery, the first time trying this for me. This beer is said to be in the American style, and while it does have some traits that lend it to that, I found it more of an English brown or, really, something in between. I’ll tell you why I think so shortly.
Valley River Bulldog Brown Ale has an alcohol content of 6% by volume and runs $4.50 for a pint and $2.25 for a half pint.
My pint of Valley River Bulldog Brown Ale arrived a rough mahogany color with a light fluffy head and a soft nutty malt nose. Taking a sip, I got more of the toasty nutty malts in the palate with subtle cookie malts. The beer is gently flinty like an English brown which is atypical for American ones. While it has a more than gentle bitter hop finish, it’s not as bitter or aromatic as American brown ales tend to be. The strength however is more in line with an American brown.
Quite delicious indeed, I enjoyed my pint with a bowl of creamy broccoli cheddar soup and pleasant company of a gentleman from my area in Georgia. Beer and conversation are always a great combination.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler