Back to Valley River Brewery! This is my third visit, and tonight my tale for you is as much about food as it is about beer. On my first visit, I nibbled on nachos whilst my daughter got a pretzel. These were average pub fare but, in all honesty, nothing to write home about it. Ah but this time it was a Sunday evening and I wanted to try the daily special. Sunday dinner is a sacred tradition, after all.

I was not disappointed. Savory roast half chicken, rich buttery mashed potatoes, local corn, and perfectly seasoned stuffing/dressing all smothered in a thick chicken gravy. Of course, you must know, such a feast could not be enjoyed without an accompanying beer, and a pint of rich and roasty Murphy Irish Stout was just the thing.

“But Bruguru!”, you no doubt exclaim, “Why not a local beer with the local fare? Why a beer that comes all the way from the Emerald Isle?” Ah, my friends, I understand your concern here, but fear not, my stout was not Murphy’s Irish Stout from Ireland, but as I said, Murphy Irish Stout from Valley River Brewing. The brewery is located in Murphy, North Carolina, hence the name. I’m sure a lawsuit will result at some point.

This is an excellent Irish Dry Stout in style and oh so drinkable. The 4.1% alcohol content by volume helps with that. So does the bargain basement price of $4.50 a pint (or $2.25 for a half pint). The beer is served on a nitro pour.

My glass of Murphy Irish Stout arrived jet-black in color with a moderate creamy tan head from the nitro. The beer offers a roasty chocolate nose and a smooth clean roasty chocolate palate with a hint of licorice. It’s roasty and slightly sour in the finish.

I could get used to Sundays like this, with a wonderful dry stout and a Sunday dinner like mom used to make. Like the beer, the meal was a deal at just $10.99. Valley River Brewery is a real gem, and don’t miss it if you find yourself in Murphy. North Carolina, that is.

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

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