Take this review with a grain salt since I have no other restaurants in Stockton to compare this to. I am only comparing it with my experiences at brewpubs generally in Los Angeles. The food was mediocre. I had a turkey burger that I ate just to satiate my hunger. They had a typical selection for beer. If I were a college student, maybe I'd hang out here, but I wouldn't recommend this place otherwise.
Review Source:I've had the opportunity to eat here several times since my first visit in December and wanted to update my review. Â
I really like this place- went here tonight for dinner and even though they messed up my order, they were quick to correct it. Â I'm able to forgive when there is an apology and a quick correction b/c we are all human and nobody is perfect
I ordered the salmon burger w/ a side salad and ranch dressing. Â I order the burger w/o the sauce and the bun dry- no grill or toasting wanted which was the error along w/ the addition of the sauce but like I said it was corrected. Â This is my favorite item on their menu. Â Their ranch is tasty- give it a shot- you won't be disappointed. Â My boyfriend had the Waylon w/ fries which he enjoys and has recommended to friends. Â His drink of choice is there own brew called Red. Â
Service is hit or miss but never rude just a tad bit slow. Â It takes awhile to get the food- not sure why as they weren't busy but this seems to happen every time so don't go there famished or low on the sugar front or you may be sorry.
Short and simple. Location and decor is great. Beer is the only thing good on the menu. Food is bland and not worth ordering. To the owner of Valley Brew: Please reevaluate your menu and find another head chef. You might want to contact Chef Ramsay and see if you can get on Kitchen Nightmares. He might be able to get your business back on track since you dont listen to your customers advice. Your restaurant has great potential but is lacking something....good food.
Review Source:It was one of those days at work; I needed a cold pitcher to calm my frustrations. Lucky for me, Valley Brew is just around the corner from my home.
I love the settings of breweries. The exposed brick, dark, varnished woods, and vintage decorations are the perfect surroundings for a pub/sports bar. It's casual and low-key, yet welcoming and friendly.
Since there weren't any major sports games on at that time, the place was pretty mellow. The patrons seemed comfortable and familiar with the establishment.
I noticed the discrepancy in the name of the place "Valley Brew" and the Yelp entry "Valley Brewing" and inquired our server, Kyle, about it. He confirmed the name of the restaurant is "Valley Brew" and explained that they used to be "Valley Brewing Company" but only now offer only 1 house beer. Therefore, they no longer offer their notorious Black Cat Stout. The only house brew they offer is Indian Red Ale. This prompted us to buy a pitcher ($12, I think). (Interestingly, their website <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.valleybrew.com&s=56fb146de8acf5223d0f8e85aab36f594690d5a04b6166c5098187fd01c1791c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.valleybrew.com</a> is headlined as "Valley Brewing Company" with a logo "Valley Brew" Â and features 8 of their beers on their home page but only 4 beers under their "BEER" tab. So I'm not really sure what's going on here...)
We enjoyed the Indian Red Ale; it is light and very drinkable. I also had a glass of porter which was also delicious and very much the opposite of the Ale. Neither was bitter.
We ordered dinner to enjoy with our beer. Our server was super friendly and helpful. We heeded his recommendations and were not disappointed. We ordered the half-order of calamari ($8/$11) , Waylon Burger with sweet potato fries ($13), and Tri Tip Sandwich with seasoned fries ($11). All food arrived as it should: fresh, hot, and in a timely manner. The calamari was crisp and tender with an atypical, flavorful breading. It was a perfect portion for two to share. The Waylon burger came with barbecue sauce and onion rings. It was cooked perfectly. It arrived with a very generous portion of crispy sweet potato fries. They were seasoned with cinnamon which was definitely novel to me but perhaps the seasoning was a bit heavy-handed. The tri-tip sandwich was also tasty but fell short overall. The meat lacked the typical charcoal flavor and could have been a bit larger. We would have paired the sandwich with cole slaw but there's a $1.50 upcharge for coleslaw, side salad, or potato salad. Next time I'll try their Monte Christo sandwich since I don't see many places even offer it.
Kyle managed to be an attentive server without resembling a gnat bothering you every 5 minutes. He apologetically addressed a time-lag in receiving our pitcher and later on brought extra napkins and to-go boxes without being prompted. An excellent server doesn't need to be inquired. Great job, Kyle.
We also came here to watch the Diaz/GSP fight. The place was predictably packed but manageable. There are probably 8 TVs (not HD) which presents the first-world problem of which one to watch. We sat at the bar since we came late and the bartender was very friendly and responsive. We enjoyed the combo plate($15) appetizer in which you can choose ANY 3 appetizers. We had calamari, beer battered mushrooms, and garlic fries. The mushrooms were pretty good but I think they could use more seasoning. The garlic fries were unfortunately soggy and hard to eat because there was so much cheese melted on top. I might not normally complain about too much cheese, but it was a two-hand challenge which means I had to put down my beer AND take my eyes off the fight for more than 5 seconds. I don't remember tasting garlic, just cheese.
Valley Brew has a great set-up. Besides the main bar, they have a large outdoor patio which is very pleasant on balmy, summer evenings. They also have a side rooms I've seen them use for art shows, bands, and banquets. They just recently partnered with UOP for a jazz event. It's great to see local businesses support their community; We need to keep places like Valley Brew alive in our city.
Valley Brew is well-rounded; Excellent atmosphere, fantastic service, a wide variety of tasty beers, and good food. Prices are typical. Support local businesses and choose places like Valley Brew over big chain BJ's. We'll be back soon.
My only suggestion for Valley Brew is to update their website.
If your looking for a local brewery in Stockton, this is the place. Many great craft beers on tap along with an awesome Indain Red Ale. The employees are nice and provide excellent service. The food is no slouch either. Try the fried asparagus as an appetizer if you're from out of town (goes freat with lagunitas IPA)
Review Source:This is a follow up to the review that I did back in September of 2010.
Once again, mediocre service. Why the hell does it take more than 20 minutes for a damn pitcher of beer? The place isn't that busy on a Wednesday night! An why do I have to ask other staff for napkins? Oh--because the waitress did not give me napkins when she brought my plate of food. So much for being an attentive server. I am sorry but not even jazz is going to save this place. You need quality servers. I don't know where you get these idiots from, but this is the last time I come here. I'm going to the Trappist Abbey from now on. This place sucks.
They have one of the best fried calamari appetizers! For $11, you get a full order of mostly calamari rings (it used to be $9.99 for a full order). Not mostly tentacles like BJ's. Â Nicely beer batter fried and served with creamy tartar sauce. Â Goes well with yam fries. Â
Unfortunately, that is the only thing impressive about this brewery. Â I have attended a few events here from fraternity banquets to music recitals and night outs. Â The food was catered for the fraternity events; pre-paid, pick from their catering menu choices (no meat, beef, or chicken) and a beverage. Â Alcohol is on you. Â For the music recitals, you order from the regular menu and of course, pay according to what you order. Â
All the waiter and waitresses are generally friendly, but they can get stressed out easily when it comes to big events. Â The food also comes out slow. Â We had to wait an hour for our food at one of the recitals. Â Maybe they are not use to a larger crowd since the restaurant doesn't get too full on regular basis. Â The bar would get crowded at times, but not the dining area. Â I guess the scarce parking situation really deters people from wanting to go here more often. Â We sure have to think twice every time my friends and I want to hang out here. Â There's only a hand-full of parking spots in the back, which means everyone has to parallel park in the sketchy, dark streets on either side of the building unit.
Food. Â I honestly feel I make better food than Valley Brew sometimes. Â I'm not kidding! Â I can make juicier chicken and tastier pasta than what they offered me and my friends. Â At the last fraternity banquet, my order of half a chicken was so dry, I had to wrestle with the chicken. Â Of course, I gave up on the rest of that poor bird to stop making a fool of myself during this formal event. Â The other time I remember having ok Fettuccine Alfredo with Grilled Chicken. Â There was just something that needs to be added such as more seasoning. Â Oh well, it will be something I would not order here again. Â I guess I'm used to adding sun-dried tomato or a lot more garlic to my alfredo sauce. Â If you do like pasta, I recommend Island Pasta (chicken, asparagus, and penne in garlic cream sauce). Â It is a tastier choice compared to the chicken fettuccine alfredo. Â They just changed their menu, so I'm not sure if they still offer Island Pasta. Â A friend from my alma mater mentioned that the jambalaya tastes great here, but I have never had a chance to order that or remember seeing it on the menu. Â Chicken Caesar Salad and chicken strips are good enough that you won't complain. Â How would they go wrong with those dishes anyways? Â Â Â Â Â
Something we were always satisfied with was the bar in the banquet room. Â Each drink ranged around $4-7. Â I believe soda was free with our catering. Â Similar price range for beer and well drinks at the big bar outside. Â I see that the menu changed since my last time here. Â Will be coming back to give this place another try. Â I miss their beer battered calamari!
I've been coming here for years and have never one been disappointed. It's always nice to come home and head to the brew which has always had a nice neighborhood feel!
Always have loved the food but especially recently with the newer menu changes. Â Try the specials too, they are yummy!
There really is no place in stockton like it. Nice outdoor patio with exposed brick and lights... Gives it such a fun European beer garden feel.
Valley brew is my go-to place when I'm back in town because I can rely on good food, great atmosphere and a super friendly staff.
I have lived or worked in Stockton for over 15 years. Many many trips to Valley Brew. I give them 4+ stars for the beers. Everyone is a good example of the style. I especially enjoy the IPA. For atmosphere they get 3-4 stars. Good sports bar, nice outside seating, a real plus when compared to BJ's. The bad news for me is the food. I will not eat there any longer. I have received poorly made or downright spoiled food too many times. Once they put salami on a pizza that was so old it was green and smelled like gym socks. Drink the beer, watch the games, talk to your friends, but watch out for the food.
Review Source:So i saw the OWNER of the place smoking a cigarette in the kitchen while meals were being prepared. I asked for the manager and the OWNER came out to talk to us. She apologized but then started lying saying "I just took one puff". NOT I saw here smoke for 4 minutes and ash on the floor! GROSS!!
Review Source:Valley Brew- I posted this on your FB page first, but never got a response back-
We eat here on average twice a month. Today, really a disappointing experience. No host with a sign that says seat yourself, so we did. Our very pleasant server comes over a takes a beverage order and appetizer order from us. As we are watching the Niners and A's game another server comes over and 'asks' us to move because they are expecting a large party and points to an area we may move. Being in the business myself, I think, the nice thing to do would be to move to allow them to accommodate the larger party. We are a party of 4 and direct us to a group of tables for parties of 2. Mind you, our hands are full of our beverages and menus and dining with 2 kids and now need to put down what's in our hands to put two tables together. If you are going to ask us to move, have a spot prepared to move us to. We chose to go here because of the games that were on and also the upcoming games. Server had to hunt us down because she was not informed we had been moved. She apologized for their inconvenience and took the rest of our order. From there most was fine, obviously understaffed as the server apologized again for being too busy to spend needed time with us. While waiting at the bar to talk to the owner/manager, it just took too long(approx 10 min) for the bartender to even approach me(she never did) to be able to talk to someone, we decided to leave. We spend a minimum of $200 a month in your establishment, and while trying to support small local business, hardly even getting a nod as someone who regularly frequents the business(again, there twice a month for at least 2 years). I work too hard, and am very tolerant of server and kitchen needs, to continue giving my money to a place that seems to not care about us. Feel free to respond if you'd like.
TASTYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREAT SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Despite the other reviews, I actually thought this place was pretty good. Â Maybe it was the time I ate there (a little after 5), and my waitress was awesome.
My fellow educators and I decided to get some early dinner and some dranks after teaching. Â We shared the Gourmet Mac n' Cheese and the Combo Appetizer Platter (we chose: cheesy garlic fries, fried calamari, beer-battered onion rings), and a few pear ciders.
Everything was delicious and our waitress was kind enough to provide for us ALL of their sauces because we are all so damn indecisive.
I would definitely come here again if I was down for some delicious and unhealthy eats.
I went to Valley Brewing about a year and a half ago to try out their beers. I had just turned 21 and the beer world was just opening up to me. I tried their stout, porter, and apricot ale and was pleased with all three.
Fast forward to this summer. I was quite excited to revisit this brewery and brought along my boyfriend to sample their beers with me. What I found out right off the bat was that they did not offer a sampler of their beers on the menu. Out of the countless bars and breweries I have been to in the last year and a half, this was the only one to not offer a sampler of their beers. They did say that we could try up to three beers, so we sampled their India red, sour brown, and imperial stout.
The India red was drinkable. My boyfriend likened it to Coors, which is unacceptable by my standards, but stomachable nonetheless. The next two were an absolute disaster. The sour brown was just sour. I couldn't get past the initial taste to try and savor any of the subtleties that any other sour brown is supposed to possess. Â The imperial stout was one of the biggest let downs I have experienced in my budding beer voyaging thus far. While the brewing process usually brings out notes of chocolate, espresso, and sometimes oatmeal in stouts, this one had a very strong flavor that was incorrect, for lack of a proper word. I can't quite figure out what the flavor was, but it almost tasted like it was fermented in a brandy barrel, but not correctly.
I was pleased to see that they had Firestone's Union Jack on tap, so my trip wasn't completely ruined. I ordered the seasoned fries, which turned out to be garlic fries. I ate a few and dumped the rest off on a friend. If I liked that much garlic on my food, I would probably just order the garlic on its own.
I'm not sure if things really changed in the time between my two visits, but unless they really change their beers, I wouldn't recommend this place to others.
Valley Brewing Company is as good as it gets. Their micro-brews are top notch and service is always great. My sister brought me here on my 21st birthday and I have been coming here since. Lately I have been frequenting this place more often since my buddies loved the $5 pitchers of beer on Sundays, but they have since relinquished this practice. I don't care, the beer is definitely worth the price that they charge per pitcher and with a DD we like to stay and order a few more pitchers and even partake of their food.
Last year, I met up with one of my former co-workers to have lunch and catch up. I had never had the food before and decided to order their turkey burger with cole slaw instead of fries (damn diet). I was not disappointed. I cannot find, for the life of me, a better turkey burger in all of Stockton. I failed to realize that day that the bartender Adam was a former co-worker of mine from years back when we both worked at the Sherwood Mall, he always hooks me up if I catch him on the weekdays.
Nowadays, I like to come here to hang out and sip on the India Pale Ale, the Luna Blanca, or if I'm feeling brave the Uber Hoppy. If you can catch them on the right day try the Berry Wheat (haha), it is so delicious. To top it off they have the most beautiful servers in Stockton and they always give me great service with a smile. If gorgeous women aren't on the agenda that day they have enough sports playing on the numerous TV's that will keep you occupied. This is my favorite place to hang out in Stockton for great food and fantastic beer.
I'm a fan because just recently they have anted up their customer service! I planned a big party here on a Sunday afternoon & they were wonderful! They setup some decorations for me & were sooo.. accommodating.
I enjoyed their nachos, calamari, & cheesy fries. I don't recommend the Tuna sandwich..& the sweet potato fries can get burnt, but yet not crispy. The food needs to be worked on, but I like how they offer half sizes on most of their dishes. Besides food, they have $5 pitchers on Sundays I believe... Â
It was such a great deal that I don't mind coming back. The food is mediocre, but service was wonderful from beginning to end.
From recent visit this place started to suck more besides their pitcher deals.
Came here the other night with another huge group of people. (I think we keep coming back here because this is one of the few places that allows us to have separate checks for about 20+ people). I'd have to say the service was waaaay better than the last visit, where we had to ask for everything from menus, napkins, water etc. Maybe someone is paying attention to the reviews!
Another thing that has changed was the food, better than the last time it maybe I was too drunk to tell the difference. But really whatever the sauce is that they serve with the stuffed mushrooms and sweet potato fries is bomby! We assumed this was their new house made ranch? But my burger was better than my last visit and surprisingly with such a large group that we had my food wasn't cole/luke warm. Â So this place has gotten better since my last visit over all. One server even remembered us since we asked for a separate check for just the drinks and he totally remembered us because we always buy a crap load of drinks.
Before most of the group got there a few of us were at the bar getting drinks already. I'd have to say for the price I paid for my drinks. THEY WERE STRONG! So thank you for that haha. Thanks for the better service you guys are starting to win me over. Ohhh and I didn't see our server from before who compared their own beer to a similar beer that is sold at BJ's....ya that was awkward. And no my judgement wasn't skewed over the fact that I was drinking, I wasn't smashed by time we had our food or for the decent service we got during this visit.
This was my 1st time here. Wife insisted we go and she hit a home run..
This is a great meeting place with good food.
We enjoyed two of their gourmet burgers (Mushroom/Swiss and Black and Blue) with a yam/regular fry combo. Both burgers were fantastic, juicy and flavorful.
The yam fries (my 1st time) were like eating deep fried candy..
FANTASTIC!!
The craft beers could be sampled on request (but if your gonna mention the specials please be sure to have them to serve).
The service was attentive with out being over bearing.
Running out of an advertised beer was the only bump of a good dining experience (Just missed that 5th *).
Treat yourself to a great place to eat, relax and have a great beer
Came here with a bunch of people for the first time and they didn't have enough tables inside to fit us all so some of us had to sit outside. I ordered the appetizer plate which consisted of buffalo wings, calamari and nachos. I was one of the first people to order and was the last person to get there food. I waited about 40 minutes until my food came. I was disappointed because by the time my food came everyone was done and ready to leave. The food was overpriced and I would prefer to eat fast food then come here and wait 40 minutes for my food again.
The service was super slow and it took forever to get my bill, and to get my credit card back. I've never been to a restaurant with such slow service before.
I USED TO like going here for happy hours on Fridays after work. Â But when a restaurant lets go of all their good bartenders and their head cook, nothing good can come of that. Â Last time I was there I ordered a vodka press, the girl came back handing me a drink with ginger ale. Â Really? Â Their food used to be pretty good too. Â Even their yam fries are AWFUL now, something they used to be famous for. Â The sauce is gross and runny, and the fries have too much cinnamon? When they got rid of their head cook, they lost all their recipes too it seems.
It seems like everyone in town stopped going there because it's gotten so bad so they've raised their prices. Â $12.75 for a bacon cheeseburger?? Are you serious?
The only pros about this place is that they play most football games that are blacked out or not aired in the area, and they have a good outdoor seating area when the weather is warm.
PLEASE find a new cook, cause your food SUCKS!!!!
Valley Brew....why have you forsaken me? This place used to be a solid 3-4 star restaurant 2 years ago. The food and appetizers tasted homemade, a new brew variation was always on tap and the place was always lively for sports and even "Thirsty Thursdays" ($2 beer night). However, once they lost their head cook....total nose dive in quality. The menu shrunk to one page (it used to be a menu with PAGES of food), the food got increasingly mediocre and the beer even took a severe drop in quality (if I'm wishing I could have a Blue Moon instead of your craft brew...something is clearly wrong).
It's like that hot chick you used to date in high school. She was untouchable back in her prime, but you run into her at Wal-Mart a few years later with curlers in her hair, rocking a stained t-shirt, with 2 screaming kids in tow and a pregnancy test in hand (you take the classy route and pretend to not see her). Yes, Valley Brew is THAT BAD now! I've given this place multiple opportunities since then, just because I supported Stockton having a locally owned brewery. However, now I feel like I was being an enabler by allowing them to coast on their previous reputation (while they stole my car stereo in the meanwhile). No more.
The handmade specialty medium pizza I ordered was $16 and tasted like something I'd get from a MR P's frozen pizza box (I lived on them as a young adult, but at .89 cents a pop mind you). The craft brew on tap tasted stale (symptom of a keg used past it's prime) and gave me a "visible wince" when drinking it (luckily my budget years of drinking Natural Light conditioned me for such horror). The server was clueless about anything on the menu or at the bar and left us on the patio to fend for ourselves for long spans of time (during a half empty period at that).
Overall....stay away. Valley looks pretty on the outside, but she's a whole different beast once you step in. The only thing it's good for now is catching a game, but I urge you to come in full and tanked as you'll be kicking yourself for wasting your $$ after wards..
It was restaurant week in Stockton, but we were looking for a more down to Earth environment. Valley Brewing Co. provided that. It's a family friendly sports bar, with plenty of signed sports memorabelia lots of TVs and even a motorcycle above the bar. Â
We enjoyed the Cherrywood Brew and Cinnamon topped Yam fries with house ranch sauce. Â If you like Blue Moon, I wouldn't recommend the Luna Blanca. It's a stronger version with a bad aftertaste, even with the orange. The service here was attentive, and our waitress Imelda made plenty of recommendations.
I went here with a few friends of mine for the first and very last time.
This place was very loud and you have to yell to talk to your friends. Â It's more like a place to just drink and not eat. Just drink not hit on girls. I remember it being just a bunch of guys in their 40s drinking at the bar.
And I suggest you not to bring your kids here.
The food here was soggy and I did not enjoy my time here.
Let me be frank, the only reason why I went to Valley Brew was because the brewmaster, Steve Altamari made an incredible beer. Seriously, everything he did was fantastic (with extra props for the Uberabbey IPA). Just last year, Steve's Barleywine got gold in the "Great American Beer Fest", which is kind of a big deal.
Now that Steve has been fired (and got completely boned by the owner in the process), Valley Brew is just another pub with mediocre, overpriced food and completely average beer. Most of the locals who made this place so interesting have been slowly drifting away, and my favorite bartenders seem to all have vanished.
Five stars for what it was, one star for what it is. It gets an extra star for having the only fresh beer in Stockton.
LOUD, SLOW, EXPENSIVE and the BEER SUCKS HERE
I used to go here for a beer and the garlic fries. Â It was good! Â They used to have an Apple Pear beer that was really good. Â I went there and the menu is smaller, they don't have the garlic fries I used to love, and they don't have the Apple Pear beer either. Â :( Â
I got a sampler of the beer and they were all either too stout or pilsner with a really funny after taste yuck. Â
The waitress took like 30 minutes to get the check to me and then get me my change. Â OMG Â I wanted to go up to someone and scream because I needed to get home to my daughter. Â NO TIP !!!
I won't be going back to the Valley Brew.
This was my introduction to dining out in Stockton and I was pleasantly surprised. Â Granted, it was only lunch, but the outdoor seating was nice, the beer tasty, and the salmon burger hit the spot. Â It might've had something to do with the fact that it was a beautiful afternoon and I was visiting a former colleague who wanted to talk shop. Â She also picked up the bill which makes everything better.
If and when I return to Stockton for a meal out or a brew, I'll strongly consider Valley Brewing Company again. I only got to try one of their house beers, and there are surely more worth sampling.
The nachos are good. Â The yam fries are NOT good and I wouldn't order them again.
I really enjoyed my Bacon Bleu burger, the meat was very moist and flavorful and the bleu cheese was nice and tangy. Â It was a huge portion so I couldn't finish it all---it would be great to split it with someone.
My dad ordered the vegetable casserole which I thought was a really weird choice to order at a Brew House. Â He said he liked it, but I could tell he wished he had ordered a burger since he ate the rest of mine and didn't finish his casserole. Â I had a bite and it was definitely something that could be deleted from the menu and never missed.
I was here celebrating my graduation with my parents, and the waitstaff was lame and very unattentive. Â It wasn't even during prime time restaurant hours, so "being busy" wasn't an excuse, they were just crappy servers. Â They also didn't make the experience special at all. Â I don't expect a friggin' parade or anything, but I do expect an "Oh, congratulations!" when my parents tell the waiter right in front of me that we are celebrating my college graduation.
Great local spot for 20-30 somethings. Â Not much for VEggies but try the Yam Fries! Â Fried yummy goodness.
Plus all the Stockton Sport Teams are displayed all over the walls. Â You might even catch some famous people who've strolled through the doors on the wall.
VEggie Friendly: Not really
Oooh waiter---our party of ten needs two extra plates, five different sauces, refills on water and soda (each time you return to our table, but staggered for your inconvience), for you to ask your bartender to learn how to make a new drink, to deal with our banter, and oh by the way, there is a hoop we need you to jump through, but before you try wait, we need to light it on fire.----our waiter, jo, was amazing. He played around and joked about our indecisiveness. He wished the two birthday girls a happy birthday and smiled the entire night.
The atmosphere was fun and light. there were patrons at tables and at sitting at the bar. the huge tv sets lining the walls helped to fill any person's boredom with the current topic of conversation and the sports memorabilia was displayed nicely. Â The many autographed celeb shots to Kellie, makes you want to get to know her.
The only problem i had was with the Philly Cheese Steak i ordered. The steak was more like deli meat instead of sauteed nicely with the onions and peppers which i would have preferred, and the bread was not toasted. I was dissapointed.
After we finished our meal and our drinks we were not rushed. We were allowed to linger and play on the hockey (foosball like-bring quarters) table. There was plenty of room for our party to switch chairs periodically to chitchat with a new group. We did not get any weird looks while we went through out ritualistic goodbyes of three minute hugs, loud laughter, trying to plan the next outing, and discussing the plans for after dinner.
Over all this place was great for a "family of friends" outing.
perks
-you can try three free samples of different brews to decide what you want to drink.
-if you have an iphone you can have the bartender make you any drink your heart desires
I've always loved this little joint, and I've had quite a few great memories there when they used to have "Dollar Pint Night." Â Most of those memories also included: Â Golden Tee, $2 Tacos, and being asked to leave as they close early because somebody across the bar got into a fight. Â (That's Stockton, for ya.)
This place has undergone many changes over the years, and the management is kind of... well... questionable, at times... but I always stop in for the "London Tavern Ale" and some seasoned fries. Â (They have great seasoned Ranch Dip!)
Last time I went to Valley Brew, the bartender was an ass. Â Like sitting at the bar and wanting to order food was totally out of the question. Â On a slow Sunday afternoon, when others are eating, drinking and watching the game.... give me a break!
But the food was good. Â So... 3 stars.... and that's a stretch.
Beer is very good: full spectrum from blonde to IPA to Nitro Stout to Barley Wine.
Food is nothing to celebrate -- except for the yam fries. The yam fries are unique and delicious. (I prefer to eat dinner a block away at Cocoro sushi bistro, but I like my drinks from here).
Bar atmosphere is very good, actually exceptional for this part of the Central Valley. Good for veteran microbrew drinkers as well as families looking for dinner. Â It's a good mix.
We go here for drinks when we don't have time to go over the hill to Bay Area brewpubs. Have always enjoyed this place. They also have access to Bay Area TV channel 36 for A's games.
I haven't lived in Stockton for about 10 years but because I have friends and family that are there I have to go back every now and then. Â I have been to most of the bars in North Stockton (I'm just too scared to get out to the South Stockton joints [sue me!]). Â While I don't think that Valley Brew is that good it certainly isn't as BAD as most places. Â So would this place get 4 stars in SF? Â No no no. Â It might get 2.5 but in Stockton this place doesn't disappoint.
Also, they are the only restaurant that has the elusive jalapeno cheese filled pretzel.... ask them to put it in the machine twice... trust me.
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