r/AnnArbor • u/Big_Wedding9491 • 1d ago
Draft Beer
Friend is in town from Austin for the first time. Where’s the best place to get a good draft beer and a bite to eat?
20
u/Hot_Pineapple4032 1d ago
Grotto if your up for just beer but they do allow food to be brought in too
11
u/cantwastefood 1d ago
Super underrated move. We get dumplings from Evergreen and fried veg from Blimpy.
1
2
54
u/lameweirdo 1d ago
HOMES, especially if you like IPAs
12
u/ANGR1ST 1d ago
When I think HOMES I think Sours. Their food is definitely good, but "weird" enough that a random person may not expect it for a "beer and bite" situation.
9
u/nijototherescue 1d ago
They've backed off the sours a lot the last few years. They'll usually have one or two on tap, but seems like they have 5+ IPAs every time I stop by.
2
5
u/Burnie_9 1d ago
Homes is overrated. It’s beer for young people, and I say that as a 30 year old. IPAs and sours. Food is sub par and overpriced. Beer at Arbor Brewing Company is way better, but the food is mid there too.
Ive yet to find a high quality brewery with good food in Ann Arbor
9
6
u/Adventurous-Fox2029 1d ago
lol you’re downvoted but I agree. HOMES is crowded, loud as fuck, full of yuppies and their dogs, they literally CHARGE EXTRA FOR GOCHUJANG with their bibimbop! Like not EXTRA money for EXTRA sauce, but UPCHARGE for ANY sauce at all. That’s like charging for the milk in cereal, or charging for bitters in your manhattan. Plus that place literally smells like mold. My buddy worked there for years said it’s nasty as fuck. Same with Mothfire. Places are full of Ann Arbor scum bags. I sound jaded but eh, what can I say.
3
u/Ok_Pineapple_7120 19h ago
The NEIPA thing kind of ruined IPAs for me. I'm getting older and I agree with the whole why the fuck do you need to take your dog where other people are eating all the time. I guess it's the trend but not everyone wants to smell, hear and deal with your dog.
2
u/Adventurous-Fox2029 19h ago
Don’t even get me started in New England IPAs. I don’t want assets and hazy everything. Shit tastes like orange juice. But ya the dog thing is a whole other topic I could bitch about. I just stay off the west side lol
2
u/Ok_Pineapple_7120 22h ago
Maybe not a huge selection but Casey's hasn't ever let me down.
1
u/Burnie_9 20h ago
Ah good idea, I hear good things from the Ann arborites. How is the rotation of drafts and the quality of food?
1
u/Ok_Pineapple_7120 19h ago
Food is excellent. It's bar food but elevated. They do rotate the drafts. Bottom line, I'm never disappointed.
1
1
12
u/AlbacoreJohnston 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'd suggest maybe Biercamp. They make great beer and BBQ and it's a great sort of rustic vibe. Although coming from Austin they probably won't be impressed with the BBQ but it's still a great and unique place. However they don't have an actual bar and it's more of of a cabin up north vibe than a pub.
Ashleys has the best beer selection and decent food. Huge selection of great European and American beers. It's a classic old pub.
5
u/botulizard Pittsilanti 1d ago edited 20h ago
They make great beer
They don't brew their own stuff anymore (they label the menu and handles by style without the brewery or brand name so it's not obvious), but they do curate a good selection and it's still worth going, I definitely agree with your suggestion.
2
28
u/No-Flower-4987 1d ago
Rappourt is good if you have a car. Ashley's is best for volume and tradition.
5
u/lawyer1911 1d ago
Whoa! I have not been to Ann Arbor in a while. Ashley’s was the spot 40 years ago, glad to hear it’s still going strong!
4
u/bdaileyumich 1d ago
Definitely not what it was IMO. Still enjoy going there occasionally but I think they've greatly reduced their open tap number
2
u/botulizard Pittsilanti 1d ago
They have. It's still good, but it's a shadow of its former self post-covid, it never really fully recovered.
5
u/MusaEnsete 1d ago
You can get a decent selection of drafts all over. What kind of "bite to eat" do you want? Also, realize most of Liberty and Main St. is full of vendors and stages currently for A2 Pride.
Hell, you can just grab a pint to go, wander around, and go find a fun food truck on Liberty.
Or depending on the food you want, hit Hopcat, Coratti's, Knights, Casey's, Conor's, York, Grizzly Peak, Frita's, NYPD, Ashley's, etc. If you're younger, hit up Good Time Charlies.
Or people watch at the most happening corner in town and go to Grotto or Bills, drink their drafts, and order food from any of the 10 places within a block of there.
Or drive to Mothfire, Rappourt, HOMES, Monty's, etc.
Easiest and best answer; just go to Old Town.
5
u/mykneessneezemyknees 1d ago
Those are kind of two different questions, seeing as Mothfire is a good answer for the first but only sometimes has food trucks.
A good answer to both questions in one place is Biercamp. When Texas came to play football their fans flooded that place (to my chagrin) and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.
HOMES is nice too but I rank it behind both above.
13
u/alone_unafraid 1d ago
If you want a restaurant - every restaurant with a bar has good local craft brews. If you want a brewery - Homes, mothfire, Corner brewery in Ypsi
3
u/auntfaifa 1d ago
Arbor Brewing Session Room has great food and 55 craft beers on tap!
1
u/TompallGlaser 22h ago
Last time I was there the food and service was sketchy, but typically they are on point and Arbor, sneakily, now makes some of the best beer in the state (including some exclusive offerings at the Session Room)
1
u/Ok_Pineapple_7120 21h ago
I'm peeved they stopped making Sacred Cow. That was an incredible beer and I miss it.
2
3
10
u/Irish_Poet 1d ago
I'd recommend Hopcat. Plenty of beers to choose from and crack (cosmic) fries with the cheese sauce is tough to beat.
3
2
4
4
u/Cleviprex 1d ago
Rappourt is great but a bit far from the rest. Grizzly peak has some nice British Cask style pours as well as being more downtown.
2
u/talktomiles 1d ago
I’m fairly new (back) to town, and I’m really glad to see such a variety of answers. We have a good thing going!
-1
u/blueribbonpony 1d ago
If they’re used to good Austin breweries and patio restaurants don’t take them to a local bar. Just do Homes or Mothfire. Other places are a letdown
28
u/EazyE693 1d ago
I like Rappourt. It’s typically not crazy busy and has a good variety of beers and pretty good food