OT: Drinking Beer in Ann Arbor - Guide Addendum
[Didn't want this to get lost among the 315+ comments in today's epic post on Ann Arbor Dining and Drinking. If you have no interest in beer, nothing to see here.]
For those who read through today's guide, it included a number of different options for beer and people's opinions thereof. Will be up for the Notre Dame game this year so here I'd like to query the MGoCommunity for a bit more specific information about where to find the best beers available in Ann Arbor. Feel free to include specific varieties available on tap at different establishments.
Of note I'm hoping to find some fairly robust beers, think double IPA / Imperial style. One example, a local favorite of mine, is the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. If you know of places to find beers like that or similar from other breweries like Stone Brewing Co. and Lagunitas let me know.
I know Bell's makes something in this vein: Hopslam, but have never had the pleasure. Any bars serving that in A2? If not available in a bar, anyone know a beer/wine store that carries it? (Hopefully anywhere but Beer Depot, that drive thru place. Went there once as an undergrad and we had to leave unexpectedly as an employee threatened to get his gun.)
Thanks in advance for your help.
August 24th, 2011 at 8:56 PM ^
End of Discussion.
Ok, Grizzly peak and Arbor Brewing also have solid cask-conditioned IPAs.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
Hopslam trumps Two Hearted IMO. Stuff is da troof.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
Hopslam has a very brief brewing season (early Spring?), I don't believe you'll find it on tap anywhere this time of year.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
If you think the point of beer is to cram as much hops as possible into a bottle, go with hopslam. If you want a perfectly balanced IPA with a crisp frosty bite but a satisfying, full finish, Two Hearted is pretty much unbeatable.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^
Eh, the weird thing is that I've had several beers hoppier than hopslam and don't generally like them. Personally, hopslam is my favorite beer, but I love me some two hearted.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
don't get me wrong. But Two Hearted is the king.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
Thanks!
Two Hearted Ale is a good choice if you want to actually see the game. Go with the Hopslam if you don't mind loosing all memory after three beers. You can't go wrong with either really.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^
depends...
dominic's sells cold two-hearted beer in a half-gallon glass jar. i drank one once. it made me feel good.
i thought about the cool trees, the fireflies above, and the warm touch of the girl besides me.
the beer was cold and felt right in the michigan summer heat. i wanted more, and i drank another.
it made me feel very bad.
Beer Math
2 x 1/2 gallon of two-hearted = 24 x 10 oz can of domestic
August 24th, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^
I really like Bell's, but Founder's Centennial is my all-time favorite IPA, at least the most drinkable. As for double's, if you can find a Hercules (Great Divide?) or a Pliny (elder or younger, doesn't matter) then you are in for a real treat. Hopslam is really solid as well.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
The most overrated brewery in Michigan.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
Eh that's only because of Oberon. Hopslam, Two Hearted, Oarsman, Bells Brown, and the Batch 500 are pretty outstanding.
August 25th, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^
You missed Third Coast Old Ale (which is very, very good), but I would still put Bell's as third in the midwest, behind both Goose Island and Great Lakes.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
If they don't have the flavor that you are looking for, I'm not sure that you will find it in Ann Arbor.
They also do samplers.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^
Lager. They don't have lagers. Seriously. They don't.
August 24th, 2011 at 8:57 PM ^
The best beers in town are at Ashley's. They have over 70 taps and 100+ bottles, and their selection is excellent. They have Stone and dogfish head on tap, and have a bunch of IPAs on tap and in the cask. If your goal is beer, Ashley's is your place.
They may have hopslam on tap, but will definately have it in a bottle.
August 24th, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^
An interest in beer?
August 24th, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
Serioulsy, just go to Ashley's. You will love it. It's a little tight (they never have the basment open-thank god kind of), but it is simply the greatest collection of beers in the area. I like Hop Cat because I live in GR, but Ashley's is just as nice and I love it because it is in AA and I love AA.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
Ashley's is quite awesome, but I think the atmosphere in Hopcat is just something else. For AA sake, if you want good beer I agree with the Ashley's rec.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
Yep, I spent many an evening at Ashley's but that was a long, long time ago before most of the beers I favor these days even existed.
Earlier today I did try to find information about their beer selection on their website, but alas visiting their website is like taking a trip back in time. Not a nostagic trip, but to a horrible place wrought from the worst FrontPage 98 templates. If the goods are on that site, I certainly couldn't find 'em.
Based on others' comments it seems that Ashley's might not necessarily represent Michigan's finest ales. If true, that's a real shame.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:03 PM ^
grange has shorts sustenance which my roommate says is better than belair brown. also the woverine tap room out on stadium behind great lakes cycle and fitness is amazing. they use their own beer that is brewed in webberville. the roommate and gf both say woverine dark is better than belaire brown (which is what i use as a benchmark) also the hieldelberg has warsteiner, which i believe is the only place in AA to have it on tap
August 24th, 2011 at 9:20 PM ^
Metzger's also has Warsteiner along with other German beers on tap, but that's on the outskirts of A2.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
I give an extra nod to Wolverine. They're typically known for their lagers though, as opposed to IPAs, though the Insolent Mink isn't bad. Also you can't go wrong with the Gulo Gulo when they have it.
August 25th, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
loved the Heidelberg
August 24th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
Best beer bar in the area. Hopslam is amazing but you won't find it on tap right now, or in bottle for that matter.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
Ashley's not only has Dogfish 90, but they also keep Dogfish 120 in stock as well.
I would imagine it has a beer selection that rivals any bar in the country.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:36 PM ^
there is a place in gainesville called Stubbies that has over 400 bottles and 24 taps
edit: the gf says that the yardhouse blows ashleys away, they have 120 beers on tap
August 24th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
world of beer has 500+ bottles and rotating taps. extremely popular in Florida. haven't really seen it elsewhere.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
August 24th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
I have a four pack of the 120 in my downstairs fridge that I've been saving for a rainy day. BTW, I had to make many trips to the local beer store before I hit paydirt. Apparently distribution is pretty limited. Rumor has it that the Dogfish Head brewpub--there are a couple in the greater DC area--has had it on tap occasionally.
AAAMichfan: I'm guessing Ashley's selection of Dogfish Head brews are in bottles only, right? Have never seen it on tap outside of their brewpub.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
If I remember correctly, they have 90 on tap. The 120 only comes in a bottle, and it's like $17 each.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
August 24th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
I haven't tried ordering it in a while, but Ashley's usually has it in stock. They do run out of it occasionally though, so I'd try calling ahead if you're planning on stopping in for one.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^
And in fact, surprisingly, my four pack came in a completely non-descript white cardboard four pack holder. At least it has artwork on the label, appropriately a large hop.
Proof of Life (from the batcave):
August 25th, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
Right now someone is intensely analyzing that photo, like the CIA used to scrutinize Osama bin Laden's viedotapes, trying to divulge clues about where your fridge is.
You got good locks on your doors, friend? A light sleeper, are you? Planning to be away this weekend? Just askin'
August 24th, 2011 at 11:12 PM ^
Ashley's is nice, but there are a lot more places with more selection. A few were mentioned above, but would also like to mention The Flying Saucer (Houston, Austin, Dallas, and I believe they have some in NC maybe other places as well) is known for having a lot of beer. The one that I frequent in Houston has close to 120 taps and over 200 beers total, with 203 being the general number that will get your name on a plate and hung on the wall if you try them all (this being their constant number, but they always have 10-20 rare beers on tap as well not counted).
August 25th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
But the Saucers in Austin and North Dallas do not have more beers than Ashley's. Certainly not more beers on tap. They have a lot of beers and rotate frequently but as far as what's available on a given day: less.
I love the Saucer but their ambience doesn't stack up to Ashley's IMO.
August 27th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
Raleigh and Charlotte have Flying Saucers (and I'm on my way to getting a Michigan-themed plate on the wall)
August 24th, 2011 at 9:08 PM ^
I will concur with Ashley's, and recommend the Dansk Mjod Viking Blod - best mead I have been able to purchase.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
sorry..not commenting on A2, but based on your taste, you need to come to san diego county. greenflash, alpine beer company are great (if you find any back there). also russian river has very good IPAs. racer 5 is pretty easy to find, standard (not a double).
ashleys is the only place that really has any selection. ann arbor brewing is highly disappointing imho. i actually enjoyed jolly pumpkin, but not much of a selection.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
Russian River's Blind Pig IPA and Pliney the Elder Imperial are worth killing for.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
August 24th, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
Bell's brews limited out of season batches for special tasting events, but I've never heard of anyone getting the necessary volume to have it as a normal option in August.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:23 PM ^
Ashley's is a good bar and if you are in Ann Arbor it is the best bar for a good beer selection. But to say that it's beer selection rivals any bar in the country is a stretch. They have a large percentage of Michigan beers which detracts from a potentially rival beer selection but is nice because Michigan beer is great. Let's just not get carried away here.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
You know that Michigan has a ton of good breweries? Ashley's also has a ton of out of state micros, but their focus should be local.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
I agree with this. I would put Bells Two Hearted and Founders Centennial Pale Ale against any IPAs in the country including Stone (and I love Ruination and regular Stone IPA). I am a huge IPA fan and Michigan does work in that area.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
Michigan beer is really something to be proud of, I would boycott a bar that had 100 handles and didn't represent the local breweries. Founders does an excellent job at almost all their beers. I cannot wait for Candian Breakfast Stout, and agreed Centennial is just an awesome representation of what an American ipa should be.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
As a GR native I'll give mad props to Founders. I loved the AA breweries in school, but Founders puts them to shame IMO.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
I'll give a nod to Hopcat.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
Unlike Bell's and Short's, they don't over- extend themselves. Half dozen full time brews, another six seasonals, and a few special releases. Great business model for a brewery.