OT-Anyone been to Blue Tractor in AA?
So I haven't been in AA on a non-football weekend in awhile, and decided next weekend I'll go in (bringing the wife, Purdue grad though she is) and do a barhop for a few hours, probably followed by a hotel overnight since I'm not likely to be in driving condition afterwards. Anyway, I'm a huge fan of brewpubs, good beer in general, and barbeque. And I've heard there is a new brewpub in town that does both, The Blue Tractor, which makes it a potential nirvana for me. Anyone been there and can review?
Also, any suggestions besides Dominicks for a good place to go have a drink these days?
I've been a few times, and it's good. It's definitely a downtown Ann Arbor take on BBQ, so if you're looking for a dirty building where they shove a pound of meat and a half loaf of wonderbread at you, you'll be disappointed. But the beer is pitched right for the thing and the onion rings are awesome and the BBQ is good.
bbq is good, also a good mac & cheese there. I wasnt real impressed with the beer selection though, didnt think they had the greatest of beers
I didn't like the beers and the burger was Meh. But, I can't offer my epinion on the bbq.
It's run by the same people who run Grizzly Peak, but the Peak is so far superior when it comes to the microbrews that it is pretty surprising.
If the beers are that much better at Grizzly Peak, whose beers I found largely unimpressive, then it sounds like I can skip Blue Tractor. The wife and I are staying in Ann Arbor to go to the MBG Summer Beer Fest in Ypsi, sounds like we should stick with Arbor and Ashley's still.
Yinka, while you're at the beer festival seek out Bastone Brewery from Royal Oak, MI. Their beer is top notch.
In addition to brewing your own beer, you've got to run a restaurant on top of that. Many people can do one or the other well, but not both. Not to say that it can't be done well. If one is decent and the other is good, I'm usually happy.
If you're going to be a brewpub and only get one of them right, it's far better to get the beer right. A brewpub with shitty beer is just a restaurant who wasted money on brewing equipment. At that point, I'd rather just go to a restaurant if I want a restaurant and give my business to the brewpubs who make good beer.
Rarely survives. There are plenty out there with mediocre (or just plain boring) beer, though.
A brewpub with terrible food, on the other hand, is much more likely to stick around. The beer had better be good, though. A lot of the brewpubs I've been to with terrible food and good beer seem to have been the afterthought of a relatively successful brewery.
The in house brewed beer was weak. I got a sampler and tried them all, they tasted more like keystone than anything else. They have four or five barbeque sauces that come with the BBQ, one was delicious, most are unnoteworthy and one was pure vinegar (a southern favorite, but not mine)
The bartender at Blue Tractor was a dick to my friends and I as well FWIW. He was trying to be nice (I think/hope), but came across as condescending and rude.
As far as other places to hit up...
For beer - Ashley's, Arbor Brewing, Grizzly Peak, Bab's Underground, Bar Louie.
For Sangria - Cafe Habana
For BBQ - Smokehouse Blues on Washtenaw Ave toward Ypsi.
For novelty late night food/cocktail experience - Quickie Burger (A walk up counter joint on State St., where you can get a cheeseburger and a draft Oberon/Stella Artois or Goose and tonic after da bar)
They've got something like 70 beers on tap, and many more in bottles. More beer than you'll know what to do with.
The Heidelberg is a cool place too -- lots of good imports. You can actually order a "boot" of beer there too.
Definitely have a good selection. Have some good appetizers too.
As for breweries in town with food, I'd go to Ann Arbor Brewing Co before Grizzly's Peak. Food probably isn't better but the beer definitely is. There's a lot of good tavern type places around, Casey's, Red Hawk... I guess I miss Ann Arbor. Hurry up Labor Day weekend!!
Blue tractor - terrible beer, decent bbq, large portions. Hit up ABC for excellent beer, Grizz peak for a good burger and good beer, blimpy burger for a great burger only. Skip Bar Louie - generic bar experience only. Downstairs Cafe Habana - great drinks, plus a good place to either people watch or find a nice nook to enjoy with your wife. Bab's - same as previous, but add pool.
Well said. I can't stand Bar Louie. They have a bar on Northwestern's campus that charges like $7 or $8 run of the mill beers. Just down the block there's some of the best beers in the world for much less. Corporations don't know how to run a good bar!!
Ribs: ****
Strengths - Meaty; perfectly cooked; served atop a bed of fries
Areas for Improvement - BBQ sauce flavor needs some work; coleslaw tends to be a bit weak
Pulled Pork: *
Strengths - It's pork
Areas for Improvement - Excess liquid often drowns out pork flavor
Red Barn Ale: ****
Strengths - Smooth; refreshing; ~$4/pint
Areas for Improvement - Must work on offering in 2 gallon jugs
At least it has a better name than the Blue Leprechaun.
I've been a couple times. First time the barbecue was great, no complaints. Second time, pretty terrible. Both times the beer was pretty much atrocious. Picked up where Leopold Bros. left off--well meaning microbrews that are low on flavor, and unfortunately featuring that buttered popcorn taste of poorly-cleaned beer lines. Unfortunate.
I recommend it, but don't get the beer.
While I think you could also get it from the beer lines, it's probably diacetyl. In small amounts diacetyl is fine and even desirable. However, some people like it more than others and in large amounts it can get pretty nasty. It's produced more by some yeasts and under some conditions than others. There are ways to reduce the amount in the finished product, though, which suggests to me that they don't know what they're doing.
a few times and it's a nice place, offering a smoke-free environment if that's your thing. I agree with many posters that the beer is sub-par with one exception: they make a hell of a bock (if that's your thing). Otherwise, meh.
The food is good, as has been said. I recommend trying the fried okra (featured in The Basket of Fried Goodness or something to that effect)
Another noteworthy feature is that the basement of the Blue Tractor is connected to the basement of Cafe Habana, which is always a good time. Great happy hour deal at Habana (3-6pm iirc) ... $3 mojitos
Haven't tried Blue Tractor... my thanks to all who have commented here. Sounds like I'll pass, cuz I love good BBQ and I am a beer snob, which I proudly admit. Sounds like they don't really excel in either.
If you're heading to Detroit, the best BBQ in the area is at Slows (Michigan Ave, very near where the old Tiger Stadium once stood). GIGANTIC portions, reasonable prices, great beer selection including Michigan and other US craft brews and other favorites from around the world. A word of caution, though.... GO EARLY. If it's slammed, stand at the bar and wait for someone to leave.... usually quicker than waiting for a table. Forget going on a Saturday, especially when there's a lot going on in town.
Best pulled pork in Ann Arbor...that isnt saying much though