OT - Jolly Pumpkin on Main St

Submitted by 10th yr Senior on

Has anyone gone to the new Jolly Pumpkin place on Main St downtown AA? Do they have any brews exclusive to their restaurant that you can't get at Ashley's? Is it good at all? If so, what would you recommend? Just figuring if it is worth the extra walk from campus when Ashley's is full of awesome and right there.

10th yr Senior

October 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 PM ^

I have also, plus their website is kinda cool because it lists all of the seasonals they release throughout the year. I'm just wondering if there is anything special about the new restaurant that warrants the extra walk from campus since it's getting colder out and I'm lazy.

Ernis

October 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^

I might head there tonight... though Blue Tractor has 1/2 off pints or something, and Heidelburg always manages to pull me in with the full size boots of Spaten Optimator. God, that will tear your gut up if you don't like what's good for you

So I can give a full report if I hit up JP. One thing I have noticed is that they are well-loved by beer enthusiasts around the country. Stone brewery in San Diego has done at least one collaboration with them, and some random folks from Philly I ran into in Benton Harbor (The Livery is a knock-out brewery, btw) were all about JP. I'm personally not a huge fan but they must be doing something right

Ernis

October 4th, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^

I created a KML file with the geocodes for every brewery in Michigan and mapped out the route on Google Earth, with phone numbers, hours of operation, and addresses for each place. Crashed in GR with friends, which was the base of operations for this epic booze quest

We hit up, in order:
Day 1:
Michigan Brewing Company
Grand Rapids Brewing Company
Founder's
Hopcat

Day 2:
New Holland
Saugatuck
The Livery
Old Hat
(back to Founders and Hopcat to cap off the night)

Day 3:
Waldorff
Bell's
Arcadia
Dark Horse

By sampling the beers my friends got, we were able to try just about every beer each place had available (except Hopcat, which has just a ridiculously good selection). Unfortunately we missed two in GR (Schmoz and The Hideout) that are reputed to be good.... neglected The BOB intentionally, because their beer is pretty bland... they just rely on gimicky marketing to trick people who don't know better ("OMG this beer is good it's like drinking a HAWT CHICK!"). New Holland also makes excellent gin and whiskey... and cider. Maybe more?

Let me tell you... if you do this... be warned: it will WRECK you!!! Also, don't get smashed the night before Day 1... that might have helped me a bit on Day 3. And don't forget the DD (poor sap)

PioneerPioneer

October 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 PM ^

The wife and I went last week. I wasn't too familiar with their beers, so I got a sampler. The bam and the bam noire were great, and the chocolate stout was pretty neat too. The food was also very good. I had an outstanding burger and my wife had a cobia (fish) sandwich, which was also very tasty. Anyway, you should definitely check the restaurant out. I loved it, and am planning on several return visits.

Menu is here: http://www.annarbor.com/2009/09/16/bardallisjpmenu1.jpg

Drink menu is here: http://www.annarbor.com/2009/09/16/bardallisjpmenu2.jpg

Ernis

October 4th, 2009 at 12:42 PM ^

up last night

Chocolate stout was delish but my favorite was the Autumn Bam. very nice balance of malt and sour

also, very nice woodwork. They should have the outdoor deck open soon which would be da bomb