Ann Arbor/Chelsea recommendations?

Beer-wise, JP and Ashley's are probably the best options in Ann Arbor. If you end up going to several, you could add Bill's Beer Garden, Arbor Brewing Company, and Grizzly Peak, all of which are right downtown on or just off Main St, near Jolly Pumpkin (Ashley's is on State, about a 10-15 minute walk east.) Outside of Downtown Ann Arbor, there's Wolverine Brewing Company on the west side of town, which specializes in lagers.

I can't really speak to Chelsea, as I haven't been there in years, but The Beer Grotto in Dexter is pretty good, and it's about halfway between Chelsea and Ann Arbor.

 

Depending on where you are staying in Chelsea, and if food is also a part of your plans, then The Common Grill in Chelsea is a great place for food and is very popular, but it's been so long since I've been there that I can't recall what their beer list is like. Maybe someone else can add that info. It's right in downtown Chelase so it may be walkable for you.

If you like German cuisine then Metzger's at the Zeeb Road exit from I-94 just west of AA has great food and some good German beers.

 

In Chelsea, there is Chelsea Alehouse on the main strip...Its mediocre, but...Also, in the same parking lot, jets pizza has a fantastic tap list...Both places are worth a stop...

In dexter, the beer grotto is cool...Also, the Dexter Pub has really good food and a decent tap list...Jolly Pumpkin beer is always on tap there...If you want pizza, Aubrees pizza is good and has an ok tap list as well

Bills beer garden is ok as long as their lines are clean....To be honest, way better choices in A2 than this....

 

Every time I have been to Common Grill there has at least been Short's Huma-lupa-licous on tap. Good food as well.

 

Jets Pizza, I have been. I have not been to Chelsea Ale house.

Wow I have not run across that for Bills, I usually avoid Ashley's though for that reason. There, I said it!

 

I still like Ashley's, but I did have a Victory Dirtwolf there and at World of Beer on consecutive days last week, and the one at WOB tasted much better. It was crisper, cleaner, and the hop aroma came out more clearly.

Couldn't put my finger on what made the WOB one better, but I'm sure it was some combination of 1) Cleaner Glassware, 2) Cleaner lines, and 3) Freshness

EDIT: Should have added another variable, 4) Myself. Obviously your taste buds can change a lot based on what you've eaten recently, mood, time of day, etc., so that can't be fully discounted.

 

Yep, two seperate times ive been there, lines were dirty...The second time I told them about it (should have the first time)..Ill go back, just that is in the back of my head

 

I take it you are talking about Bill's. The next time I see some of the A2 guys in the homebrew club I will ask if they have run across bad lines at Bill's. I do like that place, but have not been much this summer.

 

Yep..One was last year, one early this year...Ive been back twice since and both times been fine...Last year was Darkhorse Raspberry ale...This year was a shorts beer (forgot which one)

 

From Short's website newsletter is a new topic about off-flavoring that I have not seen before, called Shank Stank!
https://www.shortsbrewing.com/avoid-shank-stank/?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_shorts_report&utm_content=The Short's Report August 2014

 

I forgot about this place, but it is easy to do since my visit there from a year ago was not impressive. I could see potential (I reviewed it if you want to read the review http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31373/?view=ratings), but I have not been back yet to see if anything has improved.

 

A well known source of metallic flavors in a draft system. SS is the way to go. My local, Palate in Milford, is proud of the fact that the draft system is all stainless.

 

Yeah I like World of Beer and Wolverine State. Wolverine State might be my favorite bar, good food and it has a nice, townie feel to it. All lagers, but they're pretty good. Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor is also neat and they have some upstairs outdoor seating. Bar Louie may be a chain but they usually have a decent selection. I've been to Ashley's a lot, but I prefer not to go unless they're having a special event. For regular beer drinking it's not that special.

 

Last time I was there I walked out as I was sitting at the bar and the lady behind the bar was more concerned with people coming in filling growlers than me....She filled 3 growlers to people that came in after me..

 

ashleys is a good spot. the variety of midwestern beers is fantastic and you are right near the campus and can walk around (even over to downtown and Arbor, jolly pumpkin, grizzley peak etc). if you want a fun time hit Heidelberg on the northern end of Main street. head downstairs to the basement and the german beer hall. they have a pretty decent selection of german styles and can even snag some free appetizers sometimes.

 

Apparently I need to check that place out.

 

That sounds like a place that should be listed here on BA, so @lonewolf371, you're elected to get it added.