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Arbor Brewing Company
Categories: Food Breweries Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Pubs Breweries, American (New), Pubs [Edit]
114 E Washington StAnn Arbor, MI 48104
Neighborhood: Downtown Ann Arbor
(734) 213-1393
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 1 am
Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
167 reviews for Arbor Brewing Company
Review Highlights
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"In fact, tried the Sacred Cow IPA for the 1st time." In 7 reviews -
"Overall, great place to get great beer." In 9 reviews -
"My favorite is the Olde Number 22 German Alt." In 5 reviews
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167 reviews in English
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Review from Funglin W.
Cleveland, OH
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Shuffleboards and darts! I can never ask for a better bar.
Try the hard cider and the lion's strout! oh wait, the GARLIC FRIES.
PROs: loved all the uniqueness of their beers, loved the spaciness, and love the bar/restaurant feel. GARLIC FRIES, GET THE GARLIC FRIES. if you're ready for a night of garlic and you are as much of a garlic fan as me, i promise you this will not disappoint. BEST garlic fries ever.
CONs: uhm.. they should at least have some 'common' beers available like miller light or bud light for those who aren't as adventurous.
Either way, fun times here! -
Review from Chelsea M.
MI
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is fine. The service always seems to have a bit of an attitude (at least at the bar) and if I'm going to drink Arbor Brewing Co beer, I'd rather drink it at Corner in Ypsilanti. If you don't feel like venturing to the dirty Y for your pint, this location will do.
On several occasions I've experienced the beer being flat. If you don't like your brew, be sure to send it back! -
Review from Matt C.
Canton, MI
3/31/2012
Incredibly displeased by the automatic addition of a 20% gratuity to my bill, the service was awful with a standoffish and dismissive waiter who took forever to get drinks (the bar was not busy.) Also, there was $1.50 "Rocks Pour" fee - yep, they charged me to pour my drink over ice. To prove they're ripping you off it shows up as "$$ROCKS POUR" on the bill.
I was incredibly unhappy with the establishment and will not be back. -
Review from Chloe T.
Farmington, MI
5/23/2012
Tastey and great quality. A bit on the expensive side for both food and drinks. Creative entrees that you will crave again.
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Review from Sam G.
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
ABC was the first place I ever ate in Ann Arbor because 1) I needed/wanted vegan fare and 2) my dad needed a micro-brew. The internets brought us here.
It was summer 2009 and the students were away so sitting outside was nice. The food was decent. The beer was ok. We walked away more or less satisfied.
Then I moved here and it became the go-to place for us grads to grab a beer and talk. I'm not sure why. It was just the pub that was on the tip of everyone's tongue. There are two large rooms, one with darts and pool table, so it accommodated a fair group of people. And a lot of the other microbreweries weren't open yet (e.g. Jolly Pumpkin, Grizzly Peak, etc.)
I even liked one of their beers, their amber ale, before they got rid of it sometime in 2010. Boooooo! The same story for Corner Brewery - I adored their Arborealis and they got rid of that, too. Now I'm not crazy about any of their beers - they leave my mouth feeling soapy and blahzee.
Their food is average and when in a bind, you can survive off of it. The service has always been ok - relatively efficient but not beamingly friendly.
I like their queer-friendly flag sticker. I like that there aren't a lot of jocks here. But the beer, the food, and the general atmosphere don't have me coming back for more.Listed in: *burp*. oh. excuse me.
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Review from Heather S.
Ann Arbor, MI
3/25/2012
After moving to Michigan and not knowing anything about the foodie/beer scene, I stumbled upon Arbor Brewing Co. through Yelp. And seeing how my sister was in town visiting in December, I decided we should give it a try.
We had a bit to wait before we could get a table so we ventured to the bar to see what beer choices we had available. The choices were good and if we both hadn't been in the mindset for some cider, I'm sure we would have tried one of the many microbrews they had on tap. The fact that they have so many seasonal beers makes me want to visit in the summer and just day drink outside.
We started with the Nachos (not the Loaded Nachos). Typical gastro-pub like nachos, but they hit the spot when you still haven't decided on what to have for dinner. Two more ciders later I ordered. I had the Fish Tacos and they were perfect in proportion and the fish wasn't overcooked and dry! There's a star there! The fact that they offer non-meat substitutes to myself (I'm a pescetarian) and other vegetarians is another added bonus.
Service was friendly, no complaints. Our server didn't seem to have a problem with us camping out and catching up. And she was quick to grab our refills! Had they not had a holiday party going on in the other room, I'm sure my sister and I would have ventured in there for some darts or shuffleboard. The atmosphere was lively, not too loud, but just enough noise to make me realize that everyone else was having a good time too.
The location in Ann Arbor is relatively easy to find and there is a parking lot across the street that costs no more than $5 to park in for a a few hours worth of drinking and chatting.
I've since been back late night on a Friday for a couple drinks and the atmosphere is different after 11pm. Most of the diners have cleared out and my view was that most of the crowd was trying to enjoy a few drinks with friends in a place they could hear themselves talk.
Overall this is a place I'm sure I'll visit again (this time to sample some beers!) and would have no problem suggesting to others as a place for bite to eat or a few beers to throw down. -
Review from J K.
Ypsilanti, MI
3/8/2012
ABC is one of a kind... Unless the kind is Corner Brewery!
They have great beers here and I love going to the bar and getting a few samples. Working down the list at 4oz per serving is a great way to sample the beer while snacking on some food.
Good vegetarian choices and the pear & walnut salad is great. -
Review from Becky H.
Ann Arbor, MI
Updated - 3/5/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Gotta give credit where it's due... I have noticed a vast improvement in the service here. The last six or seven times I've been here have been relatively positive (definitely no traumatic or horrible experiences like the stories I recounted in my previous review).
My waiter tonight (Adam) was really exceptional, which prompted me to update my review and give this place another star. And it didn't hurt that he looks a bit like Breckin Meyer. In any case, he was friendly, checked back frequently, and was very accommodating to a member of my group who ordered a (beef) burger with only 8 minutes left before the kitchen staff was going to clean the grill for the night. Kudos to the kitchen staff too for making the last-minute burger!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/5/2011
The beer is fine (better than Grizzly Peak's), the food tastes fine but is overpriced, but the… Read more »
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Review from Mark S.
1/2/2012
Up there for the best beer in AA (tied with Jolly Pumpkin in my opinion, beats Grizzly Peak and Blue Tractor). The food is just OK, but you should really be coming here for the beer. They take some chances, and I love their seasonal beers.
They also have tasting nights and other events that keep the beer lovers like myself wanting to come back. -
Review from Jared W.
Dexter, MI
3/31/2012
Nice atmosphere to grab some drinks with your friends or coworkers.
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Review from Sherri T.
3/15/2012
Good beers. Good (slightly trendy) food.
Strollers, babies crying, kids chattering, & a baby shower???
Yes, a baby shower.
I've been to many breweries and brew pubs around the world, and I have to tell you that I have never seen so many kids in a brew pub in my entire life as I did at Arbor Brewing Company. Also, I had never seen a baby shower in a brew pub before last Saturday afternoon.
The kids at the booth behind us were hitting the booth so hard that it rattled us. We started hitting the booth back. The kids (or perhaps their previously clueless parents) finally got the hint.
I think it's cool when people with kids go to places other than typical kid restaurants, and I love when kids eat anything other then typical kid menu foods. Therefore, I think it's great that Arbor Brewing Company is the kind of place that families can go and where parents can enjoy a couple of descent beers with their kids in tow. However, I don't think I should have to tolerate squealing kids or the vibrations of "clunk, clunk, clunk" against my booth in any restaurant, let alone an adult-oriented establishment. If I had kids, I would definitely bring them to Arbor Brewing Company. However, I would not allow them to treat the brew pub like a fast food chain's bounce house!
Despite the small number of unruly kids, we enjoyed our beers and lunch. I had a salad with poached pears and a large slice of brie, a choice I didn't regret. They had me at "poached pears." Our server was attentive, but he had a laid back demeanor...PERFECT! I would definitely go back, but I might try going in the evening in the hopes of encountering fewer kids. -
Review from Bea G.
Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI
4/2/2012
I'm surprised how low the reviews are! We love going to this place.
Highlights:
* Great range of beers and drinks, including hard cider and fruity beers
* The food is awesome. We've tried the fish and chips (super delish), michigan chicken cherry salad, and their burgers. All really tasty. Comes with a choice of garlic fries, regular fries, or sweet potato fries
* Fun bar area, and always a hopping atmosphere
* Decor is a lot of brick and copper -- great ambiance.
Lowlights:
* You do have to wait for a dinner table during the busy times, but you can just wait at the bar.
* They need more space!! For both eating and drinking.
Overall: One of our frequent places to visit for dinner and drinks. -
Review from Emily K.
Dearborn Heights, MI
1/15/2012
Great food. Great beer. The service wasn't too bad considering it was slammed for a Saturday night. They don't take reservations, but I did call ahead, since I had a large group (11) with me. Once I got there, I only had to wait about 30 minutes before a large table was cleared off.
I would definitely go back there. In fact, I right now am wondering when I can go back.Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 1/17/2012
Emily, Thank you for the great feedback! More » -
Review from Stephanie C.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/15/2011
My boyfriend lives right next to Corner Brewery in Ypsi and the night before we went to Arbor Brewing Company for dinner for the first time, we went to Corner Brewery for a few beers. He warned me about the horrible beers and said something about them being under-attenuated...still not sure what that means...but I wanted to go anyway, just for something else to do. He was right about the beers, which is why we didn't get any when we went out to dinner the following night.
Since ABC is in downtown Ann Arbor, I really expected the atmosphere to be so much better than it was. It looked old and dingy, and not in a charming way. The service was decent. Our waiter was one of those guys who looks like he doesn't care too much about his job, but at least he did the bare minimum of what a waiter is supposed to do. I can't speak of the rest of the waitstaff, since I've only been there once.
I got the loaded nachos (if nachos are on the menu, expect me to get them), which sounded really great on the menu: "Spicy black beans, shredded chili-lime chicken, sharp cheddar, fiesta corn, sliced jalapenos, salsa verde and sour cream." That description would lead one to assume these nachos are very flavorful and spicy. Without the jalapenos, I feel these nachos would be very mild. I expected the chicken to be really flavorful, but it just wasn't. One good thing was the salsa. I'm not sure if it was made in-house, but it tasted as such. These nachos are $12, which I found a bit ridiculous for the portion size. For $12 nachos, I feel like I should have gone home with a doggy bag, but I was able to eat the whole plate's worth.
The nachos I had were still good, but definitely didn't live up to my expectations set by the menu's description, both in terms of the taste of the dish and the portion size. The atmosphere was mediocre, as was the service. 3 stars! -
Review from Wade D.
Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
For locally sourced food and drink, this is about as good as it gets!
Yes, that means the menu (of beers and food) rotates and changes frequently, but I've never been unhappy with available choices.
Their Faricy Fest Irish Stout is among my favorites (especially in winter) and their Sacred Cow (IPA) is hand pulled from a cask in the basement -- a little warmer than most beers, but smooth and tasty. -
Review from Arlene A.
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped by for some beverages, have to say if you are going to be a brew pub, your staff should have a better idea of what beer is what. I was surprised at the lack of knowledge by our waitress, while a nice enough girl, she didn't know a porter from a lager, and was completely useless during the ordering process.
Also unfortunate was the minor eye roll when we didn't order food. There were PLENTY of empty tables, so I don't understand what the problem was.
Judging by the other reviews, we must be in the minority, so perhaps it's the employee, not the establishment.Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 10/31/2011
Hello Arlene, Thank you for taking the time to provide… More » -
Review from Joi B.
7/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Finding good food after 10pm is often difficult in just about any city, but how awesome is it that we found it here in Ann Arbour (actually after 11!) Not to mention the fact that there are plenty of vegetarian options and a mention on the menu that they would alter the dishes (where possible) to allow for this. Hello, lifesaver! Between the good amount of comfort food options (nachos) and healthy (salads, two kinds of veg burgers) and unexpected (pierogies that looked positively divine), I became an immediate fan just looking at the simple menu.
The grilled asparagus (seasonal veg) that accompanied my homemade black bean burger (for just a buck and a half more) were crispy, flavorful and didn't have too much oil ruining the mix. Olive tapanade, jack cheese and salsa verde atop the homemade veggie burger (list of add-ons is impressive and you get a choice of three) bumped it up a notch. Vegetarians rarely get so many great options as these, so allow me to gush a bit.
Now why can't this be located down the block from me (instead of a dive bar proudly serving "Shrimp All Day!" as per the sidewalk board)? Their respectable wine list even boasts a chianti and the beer list is even more impressive. Vibe: think rock & roll brewery. And yes, the music is good.Listed in: Two Magical Days in Detroit
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Review from Nancy K.
7/16/2011 11 Check-ins Here
I love this place. Love. The beer is awesome, the staff is friendly and consistently good and the food is out of this world. Kris and I have been coming here since the day after the job interview that made us pack up from Vermont and head to MI to set up residence. We are regulars and have never been disappointed.
I appreciate that they source most of their food locally and that they are crazy friendly to veg folk like me. The new menu has some great additions like summer squash fritters, a cheese plate and some other new and exciting creations but their other fare is great, too. There's really not a better brew-pub around.Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 9/23/2011
Nancy, We're happy to have you and are thrilled you found a… More » -
Review from Hymae W.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is not my first time here. It's good enough to come back multiple times and has a decent selection of vegetarian food. But just about every time i am here they are out of either the beer i want or the food i want. Sometimes even both!
Appetizer: We got a dish of the roasted garlic. It was very good, the chive cream cheese was my favorite of the three dips. I will complain that our appetizer came out a whole 4 minutes before our meal though.
My dinner: I got the fettucine aurora which was excellent. It was the perfect serving size and came with garlic bread.
My Beer: I had the jackhammer (because they didn't have any stouts or porters). It was a strong beer but nothing unbearable. I liked it enough to order a second.
Girlfriend's dinner: She is a vegetarian so her meals always are more interesting. She got the sloppy jill (because they were out of mediterranean vegetarian pie) which she did not like. She said it tasted way to sweet and didnt even come close to finishing it. I tried it and didn't think i awful but I wouldn't have been happy with it
Girlfriends beer: She had the hoptoberfest beer which she really liked. I tried it and and also approved. It wasn't even close to being too hoppy and was smooth.
I like ABC and think they have good food and decent service but am not happy with the avalibility of the items on their menu. -
Review from Shiny J.
Troy, MI
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
They have good food and great beer. I am definitely going back the next time I am in the area. We went around 3:30 pm so there were not many people there, no wait. The waitress was very nice. They have a seperate wheelchair accessible bathroom. The incline to get in to the door could be difficult if you are in a wheelchair and no one is there to hold open the door for you.
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Review from Sarah W.
8/29/2011
Tragic. I have 5 star memories of Arbor Brew, but had a 3 star evening on my most recent visit.
The service was a little slow, but that was fine since I was enjoying catching up with some old friends. But what are you doing running out of beer?
Technically, they only ran out of the Olde Number 22, but if you run out of the beer that I wanted to order, that is the same as running out of beer. -
Review from Linda S.
Ann Arbor, MI
Updated - 4/10/2012
We visited after a few months of not going to this establishment after being dissapointed many different times. We discovered that their happy hour goes until 7:00 pm on Friday night, so we went a couple of hours before happy hour ended after checking the website and seeing that some of our favorite beers were available, aas well as some new beers we have never had before that sounded interesting. We had a lovely time! Our server Don, could not have been more helpful! He bought us a sample of a different beer to taste with out even asking for it. It was the most thoughtful thing any server has ever done for us here! (We used to go here at least once a week for a very long time...) We had some happy hour chicken nachos that were delicious and very reasonably priced-they seemed a bit smaller than the last time we had the nachos. (sometime at the beginning of summer.)We were not sure if it was a smaller portion for happy hour, or if the regular portion was just smaller now. We love the chicken strips, even though we have had problems with them before, we had to have them. We ordered them and asked them to be cooked lightly. Don came back and asked us how they were, and when we told them they were overcooked, he fixed the problem. Happy hour is a great time to go here with their delicious beers half price. We give the service five stars-Great Job Don!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2011
I don't know about anyone else,(very surprised there are so many great reviews...) but I think this… Read more »
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Review from Matt M.
Belleville, MI
2/11/2012
Great beer and a fun group of people working there. We enjoy their seasonal and mostly local food menu. This is a college-town bar, so don't expect anything fancy as for decor, but do expect cleanliness and friendliness. The owners seem to be local philanthropists, I have noticed the brewery sponsoring activities/groups often.
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Review from Shane M.
Ann Arbor, MI
Updated - 5/6/2011
The atmosphere at ABC is great, a lot of people just hanging out, having a good time, drinking some good beer and eating some good food. Food is always served in a timely fashion, and is delicious. I am partial to the Drunken Chicken myself.
Parking is directly across the street in a structure, you can walk a little ways to main street or be over to state in a few extra minutes. A few ice cream places a block down and coffee around the corner.
I know there are other restaurants, heck even other pubs I should try in Ann Arbor, but I'm content with my ABC experience, why risk a bad night out somewhere else?Listed in: Ann Arbor Food Fav's
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/9/2010
One word... drunken chicken. Oops, I mean drunkenchicken. I love it! It is especially good with one… Read more »
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Review from Aaron M.
7/4/2011
I must have lucked out visiting ABC on Friday night - my service was great! The waitress was prompt, always kept our water full and kept the beer coming nonstop (without messing up an order the whole time). The beer? Their whole lineup is great. I think it's tough to regularly brew 8+ beers at a brewpub and have them ALL be good, but ABC does a pretty great job of having a wide variety of good beers (instead of one or two great beers and six duds). My favorites were the IPA and the stout.
The only reason I docked ABC a star was the food. It was good, but like other reviewers have noted, a bit overpriced for what it is. I tried the specialty southwest burger. It was fairly tasty, but nothing to write home about, especially not for $13. Maybe I should have gone with a local recommendation instead of the daily special.
Regardless, I'll be back for the beer soon! -
Review from Sophia A.
Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI
1/17/2012
Really cute pub in Ann Arbor. They have good beers and occasionally cider on draft. Friendly servers and a big, open space.
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Review from Jennifer D.
Ann Arbor, MI
1/11/2012
I came here with a group of people on New Years eve around 6pm. It was my third time (and probably last time) here. They were not very busy and we got seated right away. The food was average...I got the Arburger and it wasnt as good as I had remembered. But the 2 stars is mostly for the service. Our waiter, Jeremy, was very unattentative. We tried to get his attention several times as he walked by but he was not paying attention. Took us 10 minutes to get his attention for the bill. It wasn't even that busy!! He was not very friendly either - barely smiled, didn't try to make conversation. The rest of the staff weren't very busy...they just talked amongst themselves instead of paying attention to customers.
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Review from Jee D.
10/16/2011
We met up with some old friends at ABC after a Michigan game. ABC hasn't changed since the last time we were there, oh maybe 6 years ago. It's still has a dive-like atmosphere, with an interesting mix of college kids, young families, middle-aged folks, and maybe some old timers at the bar. Our server was super friendly, attentive when he needed to be, and helpful in selecting our beers. While they have a decent selection, I had to order a couple different beers until they had one in stock. Don't get too sloshed that you can't walk downstairs to get to the bathroom - that stairway is dark!
Listed in: Ann Arbor, Revisited
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Review from Katie R.
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
last visit was post a post-game nap (around 11pm on a saturday), and we didn't have to wait for a table for beers and snacks. wasn't too crowded.
great place for lunch, too. and tours. -
Review from Guillermo K.
Ann Arbor, MI
10/22/2011
Your beers are okay, your food is not. Learn to make nachos.
Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 10/31/2011
Hello Guillermo, Thank you for your honesty. What nachos… More » -
Review from Lauren I.
3/26/2011
Apparently they have good beer here. Not being a beer fan, I can't appreciate this fact unfortunately, but ended up getting a rum and coke, which was very nice and at a reasonable price.
As for the food, I tried their Ar-Burger and sweet potato fries with chipolte sauce, both of which were pretty decent. Overall, nothing really special, but the sort of average that gets away with being neither satisfying or disappointing. What I didn't like though was that the burger came on this strange, doughy, onion bread that really ruined it for me.
While it was decent, it definitely wasn't 13 dollar decent, which is what I ended up paying for it.
But the atmosphere was laid back and relaxing, and the staff were friendly and attentive considering how many costumers they had to work with. While it wouldn't be my first choice for a bar in Ann Arbor, it's certainly not the worst. -
Review from tony m.
Detroit, MI
10/3/2011
Beers always really good. Food is a bit overpriced and not that great. pretty average bar type food. the basement bathroom has a nice mural of trolls and fairies.
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Review from Fred H.
Chicago, IL
9/1/2011
I love brewpubs, or more generally, casual food-centric spots with a good drink selection and preferably, a kitchen that stays open late. Though I wouldn't say that ABC blew me away in any way, it certainly met all of my requirements with an acceptable level of competence.
The beer menu had half of the on-tap offerings crossed out, but I actually don't consider that to be completely a bad thing; I like the idea of small scale, hand-crafted product, as opposed to mass-produced for the purpose of economy of scale, and if it becomes popular, then it will sell out. I also dislike wastefulness, so I'd rather see a product sold-out than leftovers going down the drain.
As far as the beer goes, I'd seen their beers is stores, but hadn't ever tried it, so the brewpub was a good introduction. I started with the Sacred Cow cask conditioned IPA. This type of beer probably will never be too popular with those who prefer an ice cold, crisp beer; it was more smooth and almost creamy, with little carbonation. I think my preference is a bit more American; I like my IPAs with a more lively citrus-y taste and more carbonation, (I know that's not what you get from cask conditioning) this was a bit more subdued and resin-y, perhaps more like an English Bitter. At 6.9% ABV, the alcohol is well hidden. Next I had the Milestone cask conditioned Porter. At this point, I was feeling that the cask conditioning process would be good for a creamy Stout, (and was also feeling the effects of the alcohol, though I really didn't taste it much in either beer) as I like my Porters with a more forward hop presence and a bit of bite w/carbonation to match. I guess in hindsight, cask-conditioned ales aren't necessarily my thing, though the styles that they offered in this manner definitely are. Again, it seemed more British, (on the warmer flat side, not a complaint, but an observation of style) while my taste tends towards the American.
As for the food, no brewpub is complete without a kitchen to match the brews, IMO. I had 2 items off of the specials menu, a cup of chilled minty pea soup and a Chorizo Hero. I'm not necessarily into chilled vegetable soups, (here I go ordering things I might not like again), but being on the special menu implies that it's recommended, and I figured it would be a good way to savor the last days of our precious Summer season. I think despite the mint leaf garnish, more mint taste in the actual soup would have been even more refreshing. It has a slightly effervescent sensation that I've experienced in cold pureed veggie dishes before; not sure if that's desirable, but it makes me think that it's starting to ferment or STH, kinda weirds me out. There dollops of creme fraiche that added a nice contrast, but a little went a long way, and I left some in the bowl, and I usually finish EVERYTHING. The Chorizo sammie was also OK, a bit smallish for the price, but fries were included. The sausage was like something you'd find in a grocery store anywhere with a large Latino population. It was topped with arugula, which was crisp and tasty, and some cheese, on a French-style roll. I say "French -style" because I assume anyone in France would disown bread like that. Good bread makes or breaks a sandwich, and this bread tended to be "Wonder-like", not crusty outside and not particularly glutinous inside. A good French or Italian roll will leave scratches on the roof of your mouth, but I didn't get that. The fries were hot and crispy, and good w/the mayo that I requested on the side.
Overall, the beer seemed potentially good, though I haven found a favorite yet. But now I might be willing to pick up a 6er in the grocery store. The food offerings were interesting and though not flawlessly executed, I did walk away feeling pretty sated. The service was cordial enough, though I overheard the bartender recommend a beer to another customer that wasn't on the menu that he hadn't mentioned to me, so I wasn't too impressed by that. I guess I'd probably be willing to come back, though I'll also keep my eye out for other similar types of establishments, hoping for a bit more...Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 9/22/2011
Hey Fred, Thanks for providing such detailed feedback. It's… More » -
Review from Emma K.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love ABC. True townie spot. Food is delicious, service is good ! Whether it's Summer out on the sidewalk or Winter belly to the bar you need ABC in your life :-D
Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 12/13/2011
Thanks, Emma! It's great to have you. More » -
Review from Suzanne S.
Canton, MI
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Arbor Brewing Co. is a great bar to sit back with your friends and have a beer. I know it's got to be "only in Ann Arbor.." where you can go to a bar and be served by a waiter named "Mother"...who was the nicest and best waiter we've ever had! He made that trip extra fun and then other trips too! Now we've not seen him around for awhile but we still enjoying going there for a beer and a burger. They also have awesome french fries with either garlic, cajun or plain flavors..you choose!
The place has the great A2 feeling with loud people and noisy atmosphere...lots of U of M t-shirts too! ABC has this treat that you can get which is a little few sips of several different beers so that you can and are able to try and sample a few different ones at one time! Just for the person who can't make up their mind OR the persons who want to try all of them at once!! LOL
You have to have the experience Of ABC when you visit Ann Arbor,MI because you can sit outside on the sidewalk while watching the cars and people go by. Or you can sit inside with the noise and the A2 atmosphere and "groupies". Either way don't expect the best food in the land...but just some pretty good beer and a ton of different choices for beers...OH and...they make it right there....right there at ABC they make it in the brewery! Enjoy...have fun and drive safely!Listed in: Services Not To Miss!!
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Review from Kathryn L.
Birmingham, MI
9/9/2011
When we pulled up, we noticed it was easy to find and there was a parking structure just across the street - very convenient. The food here was delicious, though I think i was talked out of a burger and into a salad by the placards on the table proclaiming they only use locally-grown beef. Said placards included pictures of the cattle as well. With their sad eyes staring back at me, locally grown or not, I certainly wasn't going to eat one! I ordered a cocktail and my friend ordered a beer; we both liked our drinks. Overall a good experience. But poir cows..
Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 9/22/2011
Kathryn, Thank you for providing feedback. We're glad to… More » -
Review from Aaron B.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/25/2011
I've been here several times over the years and it's always been pretty mediocre...it's Ann Arbor so mediocrity is expected. But this place is frequently so damn loud that you can't talk to the person standing next to you without screaming. So, it's more like a bar than a restaurant in that respect. The food selection is very limited, not interesting or especially delicious, and rather overpriced for what you get...and there are many better places within a couple blocks of here. So I plan to never, ever come back here. Ever.
Comment from Casey H. of Arbor Brewing Company 11/7/2011
Aaron, Thank you for taking the time to review the pub. All… More » -
Review from matt r.
Huntington Beach, CA
7/22/2011
Good burgers, good beer (although I'm not sure how the draft pint was room temp), crummy service. We had high hopes but in the end it was like getting a half melted ice cream cone.
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Review from Jesse C.
Princeton, NJ
6/13/2011
I like their beer selection here and it is a great place to hang out and have a drink but the food is just plain awful. Their mains are thoughtlessly put together and look like they came straight from Krogers frozen food section. The mac and cheese isn't baked, nor is the cheese sauce anything special. Likewise, the gnocci that comes with the (also disappointing) chicken confit is mushy and bland. I've had a few meals here and if you can't avoid eating here, stick with the (adequate) burger or the (excellent) garlic plate.
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Review from mariah c.
Ann Arbor, MI
1/15/2009 3 Check-ins Here
ABC has mostly taken the place of the old Del Rio (RIP) in my social orbit, if not in my heart. I have major love for ABC -- the beer (the Blonde and the Alt are favorites), the food, and the fact that I'll invariably run into at least half a dozen people that I know.
Most weeks, I'll wind up here at least once, but sometimes it'll be 3 times. In Ann Arbor, a lot of restaurants (that are within my price range) seem to close on the early side, so ABC's grub is my late meal of choice.
They've changed the taco salad set-up now that they're using Ann Arbor Tortilla Company (yum!) chips, but it's still delicious. However, sometimes you'll get a normally sized portion, and sometimes (like my fella got last week), they'll give you such a giant mound of beans and fixins that it's really a salad for 2, or 3!
I love their tempeh burger with garlic fries, though I can never finish the whole thing. The roasted garlic plate is a good option to split, too -- just make sure to pick up a handful of those mints on the way out!
The owners really seem to care about the community, and that's a big plus, too. They try to source much of the food locally, and that sort of care comes through.
Service is generally really good. Every once in awhile you'll get someone who's new and/or spacey, but for the most part, everyone's friendly and quick to please. One of my favorite spots around.
