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Where I Drink Locally

© Paul Ruschmann

Let's do something different today. Come with me to the place I've called home for 25 years, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Summer is the best time of year to visit: the days are warm and long, and the bars and restaurants are rarely crowded.

Even though its population is only 110,000, Ann Arbor has something for everyone, including visiting Beer Travellers. Downtown is home to three brewpubs and an a multi-tap alehouse, all of which pour excellent beer.

Ann Arbor got its first brewpub, Arbor Brewing Company (114 East Washington Street; 734-213-1993), in the summer of 1994. Its owners, Matt and Rene Greff, aimed to create a true pub–a place where the entire family can have a good time. By every measure, they've succeeded; Arbor Brewing has even been voted "Best Brewpub in the Midwest" by its peers.

The Greffs, like many brewpub owners, started out as homebrewers. So it's hardly surprising that they serve beers rarely found on tap. One of these is Big Ben House Mild, a golden-colored ale with a hint of fruit. Even though mild ale is a classic style in Britain, it has fallen out of favor on account of its working-stiff image. Another beer worth trying is Old #22 German Alt, a dark, malty ale that compares favorably to the Altbier served in Düsseldorf, Germany. There's something for Real Ale lovers, too: a cask-conditioned India pale ale.

Apropos for a college town, Arbor Brewing offers a continuing education program in the form of monthly beer tastings. Each has a different theme (Maibock, for instance); 15 to 30 examples are served, along with appetizers. Attendees receive a program with information on the style and tasting notes on each beer.

Grizzly Peak Brewing Company (120 West Washington Street; 734-741-7325) is part of a brewpub family with a winning formula: high-class pub grub and hand-crafted ale. The pub was once the site of the Old German, a restaurant whose passing is still mourned. It's still a popular dinner destination in its own right. Amid brick walls and breweriana, diners enjoy dishes ranging from wild mushroom pasta and pretzel-crusted pork scaloppine to wood-fired pizzas. Holidays such as New Year's and Father's Day are observed with special brewer's dinners, featuring multiple courses--each paired with a Grizzly Peak ale. Some of the ales come from the brewmaster's private reserve.

Grizzly Peak is more than a restaurant that happens to serve beer. Five beers--all of them ales--have been on tap since the brewpub opened: Victors Golden Ale, Grizzly Peak Pale Ale, Steelhead Red, Bear Paw Porter, and County Cork Irish Stout. They're joined by a rotation of specialty ales poured from the "sixth tap." Two cask-conditioned selections--Extra Special Bitter and the seasonal "brewer's choice"–are available as well.

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