We stumbled across this pub on our way to the ice cream place, and we decided to give it a try! Overall, we were impressed-- super cozy indoor/outdoor space, fast service, and an amazing list of draft beer options! They don't serve any food though, so might not be a good choice if you're hungry. - Dogfish Head Grateful Dead IPA: 10000/10 (an amazing, refreshing IPA that isn't too strong! Medium-bodied, pretty fruit-forward with notes of pineapple and mango. Honestly one of the best IPAs I've had in a whileee) - Kasteel Wit: 9/10 (light-body wheat beer that's also super refreshing and flavorful!) - Hacker Pschor Oktoberfest: 10/10 (great marzen) - Rhineheist Cheetah lager: 8/10 (decent lager) - Guinness: 6/10 (the Guinness was wayyyyy too watery!!!) - Ferndale Project Apple Pie: 9/10 (actually tastes like apple pie and vanilla! It's def on the sweeter side though, so you might not like it if you're not into sweet beer) Overall, I definitely want to come back and sit outside when the weather is nicer! read more

The Grotto - Dogfish Head IPA - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

This spot is pretty chill! I was thinking it was a beer only watering hole but they actually have an AWESOME selection of bourbon. However, I made a grave mistake of ordering on the QR code/Toast rather than at the bar. I say grave because fellow bourbon whisky enthusiasts will cringe -- I was pretty stoked to see that they had Basil Hayden Toasted. So, I ordered it but also selected "add water" with the anticipation that it would be like a dropper of water. Nope, they made a cocktail out of my 2oz pour of Basil Hayden. Whiskey water. At that point, it could've been Makers Mark or Jack and I wouldn't have known the difference. User error though so I did make sure I still tipped accordingly and NOW I know. I'll be back though. read more

Just got drinks but classic Ann Arbor spot. The tent part is very warm in the winter and it was a nice place to go for a second stop. The service is good, you place orders online. read more

We lived in Ann Arbor for 2 years and this was always a favorite to go after work or on the weekends. Totally outdoors so if that's not your jam stay away. But if you're willing to mingle during the summer the vibes are great. Service is always quick and the beer and drinks well above average. read more

Great beer selection and reasonable prices. Outdoor seating is plentiful and adds to the experience read more

Great place to enjoy some craft beer on a warm summer day. Their convenient QR code ordering system makes it easy to browse the draft list right from your table and order a pint, or a flight. Our beer was delivered within a few minutes of ordering, and we were able to close out and pay without waiting for a server to deliver our check and run our card. Legit and constantly changing selection of local and craft beer. Shaded outdoor tables are great for people-watching. read more

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Good Drink | No Food If you are looking for a casual happy hour spot during the week in Downtown Ann Arbor, this should be on your list. They have three different seating zones (indoors, sunroom, and outdoors) that each have a slightly different mood. The service is quick, friendly, and polite (Pro Tip - Make sure to ask your server's name, it is usually a bonus point during trivia). Although they don't serve any food, you can bring your own food in and there are a couple of options close by. read more

Second visit to the Grotto for beer. Nice beer selection. You order online (virtually ?) from your phone (QR codes) and they bring the beer to the table. Nice casual location. Easy in - easy out with the no sit down. Need a credit card. Not sure if they take cash. There are a few tables inside, but most of the seating is outdoors, which is great for Ann Arbor (maybe not winter ). read more

The Grotto - Local Hazy IPA - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We were walking around the area looking for bars to check out while visiting Ann Arbor over the summer and The Grotto caught Nate's eye. We sat at a picnic table outside and were greeted quickly. Our server was super nice and friendly, and gave us recommendations on other places to go, including the 8 ball dive bar. The Grotto's beer menu is huge with 30+ taps, but we went with a spicy margarita and a mule this time. The drinks were decent, nothing super special, but good versions of these classic cocktails. The people watching was great in this area so it was fun to enjoy a drink outside. I'd definitely come back and try some beer next time we're in the area. read more

The Grotto - Spicy margarita and mule - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

This is surely the nicest place to enjoy a burger from Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger. Being able to bring in your own food to a beer bar with a large selection of taps is an incredible feature. Naturally, without a kitchen to increase revenue, the beer prices might be a buck or two higher than you may find elsewhere. However, the setting is lovely with both covered and uncovered outside tables. There are heat lamps should it get nippy outside. Plus the service staff is quite friendly. I do wish the beer selection didn't lean so heavily on IPAs. That is a common complaint for me, along with so many beers that are flavored or contain gimmicky adjuncts. Props for having a deep list of pilsners and lagers. But I would love to see some hard to find beers from around the world. Having only one beer listed in their "Belgian/Wheat/Cream Ales" category which was just a Belgian-style beer made in Pennsylvania and available in nearly every supermarket, is what I would consider to be a red flag. The Grotto is good, but I also know they could do better... if they really wanted to raise their game. The issue isn't more beers. They have plenty. I would love to see a more curated selection that would really knock people's socks off. Although to be fair, the issue may simply be people. People love their fruited gose, double pastry stouts, and beers modeled after cocktails. Maybe one day I'll find a place to go in Ann Arbor for Geuze, ESBs, Farmhouse Ales, or true Belgian Blondes. In the meantime, The Grotto is a lovely spot downtown to sit down for one of my favorite burgers and a pint. read more

The Grotto - Ivy League? Maybe not, but still rad. - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

I decided to take a stroll in the downtown Ann Arbor area. I decided that I wanted a meal and a drink. I passed Grotto and decided this would be a great spot seeing that I had not been here before. We asked and were told that we seated ourselves. The waiter gave us the rundown. You can holler and ask for Any waiter, there are mainly drinks and beer, there was not usually food but this was football night so there was a limited menu. Cool and different. Different is great sometimes. I ordered the crispy burrito and taco. I also ordered a nice wheat beer that was recommended. The food was great for a spot that does not specialize in food. This was a nice spot with a good vibe. I would recommend it as a stop if you are ever walking around the area. read more

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Brutus provided excellent service. One of the mainest experiences I've ever had as a young jit

Great beer and service. No foid, but you can order from the huge number of nearby restaurants. Very dog friendly in a heated patio.

Great Beer selection? Patio? Count me in! Scan the QR code and just order from your table. It's wonderful. We enjoyed the Gumballhead what beer from Bells & the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes Brewing Company. There is still time to enjoy the outdoors! Go for it! read more

The Grotto - Beer on patio - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

First things first, this is one of my go-to spots for happy hour and drinks in Ann Arbor! My friends and I enjoy coming here to celebrate the end of the week with drinks and good vibes. The cocktails here are really good as well. Not pictured is my go-to, the Moscow mule! Let's just say after two of them I feel great! The green tea shots here hit different (in a good way)! As you can see me and my friends enjoyed ourselves with a whole round of shots! I'd highly recommend this place! A pro-tip is that you can have food delivered here from other restaurants while you enjoy your drinks! read more

The Grotto - Green Tea Shots - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Grotto has a great selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and even non-alcoholic drinks. They don't serve food, but you can bring your own food from any of the nearby restaurants. During COVID, perhaps their biggest selling point is that they have a lot of seating outside and some of it is covered in case of rain. Find a table, access the menu using the QR code on the table, and a waiter will come by to take your order. read more

Love the Grotto, great beer, best destination for me and the doggo after a long walk. I mostly love the music but as someone older, I prefer something chill, fun and mellow, especially early afternoon. read more

Much improved!!! I love writing update reviews for great improvements. Again, my office wanted a happy hour to celebrate a co-worker at a venue with great beer. Beer Grotto fits that bill - but to avoid the catastrophe we had last time, I called to ask if space could be reserved for 20 and not take the chance that seats would be available, like last time. Doesn't hurt to ask. Jamie was great! He listened to my concern and agreed to reserve space for 20 of us. The office has the Beer Grotto, I have less stress because I was able to reserve seats and BG got a lot of business for an hour and a half. Win-Win-Win. It worked out perfectly. Everyone had a seat and was happy. I was able to open a tab on my card but the boss switched it to his card and treated us when he closed the tab. I told the staff that this is the best happy hour we have had in a long time and I really appreciated their accommodations. The Boss showed his appreciation with a good tip. The patio is bigger, with more tables along both streets. More beverage options for cocktails, frozen drinks, and wine. Grizzly Peak has an abbreviated menu that they will walk over to you for free, or BG encourages you to bring in your own food. Kosmo's, Blimpy burger and The Fleetwood are across the street! I won't make a request for 20 a habit, but glad to know it's an option for 4pm on a Wednesday afternoon. They will surely see us again. Thanks Jamie and Beer Grotto! read more

The Grotto - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Staff and management have difficulty controlling their anger. Witnessed a server physically assault a customer and when management was requested, she threatened physical violence as well. Truly appalling behavior. There are so many great bars in Ann Arbor- find a better one to support than the grotto read more

I had been wanting to try The Beer Grotto for a while now, and got my chance this past Saturday night. My boyfriend and I both ordered the Weinstephaner (sp?), on draft, for $6.50 each. I had tried a different version of it before, and I ended up liking that one better than this one, but it was still okay - I'm not a big beer person in general. I believe they had 20-30 beers on tap, and then a few more in bottles. The place itself is small, but they have an outdoor seating area too, along with some heat lamps throughout. It was nice and warm inside but there was no seating, so we sat outside, it was about 60 out so that was fine. They don't sell any food, I believe, except truffle popcorn ($2), which I'd like to try next time. Overall, not my favorite place to drink out of all the Ann Arbor establishments I've been to, but I may return in the future. read more

The Grotto - Menu - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

They have a great variety of drinks on their menu. However, everytime I've been here the service has been subpar. The waiters are not that attentive and one time it took 15 minutes for me to get my drink when it wasn't even busy..... read more

Relaxing music on an inviting patio makes the Beer Grotto a great place to hang out when the weather is nice. I did just that recently while in Ann Arbor with a friend and was so glad to find a new favorite place. After ordering and paying at the front, we headed around back to the patio and grabbed a seat. There was a warm din of conversation and chill music for I set the mood for an enjoyable night. We sat, sipped, and swayed to the music for an hour or more before calling it a night. All in all, not a bad way to spend an evening! read more

I love The Grotto. Lots of awesome craft beer options on tap but they always have a few choices for cider or daiquiri lovers. Chill vibes and a great small patio. Sometimes they even have live music. And when it's not a pandemic you might even be able to snag some free popcorn read more

The Grotto - people sitting at tables outside at night - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Stopped in and had the best sour of my life followed by a delicious margarita. Our waiter? Server? Bartender??? Doug was THE best. We were in Ann Arbor for the day and he was super helpful at recommending not only great drinks- but great dinner/activity related stuff too. He was so friendly and attentive. This place offers some stellar adult beverages. Don't let the outdoor seating deter you. The heaters make it nice and toasty. Nothing like watching the snow OUTSIDE while reveling in the heat with a drink. 3 cheers for the Grotto. It was by far the best on our brewery tour. read more

Decent selection of beers, came because the website advertised games and then couldn't find them? No complaints otherwise

I've visited the Beer Grotto a few times and really dig their simple setup. They feature a handful of carefully-curated beers and ciders on tap... and that's about it. The people working the taps are wonderful, especially when it comes to offering samples. They pour in a couple different sizes and their prices are super reasonable. There are a few tables inside and out for your sitting pleasure. I love their patio. It's perfect for catching some sun and doing a little people watching. The Beer Grotto is one of my favorite stops when I visit Ann Arbor. You should check it out if you like beer or cider in a relaxed setting. read more

The Grotto - Enjoying a beer and a cider on their patio. - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

MANNY IS THE BEST! We stopped by a few nights ago to grab a drink and got so lucky with Manny as our server. He was extremely kind, personable, and attentive. The weather has gotten quite chilly and Manny was able to move us under the tent after a little while of sitting outside. My only recommendation to the Beer Grotto is for them to lower the heating lamps so that customers can actually benefit from their heat (i.e. take a lesson from Fritas). You don't really feel them at all when you're sitting down and the lamp is 10 feet away! 5/5 for Manny alone. 3.5/5 if Manny was not included. read more

I come looking for the frozen drinks, but it is hit or miss whether they will have them or the machine is working. When it all pans out the daiquiris are great. read more

This used to be my jam. My place to go and try new things. Haven't been there in a few years walked in couldn't get eye contact from server asks for a menu told us we could go to a table still no eye contact. Normally I'd try three things to see what I liked was offered nothing. We were kind blown at the lack of service and disrespect won't be back. Pre pandemic we went once a week but definitely not anymore when treated like trash. read more

When the sun is out, this is the spot to go for a nice cold beer of the tap and soak up the sun in the patio area. Lots of good beers on tap. Perfect spot to chill and hang with friends in the midday and afternoon. Been here many times. And it's right by a handful of food places in case you'd want to bring food over to enjoy with the beers. They have snacks such as chips and popcorn for purchase as well. read more

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I've been here a few times and I've always enjoyed it. Multiple rooms, each either different vibes and outdoor seating when its warm out. They partnered with a few local places so you can get free delivery for food. They have a side variety of drinks and have a popcorn machine set up as well. I highly recommend! read more

The Grotto - Menu - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We stopped in for a beer one afternoon. We're so glad we did. They have a nice selection of beers and a fun atmosphere. There is outdoor seating, but there are windows everywhere; even sitting inside you get a lot of natural light. We look forward to stopping in again. read more

Great place to stop by and get a beer! Always has local/an interesting selection to choose from! All employees have been super helpful with answering questions and love sharing their knowledge and helping you to find a beer suited towards your preferences. read more

The Grotto - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

A group of us decided to break away from the daily grind of kids and work to enjoy the food and beer scene in downtown Ann Arbor. This was our first spot of the day and it was good. We sat outside in the garden room, which was unusually warm and bright for this time of year. They had a wide variety of drafts on tap. I decided to stick with traditional pints, whereas my fellow beer lovers went with 3oz samplers. My top picks were the Pilsner Urquell and the Bell's Bright White Ale. Both were rather light, but good for a mid-afternoon beer adventure. read more

The Grotto - Beer menu - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This was a nice casual place to get together with a large group of people. The beer list was extensive and ordering was a breeze. I loved that you could order at your convenience right from your phone. Everything was brought out promptly. Highly recommend this place! read more

OK, so it's winter in Michigan and you are looking for a place outside to get a drink on Monday afternoon and, (what the heck?) almost all the bars in Ann Arbor are closed on Mondays. The saving grace is the Grotto Watering Hole across from The Old Town and the Fleetwood Diner--and open on Mondays. They have a covered patio with heaters both in the ceiling and on poles and it stays pretty toasty (relatively). They have a great selection of beers, have a shorter wine list and cocktails as well. Even though they don't have food they are literally steps away from both the aforementioned restaurants plus Kosmo's and Blimpy Burger. They have big TV's on the patio so you don't have to miss the game. The wait staff is terrific and all the pandemic rules are in place. You can even bring your dog. Check it out. See you there. read more

Post-game we stopped in for a beer, they do also have wine, but no food (okay they do have popcorn for a price). We sat out on the covered part of the patio. Given the early rain this section was dry and warm due to the space heaters. The beer selection is quite extensive though I did not care for the Prairie Wheat I ordered - it tasted more like a cider than beer. The others enjoyed their beers. On a nice summer day this would be a fine place for some beer drinking... read more

This place is awesome. Plenty of outside seating and a cool atmosphere. Plus the service is impeccable. They truly want to help you find a good tasting beer and something you will enjoy. Even after we had gotten our beers, they were checking in on us and making sure that we didn't need anything else. I will definitely be back when the weather gets warmer and the sun is out! Great happy hour specials as well. read more

Opening day! The crowds are insane and it is impressive how many bearded men are here. That usually means good things for beer places. I tried the Fuego sour beer and it was delicious. A friend had the Le Freak IPA which he enjoyed but was surprised by the weakness of a tripel. Everyone generally enjoyed the beers and the vibe was social, yet relaxed. Also, they have some pretty delicious popcorn drizzled with truffle oil gratiz for customers. Just ask an employee while you are getting your beer! Check it out Ann Arbor! read more

The Grotto - Bar area! 36 beers on tap! - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Great place. Can't believe I hadn't been in before. Nice atmosphere, friendly helpful staff. There's outdoor seating and some inside as well. But it is small. They have a great selection of beers on tap. You can purchase smaller samples if you want to try a flight or maybe you're just interested in trying something new. You can get 1oz 3oz and 5oz samples. They have a few wine choices as well which I was interested in but they were sadly out when I was in. I was delighted to see they had beers from Witches Hat. Can't wait to go back and try some other items. read more