My dad walked into this place at 4:30 pm on a Friday and asked for a table for a party of 4. They had at least 7 open tables, but the guy at the front said they were all reserved. He was rude and condescending and his claim was obviously BS. We just wanted a place to sit down and have one drink. This place does not even serve food... There are nicer bars right down the street to patronize. read more

I went on a Sunday which is when they have all day happy hour so that cool. I had a tequila sunrise which I enjoyed. However, the food tastes like sawdust and I won't be back. Nothing seasoned, not even salt on the chips. No thanks. read more

Ashley's is a cool place, and that's all that needs to be said. But... let's say more. Unless you've been buried under your books, college students, you probably know of the movie that was filmed entirely in Ann Arbor. Answer This! takes place at the University of Michigan, and a ton of scenes take place at Ashley's. After a viewing at the Michigan Theater, my friend and I decided we immediately needed to go to there. Naturally. I was definitely surprised at the menu. This isn't your average bar food! From Stilton fries to thin crust pizza, Ashley's has a lot of unexpected choices. It's bar food with a twist. The Caprese sandwich was my choice, with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, onion, pesto, and balsamic on some kind of grainy bread. If this were a cafe or bistro I may not have been terribly impressed, but for a bar I definitely was. The best part was the house made kettle chips. These are the chips to eat when you're pissed off. They are so freaking crunchy I couldn't hear what my friend was saying. Awesome. Now, the beer menu! The front pages are a guide to beer, which makes their ridiculously long beer list much easier to navigate. It seems like they have something from everywhere on the planet that just might make beer. Maybe option overkill, but asking for recommendations always works for me. They've also got quite a list for those more interested in spirits. 12 year old Scotch? No problem! So, yeah. Ashley's is a cool place to hang out, and if you're getting into beer, a great place to experiment. read more

When I first moved to Ann Arbor, I was 3 months out of undergrad and drank mostly margaritas....so, all I knew about beer was that you should be embarrassed to ever order something like a Miller Lite in an actual, real, beerful bar. But I also didn't know what I should be ordering instead. Luckily Ashley's had several ciders that I stuck to on those first visits, so I could enjoy my ultimate grilled cheese sandwich without fear of humiliation. Since then, I've returned periodically, though never regularly. I came here one day in December more than a year ago when a far away friend was undergoing scary surgery, and took comfort in a double chocolate stout (which has since become my favorite Ashley's treat) and again, that grilled cheese. On another (indulgent) visit, I had the grilled cheese, the double chocolate stout (creature of habit? I can't get it anywhere else!) and a Guinness float (yes, with ice cream)--yummy! Took my younger brother and his friend here when they were in town for the AA film festival last year, and they were impressed, overwhelmed, and amazed by the beer list. I had the grilled cheese. In fact, I think I've had that tasty grilled cheese every time I've come, except for this past Friday. We were there for a goodybe party for yet another friend leaving town (:( ) and I decided to mix things up by ordering the Georgia Reuben. Warning! It's supposed to have Russian Dressing on it, but in fact it's Thousand Island. Which would be fine for most people, but not so much for me, Rebecca "Hold the PIckles" W. The pickle bits throughout my entire sandwich were an unexpected, not-so-awesome surprise. This was my first Ashley's visit since September, and I thought I might have a better handle on the beer than I did back in my ignorant days--I've grown so much in the last year or so, from "I don't know what beer I like" to "I like ALL beer." But the list was still intimidating! So much so that SK invited the server to just pick a light, crisp beer for him. I was holding my breath (one of my father's mantras is NEVER LET THE SERVER PICK THE BOOZE) and I was sure he was going to wind up with a $12 beer (he was less concerned: "if it's a $12 beer, I just won't have another one). But I needn't have worried: the server picked something tasty for $4.50! Thanks! read more

Wait, is this somehow suddenly my Cheers? Probably not, but for a minute, it felt that way. I hadn't been in here in probably a year. Then, last night, I stopped in to meet up with Sarah R. Before she even came in, I ran into a handful of folks I knew right away. I think that's mainly a matter of proximity. For anyone who works in the Liberty/State Street area, Ashley's is a convenient place to stop in after work. The prices are reasonable, and you really can't beat the selection. Tonight, after returning from Detroit, I wound up here yet again for drinks with my ladies. It was just fine. Fun, unpretentious, and the volume level meant we could chat and catch up easily. I got myself a Darkhorse Scotty Karate, which hit the spot. Some of the music from the jukebox was great, and some was Extreme. Yes, THAT Extreme -- "More Than Words." For me, this song has gone past funny and into annoying. However, it was redeemed by the sheer entertainment of the waiter dancing with the girl behind me (and knocking over a chair). Not quite rowdy at all, but entertaining, nonetheless. Oh, and the same waiter printed out and got us our bill in record time when we were ready to go. Ashley's may not be my very favorite bar, but it's a good, comfortable standby. And the Stilton fries are somehow irresistible -- just bring some gum! read more

College memories of Ashley's: - Turning 21 and sharing a bottle of Chimay (and terrible burgers and potato chips) with a friend. - Trying the fruity beer samplers, only to be disappointed by most of them. - Getting Ephemere on tap... green apple and cassis, what! - Getting sangria at Dominick's and then going to Ashley's after Dominick's closed, hating all the food, and walking to NYPD afterward. - Pretending to arm-wrestle my friend who weighed three times as much as me. - Dealing with some terrible jukebox selections for 20 minutes, buying some better songs, and then waiting another 20 minutes before our songs actually came up. Post-college memories of Ashley's: - Meeting up with old classmates and professor and just catching up after 5 years. - Grabbing Founder's Red's Rye on tap with my old roommate and her fiance when they were in town. - Fortifying myself with good beer before going to the Blue Leprechaun for tequila shots (shudder... not my choice of bar). I could go on, but I'm pretty sure I'm boring you. In a nutshell: - Lots of draft and bottled beers with a very organized menu. - I don't usually get very good recommendations from the server. It's best to trust your own instincts. - Subpar food. - Awkward and crowded seating, especially in the front. - Semi-gross bathroom downstairs. - Nostalgia! read more

Apparently we only go awesome places when I'm in Ann Arbor. We decided to go here because we just weren't hungry enough to eat at Blimpie Burger (I think you need to fast for at least 48 hours before you eat there). The bar is a nice, old school looking Irish pub. When I studied abroad in France, there were a ton of Irish bars owned by Irish people (I guess that's about authentic as it gets outside of Ireland, right?) and this bar was like that. Lots of beer decor, brick walls, old tables and the smell of beer lingered in the air (which is a good thing). They have a TON of beers on tap. I mean that - a TON. When we were given a beer menu, it was not just a menu; it was a guide. The little booklet must be about 15-20 pages and it includes description of types of beers (lager, ale, stout, etc.), how they are produced, how they taste and how strong they are (rated on a scale from 1-10, 1 being light and 10 being strong). Each beer that they sell (tap and bottle) were given a rating and a description to give you the easiest selection possible. The beers were even ordered by type, so I was able to immediately skip to the White Ale section and sample something I've never had before. I had a bottle of the Celis White, which is brewed right in Webberville Michigan (Michigan Brewing Company). Delicious! The food was also great. I had the fish and chips - the fish was battered in Sam Adams and the fries were coated with some kind of beer batter. Mmmmmmm. My boyfriend had the Badger Burger, which came with bacon and cheese. He said, "The cheese was melted onto the bacon... that made it really good." Enough said. I'll definitely be back in the future to try some of their fries - they had a crazy French Fry menu that included Chili Fries, Pesto Fries - can you go wrong with that? read more

Server was pretty inattentive, longest time we had without her stopping by was nearly 30 min. Ordered an app, then beer, and then never came back for our meal order so we just never ordered a meal. Got the pesto fries ($12) - good, but pretty expensive for cold fries. Liked the pretty big variety of MI beer, tho. read more

If it weren't for the excellent beer selection, I could happily never go back to Ashley's. I know, I know - it's a college campus bar, and as such I should be pleased that my shoes don't stick to the floor when I walk through and that the servers come to the table at all. But if you're going to refuse bar service to anyone who isn't seated at the bar, you could at least encourage your waitstaff to visit their tables on occasion. Tonight we joked that we should put a pile of money on the end of our table, declare our intention to spend that amount, and take bills away for every increment of time that we had to wait for our server to appear, much less take our orders. The food is adequate, but heaven help you if you're on a diet or are vegetarian (there are options, just not many). I like the chicken pesto pizza, but there are a lot of other, similarly adequate pizza options in this town. When we first moved to Ann Arbor, we were really excited about Ashley's. We made a friend and won a prize at trivia when we stopped in for dinner while in town to look for an apartment. I think it's safe to say that that is and will remain our best experience with Ashley's, period. UPDATE: I thought I should probably give Ashley's props for the free and super yummy Tollhouse sundae I got on my birthday. Still not a big fan, but it's something, right? read more

If you ever need to reassure yourself that grad students and their bars are just as obnoxious as undergrad haunts, check out Ashley's. There's nothing objectively wrong with the bar itself, but the people ruin it for me every time. The ID checkers refuse entry to international students who don't have their passports tatooed to their forheads (even when they have alternate forms of identification. even when they're 30+ yrs old). Servers never seem to know what is and isn't available from the massive beer and whisky selections, and the happy hour crowd gets increasingly obnoxious as the night wears on. They shout to compete with a jukebox full of early 90s Top 40 rock like Dave Matthews Band and Counting Crows, Hootie and the Blowfish. It makes me cringe, but I guess if that's your bag, you'll love it. I will grant that the selection of beers on tap is indeed formidable, and the menu offers a few worthwhile nibbles. Stilton fries are the perfect pungent, gooey, greasy accompaniment to a nice cold draught Smithwicks or bitter Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. The spinach-artichoke dip is a little too thick for easy dipping, but only because it's heavy on parmesean that gives it a wonderfully sharp flavor. And I have it on good report that the chicken skewers are moist and flavorful. The location does make it the most obvious choice for a drink between classes, although I adivse against trying to attend anything involving a professor prone to wearing ridiculous clothes after three or more delerium tremens unless you think they'll take uncontrollable giggling through their seminar as a compliment. I wouldn't turn down an invitation to go to Ashleys, but I often try and convince people to follow me elsewhere after the first round. read more

I used to really like Ashley's and there are a lot of good things about it, but a recent event really pissed me off, so here is a pissed-off review. Let me start with compliments first, though. The beer selection is impressive, though there are not as many Belgians as one might have hoped. They also support small breweries around the state with their rotating tap, and you can usually find some stuff there to try. The food is standard bar food, which satisfies its role as supporting cast to the beers that are really the stars here. Be sure to sample beers before you order them though!!! Recently, I had ordered a rather expensive beer, and it clearly tasted skunked and flat. When I asked to exchange for a different one, they simply said no. Specifically, they said I could have given it a try ahead of time. That, to me, is simply poor customer service. The experience made me very hesistant to try new beers on tap now, and so the place lost its draw for me. read more

The good: great selection of beer. The bad: everything else. The service is slooooooooooowwwwwww. Slow beyond belief. Worse than that, the servers are rude and unapologetic. Unless your a beer snob looking to try beers no one has ever heard of, skip it and go to Babs. read more

As someone who loves craft beer, this should be my mecca. Fun, divey decor takes me back to my college days. Impressive beer selection that none of the other tap heavy bars in Ann Arbor can come close to. Knowledgeable staff. Acceptable pub grub. So why 2 stars? Simple. They are snobs. My husband isn't the most adventurous beer drinker. When he has ordered something safe, the staff has outright ridiculed him. Why not take this opportunity to say, "Hey, if you like X, why don't you try Y?". It's a perfect opportunity to introduce the casual beer drinker into a more esoteric style. But there's no fun in that for Ashley's. Not when they can insult and feel superior to their customers. I've been homebrewing and drinking craft beer for 20 years. I really am not paying to come in and be condescended to by a 21 year old bartender who was in diapers the last time I had a Miller Lite. With all the new beer bars opening up in Ann Arbor, Ashley's needs to up their game. read more

For our annual football man-trip this year, my buddies and I chose Ann Arbor to catch the Nebraska at Michigan game in the Big House - definitely a must-see stadium. But another thing Michigan does well - aside from football - is beer, so I was excited to try offerings from several breweries that are difficult, if not impossible, to obtain in Texas: Founders, Bell's, Jolly Pumpkin, etc. While doing a little pre-trip research, I stumbled upon Ashley's - "Michigan's Premier Multi-Tap" - and its impressive beer list, so I was eager to stop in. Ashley's has 72 taps, 3 casks, and numerous bottles available, which makes for a bit of a daunting task. The menu is well-organized though, similar to the Flying Saucer menus here in Texas, arranged by beer style along with an array of flights. While some of us started with flights, I went for the number one beer on my wish list, the Founders Breakfast Stout, considered one of the top stouts in the world, and it was everything I thought it could be. I also got to try Bell's Special Double Cream Stout as part of the "stouts and porters" flight. Ultimately, it was tough to rouse ourselves from the comfortable booth, leave the friendly waitstaff and impressive beer selection, and head out into the cold. But we had plans to hit up Zingermans Roadhouse for dinner, so left we did. But not without some commemorative Ashley's pint glasses for a mere $5 each. If you're a craft beer lover and find yourself in the Ann Arbor area, Ashley's is the spot for you. read more

I'm a little surprised at Christine R.'s review-- Christine, what time of day did you go? In fact, I'm not sure if that even matters... to me at least. I went there for drinks (at night) not too long ago-- and had a really good time. I don't necessarily think it's a bar that you go to meet new friends, but rather enjoy the old ones you've got. And yes, the jukebox.. it's somethin' else.. funny thing Mariah, More than Words played when I was there as well... were we there at the same time?! ha. Anyway, as a last minute, "oh my goodness I forgot to eat dinner and I do plan on drinking tonight," an order of their bacon cheese and chive (minus the chives) fries was put in. It was something out of the Jetsons I tell you. Rosie (not our actual server's name) pressed a button and out came out cheesy bacon-y fries.. (with GOOD RANCH of course!). The next day I actually went back for lunch. And once again, I was greeted with satisfaction on multiple levels. Our waiter was completely enjoyable, he put up with us asking him the "questions that haunt us," and even offered some fairly decent (yet incorrect) answers. I also had a bizarre food request which he said they didn't do, but this once, he would do it. When there is something I crave... I need it. And I needed my cheesy (as in the food, not lame) request. Everything was comfortable about Ashley's, now if you are looking for a bumping party, then I suggest heading elsewhere. But if you are looking for a good time with your homies-- go there and enjoy all the wonderful brews they offer. read more

For their wonderful beer selection, Ashley's deserves 4-5 stars. But for their horrible, unfriendly service, they get 2. I love craft beer and would spend so much more money here if the servers were willing to talk about the products they serve. There is really no point to having a such a great tap list if your servers don't know the product, can't make recommendations, and can't even be bothered to be polite. I get that Ashley's is super popular and will probably continue to make money no matter how bad their service gets, and that really irks me. One example of many: the other night I asked for a beer being advertised via fliers on the wall and listed on the rotating tap list and got a glare and a curt "We don't have that" from the server. Don't get me wrong--I understand if you run out of a popular beer on a weekend, but at least apologize, recommend something else, and don't treat me like an idiot because I couldn't predict that something written on your tap list is no longer available. And don't take 15 minutes to bring me the beer I actually ordered. (In fact, erasing beers from the chalkboard tap list once they're gone would probably be a good idea too, especially if customers keep asking you for them!) Every few months, I get psyched up to go here and try something new, but then I leave disappointed by the service, which is why it will never be a weekly hangout spot for me. read more

Four reviews in a row that mention or are about booze? Well hell! Let's keep the ball rolling! (I really don't drink that much - I guess I just have intoxicated bliss on my mind). Ashley, let me talk to you mano a mano. Or woman-o a woman-o (yes I know mano doesn't mean 'man' - it's a play on words! weeee!). Your food is not great, your service is kind of lackluster, and the back of your establishment puts me in a fowl mood (don't know why, it just does every single time). However, your food at least attempts to balance out the usual bar fare with something more healthful, your downstairs is mucho de funno for dancing (god, I'm so sorry Mexico for my trespasses against your language), the elevated window stage is nice for the sittin', and your beer selection makes me happy dappy (yup, I said it). This is probably one of the only places where I can find belgian beer in the 'narb - like tripel-brew deliciousness - not like stella grossness - or Michigan brewery soapiness. I however don't love the way they pour a guinness and especially not how they pour it in a black velvet. But they do have strongbow on tap. Win. This place can get really busy usually around 8pm or so. You may be waiting in line. Huge tables for people to territorialize in groups. Usually I'm not fond of said groups as they prevent me from hearing a darn word my co-drinker says. And I tend to dine with loud people from the East Coast so that's saying something. Which reminds me - crowd? Not so crazy about that either. Mostly grad students and I spend enough of my life in academia. If I overhear one more story about grading papers I will lose it. Unless you get me another beer. Then I'll be pacified. If judged on beer selection alone, this place is darn near close to a fiver. But the atmosphere for me is 2 or 3. So I'll let 'er go with a four. You're a lucky broad, Ashley. read more

I have been going to this bar for well over a year now and ordinarily it is one of my favorite places in Ann Arbor. Their beer selection is the best in Ann Arbor, and their food is good, solid pub grub. The atmosphere is also nice and laid back. However, the service I received last evening was so horrible I will not be returning. It pains me to say this because I do love Ashley's. I've never done a self imposed ban on a restaurant, but last night the waitress was so rude, and the host so unpleasant, that I just can't bring myself to return and spend my money there. It is a stretch to even call what happened last night "service." For no good reason my friends are I were treated like we were crap. It took longer than average to get our drinks, trying to get a food order in was difficult, our check was actually forced on us despite the fact that we wanted more drinks, our waitress was repeatedly and inexplicably over-the-top rude, and while my friend was still drinking her beer the host asked us when we'd be leaving while wiping our table down (we'd been there only 1.5 hours which is not bad considering how long it took to order drinks and food). The rest of us would have had drinks, too, if we'd been allowed to order them instead of having to cash out. I have written a letter to management because this type of treatment is inexcusable. EDIT: I received a response to my letter to management a few days later. They were very polite and apologized. They also included a coupon which I found funny since I said I'd never return. I contemplated burning the coupon and sending them the ashes, but their letter was so nice I couldn't bring myself to do it. I still won't return to Ashley's - the thought of being "served" by that waitress again is too much to bear. read more

I like to tell my college friends that I discovered beer during graduate school. This is mostly due to Ashley's. The beer selection is incredible. However, it's not a good idea to come with a big group (more than 6). There really aren't that many tables suited for big parties. And as the back of one of their t-shirts say: "Friends don't let friends drink cheap beer." And that's the truth... read more

Great Beer, great whiskey and surprisingly good food. The service was great tonight, but I've had rotten before, so I guess it's a crap shoot as to what you get. The beer is always good though and I love the descriptions that have for every beer. Best Beer education I've ever had and I appreciate them taking the standard of drinking up a notch. Or at least trying. I do not recommend this place on a Friday or Saturday night. It's too busy for anything really good. read more

Afternoons at Ashley's are the best - and if you can nab a table in the front windows you'll find it's the best for people watching on the Diag any time of year. The beer selection is tops and the staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I'm a huge fan of their Ultimate Beer Tour. Not only does it encourage me to try beers out of my comfort zone (There are other good beers besides IPAs? Who knew?) but to Ashley's delight it makes me drink there more often since it makes me feel like my beers count for something. Somethings like free pizzas and Ashely's pint glasses. The food is alright, too. Granted I'm vegan now so I usually plan ahead to eat elsewhere, but they do have a few vegan friendly items on the menu like hummus wraps and pita chips. I usually avoid Ashely's after 5pm or during the football games, but that can be said by most of the pubs in downtown Ann Arbor by the residents who live close by. Hey, if you're into big busy pubs - this is your place. However since Ashley's does have a nice quiet time, that's when you'll find me. read more

Ashley's is a weird place. Part of me thinks of it as a 4-star place, part of me thinks of it as a 2-star place. The 2-star side is much larger, so that's what I went with. The 4-star aspect of Ashley's is its beer selection. They have a book of beers (plus some whiskeys, meads, etc.) that really covers a lot. The beers range in price, but don't feel like a rip-off, and their loyalty card gets you to try new beers and rewards you with some free food. So I think Ashley's is fine to bring a beer-loving out-of-town friend to. The 2-star aspect of Ashley's is pretty much everything else: the ambiance, the service, the food, the overall experience. I feel like I always leave Ashley's a little disappointed, sometimes even upset. The food is such a bummer (even the waitstaff has admitted as much to me!), the music is always playing so loud it hurts, and the place gets so crowded it gets physically uncomfortable. The bathrooms are also gross, which never bodes well for the kitchen. Finally, I've had bad experiences with the waitstaff. To keep the most significant story brief--one of our servers was inattentive and, in places, rude. I can't remember what we tipped him... maybe 10%? 12%? Nothing gracious, but nothing atrocious. He actually followed us out of the restaurant and chased us down a good block away to ask us what the story was. He did this in an aggressive way, and we were freaked out enough that I contacted the owner who was... not helpful. So, in sum, I'd only go here if you really need some extravagant beer. read more

Waited 1.5 hours for food. And the restaurant was not even at half capacity. This is ridiculous that there would be such a staffing issue to result in customers waiting almost 2 hours for food. When we did receive good we only got 1/3 meals and had to wait another 30 mins for the rest of the meals. Rachel was our server and she did an amazing job and the issues had nothing to do with her. The owner should consider increasing the staff. read more

So I walk in with my family on Mother's Day (5). Not knowing that you need to make a reservation. "Which is fine" but the gentleman that came up to us was incredibly rude. Just looked like he was having the worst day possible and took it out on me and my family. Totally caught me by surprise by saying.. "no reservation, so you can leave ; etc, and started using cuss words by also saying how bad of a day he was having and didn't give a "BLEEP" about anything. I also explained that it was our first time in Ann Arbor and first time visiting Ashely's. He continued to say he didn't give a $hit and demanded us to leave. Never again and I'll make sure I inform all the people I know that live in the area and the family I have that attend the University. read more

Okay, so if it weren't for the hardcore nostalgia I have for this place, this might be 4-star review. But I have that nostalgia for a reason, I guess? This place has EVERYTHING I want in a bar: coziness, trivia night, large and local beer selection, nice Scotch selection, flights, clean(ish) bathrooms, and good drunk food (I love that Goldfish are actually on the menu). They are almost never out of anything, and the drink menu itself is really detailed and well-laid-out. The service is a bit hit-or-miss; they are really crabby about adding chairs to tables and stuff, but I guess that is how they keep the atmosphere from being too crazy, so I shouldn't complain. And when you get a good server here, they are great - many will make really detailed suggestions if you tell them what you like. Ashley's is the kind of place that makes me proud to show people around Ann Arbor. read more

Are you a bud light kind of person? Labatt blue? Then Ashley's is probably not for you. If you want to try a variety of beers, or perhaps you don't really like alcohol that much but want a nice place to go, Ashley's is for you. Among their list of drinks (over 100 alcoholic beverages), they have a Framboise at 2.5% (which is good for those who aren't a huge fan of alcohol) and a Mead at 19% (which is good if you think 5% is not good enough). They have plenty of local beers and there's a blackboard as soon as you enter listing their list of rotating taps. They also have a lot of foreign beers to try and a lot of different samplers so you can get a taste of what they have to offer. They get only 4 stars because their happy hour is nothing special compared to other campus bars and the service is decent. Also, the entrance/exit is annoying when they are busy, which seems like all the time. And, I can't imagine it being a good idea to have bathrooms down a flight of stairs for any bar. Their pizza is decent and their spinach dip thing is also really good. If you go there a lot, they have a rewards program, which seems kind of fun if you are up to trying all the beers they have! read more

Coming back here five years later, Ashley's STILL rocks. Ashley's is where I learned to love beer and learned what it means to be a "bar regular."Seriously, this place is such a gem. Also, my previous review and its dig at people who were just celebrating their 21st birthdays elicits a sad chuckle these days. Oh, how sweet it was to be 22 and happy that you were older than 21. Ashley's highlights Michigan's exceptional microbrewing culture. The menu regularly rotates taps and bottles from the major players like Bell's, Jolly Pumpkin, Arcadia and Founder's and keeps the old favorites around always like Oberon in the summer and Founder's Rockin' Rye. They're also very current on noteworthy beers and breweries from all over the country. If you want to go toe-to-toe with a beer snob, I'd come to Ashley's to prepare beforehand. I had Left Hand Milk Stout, an old favorite of mine from Boston, and was confused in a good way when I saw Southern Star on TAP from Texas. Whoever is selecting the beer knows their stuff and really stays on top of things. Alright, so it's loud and has a large undergrad contingent. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for bars that cater to the "everyman," and have seen everyone from hipsters to fratbros to older beer connoisseurs come here and have a good time. It's an amazingly comfortable bar and a very easy place to bring anyone. We were served by the manager downstairs and he's awesome. One tip would be to just move downstairs unless you're there to try a specific beer. The tap selection is totally solid and you avoid the long waits. Also, you could just go during the day after a final...ah, youth. Very few things remain great no matter your age. Ashley's is one of them. read more

Ashley's is a great bar that anyone would be happy to have in their hometown. I first checked it out when I was interviewing for my job here in Ann Arbor, actually, based on Beer Advocate reviews. It did not disappoint - a tremendous selection of full-time drafts (around 60, I believe) and a good selection of rotating taps, somewhere in the 8-10 range. The full-time taps are a great range of quality craft brews from America and around the world - I believe the only macro at all is Labatt's. They get some interesting and exclusive drafts, and have three cask ales pulling all the time. Additionally, their single malt scotch selection is excellent, if you want to experiment past beer. The atmosphere is a bit lacking, in that it's essentially a large, loud, college bar close to UM campus. It gets full when you'd expect it to, and the jukebox is sometimes too loud for decent conversation. It's not exactly attractive inside, but there are a number of tables of different sizes to accommodate groups, couples, etc. One thing I don't love about Ashley's is the service, which can be hit and miss (mostly miss), but I think it's more a staffing issue - sometimes they simply didn't have enough servers on the floor. The servers usually know a decent amount about the beer they are serving, but I've been poured a beer I knew was wrong, and they didn't really seem too sorry about it in the least. Usually they are nice enough college-age servers and come around enough to keep a beer in your hand, but other times you'll be waiting longer than you'd like. Honestly, I don't like bars with table service, but it wouldn't work as a bar service place. The food is overall pretty solid. I like the pesto chicken pizza a lot, the appetizers are tasty, and the fish and chips is good. The pizzas are a good price and a good size for splitting, so that's my usual go-to. An enjoyable aspect of Ashley's is the Beer Tour, which is much like other beer tours - drink different beers, get them checked off your list, and earn prizes as you go along. A benefit of Ashley's beer tour is that, instead of Budweiser, Michelob, etc, you have stuff like Schneider Aventinius, Founder's Pale Ale, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, and so on. The prizes start pretty good, too, with a free appetizer and pizza being the first two things you earn, and those are at 5 and 10 beers! It's a great place to go if you want a few good drafts and some eats, but are willing to take the chance on a crappy experience. If you aren't a beer geek, it's not the best choice, but for all the beer lovers out there it's a great destination. read more

Great selection of beers. Always changing. Have great standby's alongside rotating taps. This is the premier place in A2 to get a beer. Food is good. especially the fries and burgers. entertaining emails if you join their mailing list and perks if you get the 'friend of the owner' card. service can be hit or miss. would like service to be a bit better during dining hours but its good enough. great atmosphere -- enjoyable place to spend an afternoon and there's something for everyone here. UM folks have lab meetings here. tvs with sports. just a great place to spend time with friends. line can get long as the night wears on. happy hour drinks aren't all that great deals but happy hour menu is nice. read more

Worth it for the selection of beer and single malt. Nice pours too. Food's kinda crappy. Stilton dijon nachos may as well have been goopy ballgame food, sounded better on the menu. Caesar salad was nothing special but there were a lack of veggie options so I went for it anyway. Doorman - some hippy with dreads - had a crappy attitude (all we needed was a plug to charge our phones) but the waitress was nice. Once the frat boys beside me - talking about how they'd partied so hard they'd peed on someone's rug - finally left, I was pretty content sitting there sipping scotch and taking advantage of their free wifi. read more

I have been to Ashley's twice. Each time before a hockey game. The atmosphere is really fun, and filled with people of all ages. Even though it's on the college campus, it's definitely not just a college bar. They have an awesome selection of beer, from all over the world, and I love to try their different flights. My fave is still the English flight. They also have rotating beer specials which makes it fun to try different things. The food has been good both times I've been there, and I definitely recommend the fish and chips. The fish is very crispy and the portion is huge, just the way it should be. The place can get a little noisy and the bathrooms seem like you're going down to a dungeon, but these are minor and don't take away from the experience. If you're looking for good food and awesome variety of beer, this is a great choice. read more

Server was really attentive and walked me through my beer options, settling on an amazing local IPA. The chicken curry fries were incredible. Loved the English burger with real Stilton cheese, which paired with the beef and the beer amazingly well. Full, warm and happy. A perfect pub experience. read more

One of my favorite bars in Ann Arbor...excellent beer and scotch list. The food can be hit or miss- highly recommend going there just for drinking and not so much for eating! Just realize that you always must be sitting- no standing by the bar! read more

COME ON 'SHLEEZ! Our waiter today when we wen to lunch (lunch I say, but it was like 3:30pm) was the worst waiter I have ever had. No exaggerations. Up until this point in my life, nobody has disappointed more. Guy walks up (there are four of us) and takes drink orders, brings back two waters and two brown waters that sort of resemble Cokes. Apparently there was an issue with their soda dispensing equipment. We didn't get charged for those, so I'm almost OK with that. Would have been nice to know before ordering. He took three of our orders and walked away as the fourth was making his. He came back, though. We watched this guy walk around and chit-chat with people, sit around and pretty much not do work for about 30 minutes before he brought out almost all of our barely above room temperature food. He said it would be a minute before one of our plates came out. He then proceeded to walk about and not do much until we were almost done at which time he had to be reminded that we were still missing one plate, which he went to fetch. It was a bit warmer than the rest but still not great. No attention from him for the rest of the visit. No refills, no nothing. Went up to the bar to cash out. The bartender says "Sorry, he's the only waiter" which would have been a half way decent excuse if the place was busy. There were 12 people there tops. Most of which were there to watch the Tigers lose and probably only ordered drinks. The bartender did her best to stick up for her incompetent server friend, but we weren't having it. She ended up giving us all 30% off for the trouble, which I could care less about. I would have rather paid full price and had good service and hot food. Or at least hot food. Don't get me wrong, though. Ashley's has been good for us. I and all of my coworkers have been there many times. We'll go back some day after the memory of cold food and crappy service escapes us, at which point I'll change my score accordingly. read more

The best beer bar in Ann Arbor, although a mere shadow of bars like Hopleaf, the Map Room, and Monk's. The first time I went here, their rotating tap had Brouwerij Bosteels' Tripel Karmeliet, so I got spoiled and have been sadly disappointed ever since. Still has some staples from around the U.S. - Founders, Bell's, Stone (including Vertical Epics past), etc. It also has some quality Belgians both on draft and in bottle form, from the Trappists to Delerium Tremens and beyond. Highly recommended. read more

This is an interesting place. I came in here with a starbucks in my hand (it was a cold night. don't hate me). the host guy was like: "you best throw that shit away if you wanna come in here. you have 3 seconds. the trash can is right there." and i was like..dayyummmmnnn all that attitude. i like that. so i threw the mermaid potion away and walked right into beer heaven. i got a taste of their delirium nocturnum and it was such a delicious beer. but i'm sure they have other great beers from their holybook of beers. i'm down to try more next time. i got a lemon drop from them towards the end of the night. and it was the worst lemon drop i've ever had. so i recommend staying with the beer. read more

We love this place! So many drink options and great food! Their black bean burger with a side of waffle fries is amazing! Great vegetarian option. Line was out the door for a wait on a table when we arrived after 6 on a Friday evening, but the hostess was accurate with timing and we were seated in 10 mins. The place is very loud, but to be expected for a bar. Decor lining the walls and TVs keep your interest while you wait. Overall good atmosphere. read more

First time coming here tonight after a year of grad school at UM, and man was I missing out! Not only is this place much larger than it looks from the outside, but I really liked the ambiance and grown up feel of a true craft beer bar in the middle of central campus (full disclosure I'm not a beer drinker, but like to try variations of whiskies and ciders that seem interesting). I tried 2 drinks that I'd never had before, the Mead and a hard cider with a funny name I can't remember. Both were sweet and surprisingly delicious. 2 other people in my party ordered the Mead after tasting mine, and life was good after the 19% a.b.v. kicked in, lol. Our waitress, Z, was fun, fast, and friendly, and gave us plenty of attention without seeming like she was working for tips. She also had some great recommendations and made me want to come back to try more things that I didn't get to this time. They also have a fun world beer contest thing that sounds cool for groups. Giving it a 4 because given the competition of other craft beer spots in Ann Arbor, they could do a bit more to differentiate. The location is great for a round with friends, but I found the food selection a bit lacking and the prices pretty high compared to comparable places. That said, I think the price point brings in a more grown up crowd, which I'm not mad about either. Overall great spot that I'll find more reasons to visit before graduation ! read more

Awesome beer selection! A bit pricey for a college town, but then again I'm from Atlanta. Price really doesn't matter if you are able to try so many different beers. I felt like a beer connoisseur, but I'm not. I am learning though =) I didn't try the food at this place, so I can't vouch for them. Also, the place is very packed on a Friday night without being too rowdy. Overall, a GREAT bar with GREAT atmosphere and beers. 4 Thumbs up! read more

Yes, the beer is good. Yes, it's probably the best beer list in Ann Arbor. Yes, the food is terrible. You can't really argue with the beer list, they have great seasonals (they had 3 different Kolsch's on tap when I went back in the spring) and tons of taps. They don't have Bitburger though, which is a little disappointing, you have to go to Old Town for those. It's a little overpriced, and I've never been to impressed with the service itself, although the staff does seem to know the beer pretty well. The happy hour 'special' is nothing special, I think $1 off beers from 4-7pm, which is fine, but nothing to rave about. The food, on the other hand, is horrendous, I've given it three chances and don't plan on giving it another one. The Thai Chicken quesadilla weighed about four pounds, most of it was an overly sweet, faux-thai sauce and the chicken was stringy and cold. The tortilla chicken club wrap was awful as well. The "grilled" chicken was obviously some of the pre-cooked, frozen "grilled" strips you can buy by the 10 pound bag at costco and the guacamole was ripe about 3 days ago. I've never had a problem with the pretentious grad student atmosphere that everyone else seems to mention, but I've also never really paid attention to the scene. I was too disgusted and depressed with my food that I just kept drinking. read more