My friends and I went here last night as part of a birthday bar crawl. It was the first stop for us. I have very few negatives about this establishment. There was no host/hostess at the door waiting to seat us at grizzly peak upstairs, so we walked around looking for seats at or near the bar. However, their large tables only seat 6, and we were a party of 8. We then were told by the bartender that there would be more room in the Old German which is beneath Grizzly Peak. Downstairs we sat ourselves, and had service within a few minutes. She was polite, attentive, and took all 8 orders from memory which was impressive. They were out of porter which is normally my beer of choice. However, the belgian trippel they had on "Brewer's Special" was quite tasty. The men's restroom has a bit of an awkwardly weird layout. But as i said, there were no major complaints. My group rates this place a 5 based on service and drinks. We didn't eat here. read more

Cellar at Grizzly Peak - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

I love this old world bar. The basement of Grizzly Peak is The Old German. Side entrance on Ashley, with small outdoor seating on the sidewalk. We sat at the bar. Ordered a couple glasses of wine and shared the pretzels with cheese fondue. Fresh out of the oven, hot and the cheese was thick and savory. The mustard wasn't bad either, just not my thing. Great snack to share. Adam explained the Keller Bier tanks and was a very attentive bartender - even thanked us for sitting at the bar with him. Hidden little gem that is much bigger than you would think. Great food menu and drink selection to fit all preferences. read more

Cellar at Grizzly Peak - Adam and the Keller biers - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This place is downstairs, underneath grizzly peak. I tried one of their special beers on tap which was a ginger beer (like a beer with ginger hints; not the soda). It actually tasted ginger-y and was not bad. Came in a big Old German mug. My friend tried the kirsche cosmo; I'm no expert on cosmos but it tasted sweet and girly. They also serve "ice shots" which are pretty pricey ($6), but get this -- the shot glass is literally made of ice! I will have to come back and try one of these. As far as food, I ordered the potato pancakes which were reasonably good. I prefer to have my sourcream on the side instead of drizzled on top of ALL the pancakes, but it was still good. Definitely coming back. read more

This place is great! There are (at least) two entrances--one on Ashley where the sign hangs and one from within Grizzly Peak. When I entered, I was immediately greeted by a friendly hostess/waitress named Katy, who I think was responsible for waiting on the entire floor! She did a really great job despite not having a lot of help (there were other workers helping to bus the tables), especially when the night picked up and got really busy. There was a mixture of boothspace and larger tables, consistent with German-style drinking where you ultimately end up sitting next to strangers. You can also sit at the bar. Members of my group tried both kellerbiers (a light & a stronger one) and were pretty impressed. The beers come in three sizes: 1/2-L, a full Liter, or a pitcher. The cocktails had interesting names and were super tasty. I had the Hasselhoff (blueberry vodka, Blue curacao, cranberry juice + something else I don't remember?) and the German Chocolate Cake (soooo good). I would highly recommend both to anyone who likes girly drinks or has a sweet tooth, but I'm sure the other cocktails are worth trying too! They also offer "Eis Shooters," which are shots that come in shotglasses MADE OF ICE! They were a fun time! The German Apple Pie shot tasted a lot like apple pie, and the Peppermint Pattie shot tasted like a liquid York Peppermint Pattie. I also had a Lemon Drop shot, but it wasn't my favorite of the three. I might have a drinking problem. Food-wise, we only tried the soft pretzels with cheddar dipping sauce, which also came with a spicy mustard. Like, three or four baskets of them. The pretzels & cheddar were SO good, and I could have eaten either of them individually all night. I did think the pretzels were salty, but I just brushed off the excess salt. There were other items on the menu I would like to eventually try, but if you want more variety, you should go upstairs to Grizzly Peak. Overall, I was very happy with the experience. The reason why I am giving four stars instead of five though is that the music selection was kind of... bad. Like, really bad. It got a little better as the night went on, but Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus have no place in a Bierkeller, even if it is only 7:30 pm. My group actually spent a good chunk of the night looking for/hoping to find a jukebox. read more

Went here a couple weeks ago for beers...had barley wine which was quite good, followed by a Bear Paw porter--reliable and satisfying, if not exceptional. Probably one of the better GP offerings. Returned last night to try the food. The beer, I'm somewhat sorry to say, outshone it. I got the beer-and-bacon brat. Not bad at all, but I've had much better. My wife got the sliders, which I'd say were better. Would probably get them if we returned. To drink, we got Sprechen Sie IPA-an IPA with all German ingredients, and it was excellent, one of the better IPAs I've had lately. I got that again for the second round, but my wife tried the Dampfbier, a sweetish, anisey kellerbier, which was also good, and certailny unique. So, I'd say 4 stars for the beer, 2 for food. Do like the quiet, cozy atmosphere, but it's never been crowded when we were in. The racket could be a bit much if the joint was packed. read more

I will start off by saying that I would give this place four stars if they put a few more lights in the restaurant. It was so dark, my whole table was unable to read the menus without using our flashlights and we are all in our 20's. Now for the food and beer. While the menu is not extensive, they have a good selection of beers and wines. I ordered a glass of the pinot Grigio. It was delicious and the bartender was generous. The food was also delicious and so was the free popcorn that we grabbed as we entered. As a table we ordered the pigs in a blanket and the baked soft pretzels. They were both really good. I personally didn't like the cheese sauce the pretzels were served with, but the spicy mustard was really good. I will probably be back, but it won't be my first choice. read more

When you first walk it you can tell its smaller bar but, right after having a seat it immediately becomes a very comfortable bar experience. The bar service is very attentive. The specialty martini was the pumpkin spice martini and it was delicious. The bartender also recommended the Honigbiene cocktail which was phenomenal. I highly recommend getting it if you stop in. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would definitely come back next time I'm in town. read more

Cellar at Grizzly Peak - Seasonal Pumpkin Pie Martini - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Polenta Fries-Excellent,freshly cooked and crispy. Tacos excellent. Chicken sandwich -Huge looked good. Turkey Reuben- Tiny , hardly any Turkey Upgraded to fries, they came luke warm, and chewy...obviously been left standing for a loooong time...inedible...not good. read more

This is now my new go-to place. I instantly loved it when I walked in and the food, beer, and service has not disappointed yet. During my first visit to Old German I ordered the Pretzels w/ Cheese and Beer and Bacon Brat. Holy yum! To all of it! Even the German potatoes were good and not too vinegar-y. The cool basement atmosphere is modern and clean and the staff does a great job keeping up with everything. The beer is mostly Grizzly Peaks beer so it's a good thing I like it. But they have 2 taps that are their own and they rotate so if I don't like what they currently have, chances are something's coming that will be great! Also, joining their Mug Club is so worth it! $60 for a lifetime and the discounts you get pretty much pay for the membership in about 6 months. Not to mention the cool ceramic steins you get to drink from. I can tell Old German is quickly become a hot spot in Ann Arbor as it's only been open a short time and there are already lines to get in. read more

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I really like this place, mostly for the ambiance. It's located in the basement of Grizzly Peak, and definitely has a nice basement vibe, with stone walls and dim lighting. There is a decent size bar and plenty of tables. The bartenders are very friendly and helpful in assisting with beer selection. They do serve a small amount of wine, but not a lot. The cocktails are very good. The reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that I am usually not such a big fan of the beers. They are typically pretty light with not a whole lot going on. Sometimes, they will come out with something stellar, but for the most part I find them rather boring. However, if you really like lighter styles, you would love their beers. There's just not a whole lot of variety for other styles. I do like the environment and it is still one of my go-to spots. I was even there for the Halloween party this last year, which was a lot of fun! There is a limited food menu, containing some snacks. The pretzels are delicious! In addition, there is always free popcorn if you are really in need of something to munch on. I would recommend a visit, mostly just because it is a cool place to hang out. read more

We came here for drinks over the weekend. I enjoyed: - Their light kellerbier (on tap). - The German Chocolate Cake cocktail--really tastes like Black Forest Cake! - Some of the ambiance--the general layout and feel of the place. I was not as into: - Most of their beers being Grizzly Peak (I'm just never that into GP's beers). - The loudness. - The TVs. I'd certainly be open to going back, though might try to hit it at less busy time. read more

This place sounded better on paper than in real life. I was excited to try a twist on German food, but the twist went away real quick after taking the first bite. The potato pancakes were a gummy tasteless mess. They came out with this pale color to them and little to no seasoning on them. Nothing was caramelized to give that bit of crunchy exterior. It was gummy, in the form of the potato starch just making a chewy mess. Plus, where the hell was the horseradish? They talked about it but it wasn't there, not one iota. If you put it on your menu saying that it has it, it better have it, but it wouldn't haven't made these turd biscuits any better. I had the meatloaf, which the meatloaf was the only good thing on the plate. The so called spatzle was disaster also. Hasn't anyone taught these so called cooks how to make spatzle? They were supposed to be Spinach but the came out looking like the hulk popped a zit and green pus just hit the plate. They were dry, tasteless and nothing going for them. The cabbage was ok that came with the Meatloaf, but ive had way better cabbage out of a jar. They dont know what seasoning is in the kitchen, I guess the head chef said no more salt and they have stuck with it. My girlfriend had the rabbit sandwich, which she was excited to have. But it turned out to be a greasy tasteless mess. They should have toasted the pretzel bun before hand to tighten the bun up. The roll got really soggy and made it a total mess to eat. It was also a bit dry, which usually means that when they braised it, they braised it for too long and it got dry. Grease doesn't equate to taste. The beer is mediocre at best. They have the same problem that the Woodward Ave Brewery has, they are weak in body and in taste. Its hard to find a brewery that can do both good food and good beer. If you want a place that has both, take a road trip to Revolution Brewery in Chicago. They do both extremely well. The Old German does not. Plus the service stinks here. No one seemed to know what to do or where to go. The bartender was waiting tables and looked clueless doing it. The manager (or who I think is the Manager) was no where to be seen. When I did see him, he was too busy messing with the music instead of taking care of things that were more important, like the customers and his staff. read more

OG is a great time with great beer! Having lived in Germany I can tell you this is the real deal read more

Cellar at Grizzly Peak - Great time at OG! Good foos and good beer. Happy end of semester guys! - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

HELLZ YEAH. I seriously love the Old German. Five stars for food, minus one for a more frat-tastic atmosphere than one would hope to encounter at a, well, old German place. But, THE FOOD: It's amazing. I had the Bratwurst Bahn Mi and the Potato Pancakes w/ Applesauce. Both were a massive treat and have been on my mind for days. The pancakes were sizable and hearty without being greasy and paired perfectly with that impossibly thick applesauce. The sandwich came on this crisp, salty bread that complimented the egg and meat. I am seriously planning on going back as soon as I can justify eating that much meat again. THE DRINK: lots of beers, seem to have a great selection of German and local brews. THE ATMOSPHERE: So, the atmosphere references a folksy side of "German"--aka lots of big warm stone, wood, and iron with well-done low-lighting--but the Old German should decide whether it's a little more upscale or, and I hate to say it, a sports bar with a vaguely German twist. I'll definitely be back to try more of the food, which really could stand on its own as restaurant fare. Love it! read more

Love the atmosphere in this underground bar. The pretzels and rum Ruben egg rolls are amazing!

7 of us came for birthday drinks. Probably the worst service I've received in a non-packed bar - the waitress would not make eye contact and walked away from the table before we could all place our orders. We had to flag her down repeatedly after she started to walk away in order to get drinks. At 10:30, they started playing Britney Spears at an insane (shouting to the person next to you) volume - we're talking Gimme More and If You Seek Amy - and we felt like the staff wanted us to leave, so we did. On the plus side, the pretzels are really, really good, and the beer is decent. Has potential if they can get their act together and make people feel welcome. read more

Came in after freezing to death at a football game and this was one of the few places that didn't have a 1 hour wait. Its not very big but I was able to get a seat right at the bar. Not a very extensive food menu but I just wanted a snack so I grabbed the Hungarian French fries and they were delicious, loved the dipping sauce they came with and the fries were nice and crispy. I had a few beers and they were very fairly priced, although for a German themed place I was expecting a larger beer selection. I'd like to see them maybe expand their menus but this place is pretty decent for what you get and prices are pretty low for Ann Arbor. Wouldn't be my first choice going out but if most places have a line forget it and just go to Old German. read more

Full disclosure - the owners of the Old German, the purveyors of grizzly peak, is my home bar. When someone says "Let's get drink." I propose Grizzly Peak. Except maybe now I'll say the Old German once in a while. Same great beer, in more of a bar-y atmosphere. Remember the cool bar in Inglorious Basterds? That's what I think of when I'm in the OG. And that's just cool. Greta staff, great prices - I can't speak to the food, other than to say I love the Peak's, so it's probably good. You want a good beer at a bar where people get it? Want to watch a Michigan game without drunk assholes or children? The OG is a good bet. Unless you like Bud Light, in which case we don't want you there. read more

We went here recently and did not get a chance to eat but the beer might as well have been a meal. The ambiance is very nice and the food on other's plates looked good. We ended up sitting in the bar in the basement. It was a nice cozy atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. If they ask you if you want a tall beer... think twice. We said yes not realizing what we were getting ourselves into. Wow! We will definitely come here again for the great beer but just won't drink so much of it. read more

Cellar at Grizzly Peak - Their, "tall". - Pubs Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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The menu here is short and eclectic, so I hope you're open to trying new things if you come here! I had the Bavarian Banh Mi sandwich: a yummy concoction of liverwurst, bratwurst and ham. It was tasty and filling, perfect for dinner. My boyfriend had the braised rabbit sandwich on a pretzel roll. The roll was fluffy with the perfect amount of salt, but the rabbit was very chewy so this is not for the faint of heart. He loved it, so if you are used to game you might enjoy it too. They have a variety of beers on tap as well as shots and mixed drinks. The Victor's Gold is a delicious beer that goes great with their food. The only downside to the wide variety of drinks is that it attracts intoxicated undergrads on Friday nights. If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing meal then look elsewhere. However, if you love German food and beer and want to stay downtown, definitely give Old German a chance! read more

I very rarely write reviews but had to after my experience here. 1. LOVE the vibe. Very cool wood cellar-style dining room and beer tanks behind the bar, with a chill crowd - not an obnoxious college scene. 2. A+++ service. The bartender was attentive, helpful, and full of positive energy. As a frequent business traveler I often get stiffed as a solo diner, so I was grateful to be very well cared for. 3. Amazing. Food. I ordered the chicken schnitzel sandwich with German potato salad - honestly one of the most flavorful authentic German dishes I've ever had. Can't wait to come back. read more

Wow! What a great warm and feel good place to have a few drinks and food! One of my favorites in downtown Ann Arbor! Add this to your list! It makes you feel like you are literally in Germany when you are there! The food (all selections) are great! I've never had a bad experience! The crowd is for the most part tenured along with the Michigan student population makes this a very fun and enjoyable place! read more

The Old German was not particularly busy on a Saturday night. While the decorations had some German background, my very first impression was the dirty floor with popcorn thrown over the floor. Quite repulsive. As for the menu, please, loaded german potato skins? No such thing, just because you put sausage on it doesn't make it german. Just like a Vienna Schnitzel doesn't turn American when you add Heinz Ketchup to it. Bavarian wings, really? I think not. Add Pig knuckle over sauerkraut to your menu. The beer was disappointing. No match for Ann Arbor Brewery. No reason to go back here. read more

Good beer, good food, cozy atmosphere. They don't have live music or trivia nights during the week, which is a plus when hanging out with a group of friends. I love Tyler B.'s accurate comparison to "the cool bar in Inglorious Basterds" in an earlier review. Spot on! read more

Potato pancakes -- yummo but not the horseradish in the sauce please! Ice shots -- not sure these have alcohol Love the dark beer described as chocolatey Can't wait to try the hot pretzels! read more

I was so hoping that this was going to be a go-to spot for me since i generally adore basement bars, but I think Old German will need more time to settle before I'll become a regular. I'm not generally a fan of Grizzly Peak beer (sorry!) but I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the summer seasonal and it was kind of like a Bell's Oberon with less oomph. So overall, quite enjoyable. I was most dissapointed was by the food--however, I know this is because I ordered poorly. Charcuterie is not really a German thing, now is it? Duh. Next time, I'll stick to staples--brats and pretzels. I think I'll leave more satisfied if I can follow the formula. I will certainly be back for the ice shots -- that's a fun novelty and in my opinion, worth the second chance! read more

Was visiting from Denver for Halloween weekend and this was my favorite bar. Absolutely fantastic drinks, 10/10 would recommend.

Who am I? What, if anything, makes me special? Am I anything more than a myriad of other personalities stitched together? The evolution of human self awareness came with the perennial question of identity, and these concepts have seemingly manifested themselves in Old German. The descent down into Old German is promising: with each step down my imagination took me further into an 18th century Bavarian drinking hole. As I made it to the bottom and turned the corner to enter the bar I was surprised with the scene. At first glance, I was pleased to see a dimly lit space filled with wooden booths and steins for sale; however, upon further inspection, I was befuddled with the blend of aesthetics. Is that a popcorn stand? A deer rack on the wall? Karaoke posters? Old German does a more-than-sufficient job of providing German-ish drink and grub, but this is diluted by the additional themes peppered throughout. I had an overall positive experience -- pleasant service, decent prices, good food/beer -- and recommend all Ann Arborians give Old German a try. That said, I do wonder: who IS Old German? read more

Chelsea slays the drinks late at night, maura is great too. Id suggest the brothers grim for a drink. Its an easy sipper.

Eh not bad. Good place to have a local craft beer with the boys or to bring a date your embarrassed to show in public.

An under-the-radar place to escape to when the rest of Ann Arbor has 30-minute waits for a table. Go here for drinks, but probably skip the food. It will do in a real pinch, but the beer and laid-back vibe are really the selling points. read more

I'm going to be honest here. This review would have four stars if it was not for the choice of music. The decor is great, the beer is good, the food is great. What music should you play? Honestly, you could play most anything that is not poppy, loud, and in the forefront of the overall ambiance. read more

The beer here is awful. How does this place exist when Michigan has stepped up to be a great beer producing state? Pale ale is sad. It won't win any awards. Rap music at a German bar? Not good. Plus, this place stink like a rotten ass basement. Walk over to Beer Grotto or Hopcat if you want good beer. read more

Great atmosphere, good drinks, and agree with Becky on the music needing to be worked on. The music progressively got unreasonably loud over the course of the night and was rather hilarious actually. Great place though. Glad to see it in the neighborhood. Has the free popcorn but haven't tried the food. read more

Tried this bar after the Michigan game on a Saturday. The only thing that reminded me of my trip to Germany here were the large liter beer steins. Otherwise, I would say the atmosphere wasen't quite "beer garden." The music was very loud-Metallica-with actual speakers right over the cozy booths. There were also tv's blaring. Not a place to have a conversation with family/friends. It could be a good place to duck into during the winter to escape the cold. Assuming, of course, that you like Grizzly Peak beer. To get me back in there, they would have to offer something different on tap-Sierra Nevada?!-that's just a personal preference though. read more

My friend moved to Ann Arbor 40 years ago and this year we are planning to visit all the bars and restaurants who have been in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area for that long. The Old German has had an interesting history. One of the three German bars in the city for a long time (Old German, Metzger's and the Old Heidelberg) that have gone through a transition. Old Heidelberg is still in the same location, Metzger's moved out to the west side and the Old German closed down for many years. A few years ago it re-opened in the basement of the place it occupied 20 (or so) years ago before the space was taken over by the Del Rio and most recently by Grizzly Peak. Down in the basement it was not crowded the day that we were there and it was not very busy. I would not say quiet because of the unexplainable techno music that was piped in but there were only a few of us there. A good selection of beers, both German and the Grizzly Peak variety from upstairs. The offer liters and half liters and I had forgotten how much a liter of beer is. I had the three German beers on tap and of the three the Alt Beer was my favorite. The have a variety of appetizers (no full meals) and everything we had (Pretzels, Pigs in a Blanket, and the Chicken Sliders) were terrific. Our waitress/bartender was very attentive and was prompt and efficient. Want to escape the rush, have some good beers and food and be able to spread out and have a conversation? then this is the place. See you there. read more

Disclaimer: This review is based on the food and ambience, as I did not try the beer (but if you're interested in ginger ale reviews, their's is not too spicy nor too sweet, about 3 stars). I was looking for a bar that served food late enough to feed me and my late-arriving out of town guest, and on a Monday night, The Old German is open *the* latest in Ann Arbor with it's kitchen open until midnight (I checked around). I was pleasantly surprised by the food, though it's connection to Grizzly Peak (and half the other bars in Ann Arbor) should have been a clue that the food would be better than your average bar food. I ordered the chicken schnitzel. It came on on a pretzel roll with braised red cabbage, mustard on the side, and warm potato salad. Schnitzel is a breaded meat fillet, and although chicken can be pretty bland sometimes, this was tasty and complimented well by the generous helping of sweet cabbage. My only wish was that the mustard was a little spicier, but then again, I often find myself wishing that spicy mustard was just a little less spicy. Grass, greener, etc. The warm potato salad was surprisingly tasty--vegetarians be warned it has bacon in it. Everyone else: yesss, bacon! My friend ordered a kale salad, which came with poached peers, quinoa and dark brown pumpernickel croutons. Surprisingly healthy, innovative and tasty for bar food! My other companion liked, but didn't love his beer and bratwurst sandwich, but it was overflowing with meat so no qualms about the generosity of portions here. As far as ambience, I can do without large TVs, and we did laugh at the slightly loud 90s booty jams music. Not sure if this is a standard playlist (our theory was that the server was having a private jam session which we intruding on because that also explained his slightly startled look every time we spoke with him. But we liked him and he was efficient), but neither the TVs nor the music detracted from good conversation and good food. It has a more intimate feel to it than its upstairs brother, GP, so I think The Old German might become my late-night bar food place when I'm feeling like German food. You know, because everyone needs one of those. read more

I received the worst service of my life at this bar tonight. I actually left without ordering anything. The music was so loud that the bartender could not hear me. After repeating myself twice (just to ask for a beer menu) I chose to yell over the music. The bartender then scolded me for yelling at him and walked away. I left without receiving any service at all. It stinks because it looks like a cool bar. read more

I love German food and theirs is fine. But both times we have gone the smell of b.o, was so strong we seriously could not taste our food. The first time we thought that it might have been a fluke but it was the same the second time. And I'm talking really really extraordinary awful b.o. Like someone who has never showered on the hottest day of the year. read more

The is a nice, somewhat rustic basement bar that I've been frequenting since I discovered last year. Their house brews are great and the atmosphere is definitely cozy. I actually want to take their lanterns home with me. The downside is that there is a weirdly stuffed bear that I always end up spending at least 3 minutes staring at. The bar tenders are not quite as friendly as those in bars like Jolly Pumkin or Restaurants like Frita's but they get the job done. Nice place. read more