Monday 18th of January 2010 11:32:18 AM

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Mixed feelings about this place as a visiting "beer tourist" to Ann Arbor. It felt like an authentic German bierstube that had been usurped and turned into a jeckyll & hyde sportsbar and German restaurant. If you are coming here for a liter of German bier with a traditional dinner, stay upstairs. If you want to endure blasting music in the dark with drunken coeds, go downstairs to the rathskeller.

The selection here was admittedly limited. Really the only quality beers of note were Weihenstephaner Hefe Dunkel, Optimator, and Franziskaner. Liter boots were available. The 20 bottles were all macro except Magic Hat #9 and Schneider Weisse. Downstairs the selection was basically the same (they also had 4 Flying Dog bottles, whoo). Where's the MIchigan beer? None to be found sadly (ok, Bells Winter White, that was it).

Service at the bar upstairs was great, the bartender was truly salt-of-the-earth and friendly to us. The Kaese spätzle dish was really great, some of the best spätzle i've had, served with cheese and sliced knackwurst.

Atmosphere upstairs was worn in and had the authentic German bierhalle vibe going on. Heavy, carved wooden support beams, white stucco walls with very detailed murals of regional sites of Germany. There was a porcelain Warsteiner tap tower on the bar that was a nice touch. I'd recommend stopping in for an early dinner and move on elsewhere for the beer.

Thursday 10th of July 2008 12:50:07 PM

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The Heidelberg has an amazing selection of German Beer. The food is fantastic also, especially if you like a heavy snack along with your beer.

I lived in Ann Arbor for 4 years and never found a better German pub. I would recommend drinking down in the basement, where the atmosphere tends to be a bit more lively. The place is great for large parties as well.

You can easily park near the bar. Its also a walkable distance within downtown Ann Arbor.