Friday 6th of August 2010 07:10:24 AM

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One of my favorite breweries in Michigan. They have about 7-8 different taps most of the time. The IPA is very good. The porter is one of my favorites as it is very smooth, rich and chocolaty. Their amber is also quite well done as it has a nice bitter aftertaste. One of my favorite seasonal beers here is the Pepper Smoker beer, made with smoked malts and fresh jalapenos. A very interesting brew that needs to be tasted. They also have small batch releases that typically only last one evening. Some I tried were a pumpkin donut ale and a pastrami on rye (Yes, pastrami on rye and it was fantastic).

OG has a pretty basic food selection ranging from snacks like pretzels and cheese to grilled sandwiches (which are very tasty).

Very friendly staff compliment this brewery, too. The atmosphere is quite laid back and kid friendly. They even have a good sized collection of board games to play while you are enjoying a brew.

Thursday 17th of December 2009 07:33:26 PM

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Overall a pretty nice place considering the location. Located basically right off US 23 about 15 minutes south of Ann Arbor, so fairly easy to get to, however, kind of in the middle of nowhere. Pretty unassuming place from the outside, kind of looks like it was a bank or convience store in a prior life. Decent amount of parking available onsite.

Beer selection was good, 7 good selections regularly on tap, plus two seasonals. The Winter Warmer was excellent, I should have purchased a growler of it. Also had a very good porter on nitrogen. Both were very good and worth the drive down.

Also have a small menu, primarily panini sandwiches and small snacks. Generally well priced and a wide enough range to likely keep most people happy. Late opening time however, 3pm except for Sat they are open for lunch.

Friday 24th of July 2009 08:31:35 AM

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My wife and I traveled to the Southeast Michigan area for the Michigan Summer Beer Festival, and decided to check out a few of the local microbreweries while there (doesn't everyone?) We easily found OG just a half-hour down the road from Ypsilanti in the sleepy little town of Milan.

Before we opened the door, the aroma of boil kettles and mash tuns was evident. Brad, the owner/brewer was busy tending to his creations. We sat at the spacious bar, and were greeted and cared for very well. My wife,doesn't typically go for IPAs as so many today are over the top in bitterness and/or hop content. Brad's Southpaw IPA was a big hit this time--since it is a very "in balance" beer. I enjoyed it as well, and also enjoyed the Orange Peel Wheels; a orange-peel infused version of OG's Belgian Training Wheels. As it happened, it was Happy Hour and pints of most brews were $3. That's a good value in my book.

The pub fare was top notch, generous, and well-prepared.

We took a growler of the Southpaw to go just to help keep the experience alive after the fact. OG is a gem, and should be on the agenda for anyone passing through the area. We'll be back.

Sunday 25th of January 2009 03:16:18 PM

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I visited Original Gravity Saturday, just after noon. The interior of the brewpub is clean & modern. It's one big main room. The brewing equipment occupies the back left quarter of the room, and the seating surrounds it in an L shaped layout. The bar itself was built of brick with a hardwood deck. A few of the tables were built of old barn doors, and all were wood.

OG's kitchen is essentially a panini press, and that's alright. The sandwiches are generously sized, and high in quality. I had a smoked turkey & avocado sandwich, while me traveling companion had a ham & cheddar cheese. They were served with chips & a pickle.

Our lunch time server, was the brewer and owner. He was getting ready to brew, tending bar, making the sandwiches and answering our questions all at once. He made it a very inviting experience.

OG has about ten beers on tap. All are made in house. Most are of moderate strength or sessionable. He also breaks out his old homebrew kettle for a 10 gallon batch that's tapped every Tuesday. That's where his most adventurous batches are showcased.

This is the type of place, I'd like to see succeed. It's still a curiosity to Milan's residents. (while we were there, one guy stopped in just to see if his old town really did have a brewery) The beer is okay, but the brewer is still learning on the job, as a hobbyist turned pro. Hopefully, he'll continue to grow.