Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery in Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers a delicious combination of classic BBQ and house-brewed craft beers in a relaxed, inviting setting. Known for its slow-smoked meats, fresh sides, and dedication to locally sourced ingredients, Blue Tractor celebrates Southern hospitality with a Michigan twist. Whether you’re craving pulled pork, brisket, or house-smoked wings, each dish is made fresh and paired perfectly with a wide range of craft beers brewed on-site. Located in the heart of Ann Arbor, Blue Tractor is a local favorite, providing a cozy space for friends and families to gather and enjoy authentic BBQ and brews.
Warm brewpub offers house craft beers paired with BBQ, smoked meats & biscuits amid live music.
Derin Ertek
The BBQ Joint and Brewery in Ann Arbor is a great spot for a casual meal. The atmosphere is friendly, and the staff, including the bartender, were welcoming and attentive. Service was impressively quick, making it an excellent choice for those looking for efficiency without sacrificing quality.
As for the food, the ribs were decent, but the pulled ribs truly stood out—tender, flavorful, and worth the visit. Pricing is fair, making it accessible without breaking the bank.
Overall, it’s a solid choice for BBQ enthusiasts or anyone looking for a friendly spot with good vibes. Recommended!
… moreKevin Tan
After a vigorous morning workout, my friend and I were ravenous and in search of a hearty meal. Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery seemed like the perfect pit stop. Tucked in the heart of town, this spot not only promises a commitment to local produce and finely crafted beers but also a tempting BBQ menu that we couldn’t wait to dive into.
Food Ordered:
We opted for the BBQ Platters, which were a delight to our taste buds but left us wanting a bit more in terms of portion size — perhaps not quite enough to fully satisfy two exercised appetites.
-The Sliced Beef Brisket was a standout, expertly smoked for 18 hours with a simple salt and pepper rub; it was as tender as it was flavorful.
-The Smoked Chicken thighs, brined and smoked to perfection, hit that smoky sweet spot beautifully.
-The Sausage Link, less salty than typical sausages and featuring a special sauce or marinade, was a pleasant surprise in both taste and texture.
For sides, the Sweet Potato Fries were a delicious pick, and the Braised Greens added a nice balance to the meat-heavy platter.
Although we initially craved a Salmon Sandwich, it was no longer available. The staff recommended another fish filet sandwich (the name escapes me), which turned out to be delicious and perfectly seasoned — a serendipitous substitute that did not disappoint.
Brews and More:
Don’t miss the happy hour from 3-6 pm daily, where you can enjoy half-price sides and brews. It’s a fantastic deal, especially for tasting their award-winning craft beer.
Final Thoughts:
Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery impresses with its commitment to local sourcing and high-quality ingredients. The atmosphere is ideal for relaxing post-workout, and while the portions could be larger, the delicious flavors and excellent service make it well worth a visit. Highly recommended for a genuine A^2 dining experience.
… moreAvram Liebowitz
Smells so good right when you walk in, the beer is fantastic, I’m about to try the food. Everything that is being brought out of the kitchen looks and smells amazing! The pulled beef sandwich is totally worth coming back for, I want more.
Came back for more, got the smoked sausage and it is delicious! Really good food and more good service.
… moreChuck Blatt
First time and while I enjoyed it I have had better BBQ. The brisket was good but the turkey was dry and not good. The cornbread was average. The BBQ chips were good and better then the fries. The waffle fries were above average but mashed potatoes we below average. The normal BBQ sauce was good but the vinegar based was very thin. I would try again and would like to try the ribs.
… moreMarc-Grégor Campredon
This place seat in an odd corner of the restaurant univers half way in between the good ol’ American house meal “like Gran pa or Gran ma’s kitchen” and yet the place is modern with a hipster vibe almost like a high end restaurant. As a result the food is made of well executed classic with time to time a nice spin (the green beans with pepper seasoning or the jalapeno cornbread)! In most case the dishes will be awesome and extremely good! However some of the dishes are plain ok and won’t be the most exciting you get… But everything really taste good.
The service is extremely detailed, efficient and kind. That modern touched mixed with family meal. The atmosphere is exactly seating in that odd space making it a very family friendly place but also the perfect spot to hang with the “bros”.
Beer is great.
The price is fair and portion in accordance to other downtown Ann Arbor location. Service is efficient and there is many table making rare to find a seat.
Five stars no complain.
… moreCorey Taylor
I was in town for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships and stopped in here and this place is definitely a must stop! I didn’t eat but the beer was awesome! I got the Bearded Pig Cream Ale. So good! They also have a lot of merchandise available to purchase! Definitely make this a stop when you are in Ann Arbor!!!
… moreTodays Present
Katie was a superb waitress. She had excellent customer service. The restaurant in general did seem a little short staffed. We usually love their corn bread and sweet potato fries. This time, neither seemed fresh…which was very disappointing. The carnivore burger was delicious as usual. We love the daily happy hour with half off appetizers from 3-6. We might return for happy hour or a carry out. But likely not to dine in for a while.
… moreMateo Gebon
I stopped here to try and flight of their beers and was happy with my experience. It was a bit late, and the food smelled great. The staff was friendly enough, and the beers were solid renditions of their styles. I think the Bumper Crop IPA was my favorite of the bunch. It was just an especially well-balanced IPA. I’d love to try the BBQ next time.
… moreSteven Stratton
Ended up in Ann Arbor for a work thing. We asked around for a good spot for dinner and this place was recommended. It did not disappoint. Service was fast, waiter was super helpful and friendly, food was really good. They are a brew house as well, but we had a long drive after dinner so we didn’t get to try any local craft beer 🙁 the smoked Pulled Pork, turkey and sausage was super good and very flavorful.
… moreMarissa Yee-McKim
I’ve been here a couple times and most recently for Ann Arbor Restaurant Week. The 3 Course Meal for $50 and option to add 2 pints for $7 was a deal. There was a lot of food that we were able to take home leftovers for another meal. We started with the fried pickles and horseradish ranch dipping sauce, had a BBQ platter as our main course, and ended with a cookie sundae. The fried pickles are lightly battered and fried. The platter had ribs, pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese, baked beans, and 2 pieces of cornbread. I’m glad we saved room for the dessert of a chocolate chip cookie, 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate candy pieces and chocolate and caramel drizzle. This meal deal was overall really good.
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