Kevin- The downtown area was filled with Ann Arbor’s finest artsy-fartsy freaks for the annual Festifools celebration. As a result, the Blue Tractor was overflowing with people trying to get a table. When we arrived, there was a two hour wait for a table so we were forced into the bowels of the restaurant and brewery to Blue Tractor’s bourbon bar, Mash. Luckily they serve all the same beer as they do upstairs so the Octave was able to continue unhindered. Despite the massive crowds, we were able to take over a sizable section in Mash and were actually quite comfortable.
The atmosphere was somewhat different from the other venues we’ve visited. Although the beer is the same, Mash operates as a distinctly separate entity from Blue Tractor. The two locations are linked through a network of passageways so as long as you pass through the labyrinth and answer the riddle of the sphinx you can fairly easily navigate from one to the other. Mash is also set up as a venue to showcase live musical acts which was the case during our visit. For most of the evening there was some folk waif squeaking out his impressions of classic 70’s and 80’s power ballads (Does anyone remember the part in the movie Animal House where Bluto takes the guitar away from the guy playing sappy love songs and smashes the crap out of it? I fought similar thoughts). After the hippy was done, a Blues band presented their art. Actually, both acts were enjoyable. Another feature of Mash is the chalkboard ceiling where patrons can unleash their inner graffiti artist self-expressions. Octave Of___ wanted to make it’s presence known as well so, once we located a rare phallus-free section of ceiling real estate, we inscribed our mark for all to see.
And then there was the beer itself. See the reviews themselves for individual descriptions but overall they were all at least average. That may not seem like a glowing review at first but it just means that there really wasn’t anything to disappoint in any of their selections. The Belgian wheat stood out from the crowd not only because it was refreshingly quaffable but because it was the first of it’s kind that I’ve had on this Octave journey. The other standout for me was the Bumper Crop IPA. As far as I’m concerned, it marks the Gold Standard for what an IPA should be. Other IPA’s will differ in varying degrees of the bitter bite of hoppiness but the Bumper Crop is an example of one that you can come back to time and time again when you want to zero the scale of your taste buds.
Mash only offers a few appetizer-style menu options but if you consider the full scale Blue Tractor menu and the overall beer quality, it makes for one of the best experiences in Ann Arbor and I don’t expect I’ll tire of returning there at any point in the near future.
Neil- It’s always on Thursday and Friday that the octave has gotten to be a burden for me. I’m seriously considering retiring after this year. Still, after this night, I remember why we still do this every year. It was a blast, and being on the “Mash” side of Blue Tractor changed my impression of this place for the better. The beer is average and the barbecue is below average (go to satchells on Washtenaw for some genuine bbq), but being here with friends and good live blues brings it all together. Definitely only come here on the weekend. Thanks to divine providence, we found about 30 seats next to each other in a place that packs sweaty college students in like natty lights in a dorm room fridge.
Your Reviews=
There’s a lot of cursive on this review pad (don’t you know cursive is a dead language?) but here’s my best transcription-
Adam on loch- "Lemonade and a watermelon seed spitting contest in a glass."
Lea on the Java Stout- “The Java Stout was delectable...dark, strong, with notes of coffee and chocolate...perfect Friday night complement to an underground bar atmosphere. And I want to write on the walls with chalk.”
Elise- “Beer in muffin tins... I like it.”
Kevin on Bock- “A box of crackerjack with an awesome suprise inside.”
Stream of consciousness from Duke- “The Beer is exquisite! A feathery light pilsner to die for! A dark mysterious Porter; a bock that brings with it the fullness of spring after the death of winter! My Word! ...”
Johnny on someone’s Beard- “Beard is a friendly mix of pulverized agate mixed with the ground yoke from a team of oxen. Boiled and strained to a perfect smoothness.”
Kevin on Pitmaster Porter- “Burt chocolate chip cookie dipped in french roast coffee.”
Duke on Belgium Wheat- “Riding through the wheat fields of Bavaria on horseback at break of dawn.” (Top review nominee)
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