Beer Grotto Dexter

A great spot in the heart of Dexter! The food was delicious!! The service stole the show!! It was a busy Saturday night (Aug 9th) and our server was attentive and smiled through a very busy service, A+++ ((I wish I got her name, massive asset to this establishment) I’ll see you next year for the next addition of the Watermoo Bicycle Race!!

Great service on a steamy June afternoon. Burgers were done to order and very tasty; "upgrades" from chips were a bit wimpy though. The bigass beer mugs kept our Miller Lites ice cold, and there were plenty of napkins to mop up our sweat. We will definitely be back.

Quaint spot in Dexter. Outdoor patio in the summer, indoor seating with dart boards if not feeling the outdoorsy vibes. The $8 smash burger is outstanding value and flavor. My server (who was also serving the main bar) was outstanding, frequently checking in, making sure all the tables and customers were well taken care of.

I want to like the Beer Grotto - it's in a great location in Dexter, and easy to get to and park. We have enjoyed trivia there regularly for a few months, but have started looking for another spot, due to the service and food. The menu could be larger. I think I have tried almost everything on it at this point. Burgers aren't bad, but some items are just not good. This past week I had a taco salad with chicken, and the chicken was over-seasoned to the point where I couldn't eat it. I requested some sour cream to take the edge off, but it never came. I've also had a lamb burger that was tasteless, a patty melt that was way too greasy (dripping), and a quesadilla that was cold. The service is VERY hit-or-miss depending who you get. A couple of the waitstaff are very quick, attentive, and do a great job! There are a couple others who when they show up at our table I just cringe. They don't write things down, then forget to bring everything. They take seemingly forever to circle back around, which when there's an issue is a lousy experience. I'm not sure if this contributes to the issue, but waitstaff here doesn't just serve the tables, they also go behind the bar and pour drinks. I've not seen this arrangement often, but at the Beer Grotto, it means you might be waiting a LONG time before you see your server again. Again, it's a shame because I really want to like the place, and it seems like the best Tuesday Trivia crowd around. I just can't keep eating there any more.

great patio. great service and happy hour! the burger deal can't be beat, great fries too! if I loved in Dexter I'd come here often.

Came in for date night with the wife. Excellent drink selection. Great service. Great food. Will definitely be back.

The beer selection is incredible. I had the patty melt with fries. Let me tell you one of the best burgers I have ever had. Good place to stop.

Horrible with everything! Services was rude. Food had no flavor (burgers) way over cooked. And ordered med. Employee eating at the bar with his hands and then grabbing drinks to take to the tables without washing his hands. We had to go to the bar for napkins. Then when our food came we had no silverware and the server was annoyed we asked for it. Only 5 tables so not really busy. Very disappointing!! Eye rolling when asking for bill and to go box. Locals that will never come back.

This place is an awesome little bar! They have a nice patio, the inside has a beautiful bar, well spaced tables, dart boards & plenty of TV's on with a variety of sports. The staff is great, all friendly & helpful. They have a nice tap & bottle beer selection & happy hour specials. The food is all top notch! The beef they use is sourced from Sparrow Market in Ann Arbor which is the best butcher & best quality meat I've found in Michigan! They use Zingermens for their breads & buns so that's also top tier. Everything I've eaten here has been delicious, perfectly seasoned & cooked exactly as ordered. The quality, attention to detail in flavor & execution is some of the best I've seen at any Bar/Pub.

Kate Arbour was one of if not the best waiter I have ever had so sweet and so enduring. Definitely deserves a raise. Easiest 5 stars I will ever give.

Stopped in for a flight while visiting Dexter and it was a pleasant experience. Large selection of beers, wines and cocktails. Clean open seating, dart boards and TV's to watch live sports and outdoor patio setup to enjoy a beautiful day.

Lousy ahh burger. Definitely wouldn't order burger from here again, nice atmosphere tho

Food here is subpar. I had a super greasy BLT with undercooked bacon. Side of mac and cheese was watery and bland. Chips were decent, well-seasoned. Somehow on a Sunday for lunch/dinner they were out of both chicken wings and fries which...you're a pub, so how are you not going to have those available? Also, you have chips but not fries? Where did the chips come from? Nachos were super basic and the queso had a weird mealy texture. The veg nachos just come with weird queso, a bean sauce, salsa and sour cream, no veggies like onions, tomatoes, or lettuce. Their cocktail menu is underwhelming, though they seem to have a decent beer selection. Service was terrible. Food took forever to come out and we had to eventually go up to the bar to pay for our bill after having asked for it. There are only a couple places open in Dexter on Sunday it seems, so... maybe drive to Ann Arbor instead? Especially for what they charge here.

Don't ignore this place if beer isn't your thing! Just had the best cocktail here: Rough Waters See pic Sit at the bar Great service and friendly vibe Love it!

We had not been here in a couple years. First trip back and we loved the upgrades and the food. Really enjoy the atmosphere.

I've never eaten anything here, so this review is only for the drinks. They offer an extensive wine, beer and cocktail menu, so you always can find something you are interested in and will be happy with. I've only ever sat at the bar, but due to this, my service experience has been very different from many other reviews, and I've experienced great service. Atmosphere could use a bit of work, but it's a beer grotto, and pretty much as expected.

Visiting Dexter. They have one of the most amazing coconut Mojitos. The people are so so friendly! They actually let us in to have a drink a bit before they opened because we showed up early. Who does that!

Great food but not so great service. Servers are not the most attentive and guests end yo waiting on their food and drinks because of this.

Waited 20 mins with no service. Walked out. They were not busy and there was ample wait staff if they were not just standing around

Lemon grass cider is awesome.Try it for sure. Pros: -------- Free Parking Spacious Clean restroom You can order food from outside Cons: ------- Not attentive staff Less food options

Always an amazing beer selection! Looking forward to trying their new food menu soon as well! Staff is knowledgeable and delightful when you are looking through the selections! I would caution you to check on whether they are holding comedy night or other things. It does limit your options for conversation with anyone in your party.

Downtown Dexter is the perfect place to hang out on a relaxing Friday night. This was my first visit to The Beer Grotto and wasn't sure how they operated. Staff was very friendly and helped immensely. I quickly learned that Beer Grotto allows you to bring in outside food, to enjoy with your beer. They do have a limited menu of small bits and two sandwiches, however, the BBQ joint across the street goes much better with one of the hearty stouts on tap. I was impressed by the cheeseboard and beer flights. The Truffle popcorn is a must. This was plenty of food and drink for two people to hangout and nosh for the evening. Besides beer, they also have a nice selection of wine, cider and a couple craft cocktails; some made with beer too. Small outdoor seating area, makes this place as good as it gets. They do have happy hour 3-6pm. My kind of place.

great food! HORRIBLE service. We sat down and wasn't helped for at least 15 minutes. When we were helped, the short blonde waitress looked like she couldn't care less what we needed. THEN, food came out, half the order was never put in. We were not checked on for the entire service and waited an extra 15 minutes at the end of our meal just sitting around waiting for the bill. Do better Beer Grotto...

Stopped in late on a Friday night after dinner at Aubrees to check it out. Won't be the last time we visit! First, the space is very cool. The front section is more of a retail/tasting room where you can sample some beers, fill a growler, buy some beer goodies and Grotto schwag, etc. They also have a bit of wine (on "tap" no less) but their real area of expertise is the beer. They've got plenty of it. 48 taps with a wide variety from Michigan to across the country, fruity to stouts to IPAs....there's something for everyone and the folks are happy to help you find something you might like. Even folks who say they don't like beer will probably find something they might like. During our visit I had the Founders "Blushing Monk" and really enjoyed it. If you like a lambic give it a shot! Beers come in a few sizes from a small 3 oz sample (which was perfect for me since I wasn't feeling so great) to pints to a full growler. Prices are fantastic and the staff knows what's up with every beer they've got. In the back is a lounge/bar area with plenty of casual seating at the bar, small tables, etc. There isn't a huge menu (think more snacks than meals) but since we had just eaten we didn't check that out. The area is a bit smaller but it wasn't terribly crowded for a Friday night. Really enjoyed it and I'm so glad to see them in Dexter. We'll definitely be back!

Do NOT come here unless you're a local!! Customers and staff are not welcoming. There were locals sitting on the patio being extremely racist and saying comments about us as we were walking. All we were trying to do was give this sad bar some business. Totally regret. Absolutely disgusting how we were treated.

This is a great new venue for Dexter since I was last home a few years back. It's nice to have a place to drink and socialize with friends (young adults between 25-50) without going into Ann Arbor. Their beer selection is extensive and covers all tastes and preferences. The server staff was very knowledgeable about recommendations, and readily offered samples to taste before purchasing. Pricing is also very palatable for a small town establishment. The couple criticisms I have are in regards to the service and Tate of the food. Our waiter was friendly, but forgot party members drinks on several occasions. It became such an issue that we ended up going to the bar repeatedly to order directly. In addition grilled cheese. The dish appeared to have potential, but was very bland to taste. Our server even commented that the sandwich was not made in the back but simply put on a hot plate to warm up (not something you want your waitstaff offering unsolicited information to customers). I certainly recommend this place for a tasty beer at a good price in a comfortable environment.

Amazing staff. Super kind, personable and they go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Food is excellent, beer is excellent. don't sleep on this place

Updating review since they stopped refilling growlers. Looks like we will not be coming back anytime soon thanks to COVID.

After a nice ride with top down on back roads from home....we found this great place. Not a brewery, A Tasting house. Husband in heaven. Jake the house cicerone was very informative. I did not know there was such a thing for beer as there is for wine.

This place is one of the best things I have stumbled upon. I was in Dexter meeting up with a friend who lives a few hours away, so Dexter was a good meeting point for us. We were looking for something to do and came across TBG. It was very hip and modern. There were about 40 craft beers on tap. It was a great chance to try some of the beers I've wanted to before without spending $8 without knowing if I liked it! The service was top notch, the bartender was not pretentious and did not act snooty when other patrons asked elementary beer questions. Had good knowledge of the beers and recommendations for us. I cannot get over how affordable the prices are. The growler prices were very inexpensive and my friend and I left with 2 growlers each! The setup was tasting room up front and then the back half of TBG was a lounge where you can order pints and bring in your own food or have some of their small plates. I considered getting food to go from a restaurant and just eating here but it was only lunchtime so I did not end up doing that (it's 5 o'clock somewhere!). I only wish it was closer to me (although that might be dangerous) and cannot wait until the Ann Arbor location opens so I can frequent it more. I am considering returning to Dexter just for this!

As an underage drinker in dexter, I must recommend to others (joke) it's very good.....

Not sure what happened to this place. Hadn't been in for a couple of years because beer no longer agrees with me. When it first opened, I remember that they offered a fairly respectable amount of wines by the glass as well. So I stopped in one day a couple months ago to find the place completely empty. The staff was deep in their own conversation and not interested in acknowledging us. I asked a fairly basic question about which of two wines was drier and the bartender shrugged and said he didn't no nor cared, and that wine sucks. I realize the place DOES have beer in the name, but there really is no justification for staff not understanding what is on your menu and insulting a customer who is trying to spend money in your otherwise empty establishment. I won't be back.

Every so often, I go here with a group of friends for trivia on Tuesday nights and I just love this place. No matter how busy they get, the staff is ready to help and give suggestions off the impressive beer list. They've definitely turned me on to some unexpected delights! Happy hour is $4 for craft beers, which is a solid deal. Stay too long and the tab can run up, but that's true of any specialty pub like this one. Try to take advantage of special nights, like the recent Bells and Dogfish Head events, in order to sample obscure flavors at Reasonable prices. They only serve a few sides (pretzels and popcorn), but partner with local restaurants like Aubrees or Red Brick so you can order from there and have a complete evening in the Grotto. Fun joint in the heart of Dexter, and I'd totally go even if there wasn't a trivia night to lure me in. Good on you, Grotto!

Met up with some friends to play cards. Took a seat back in the "Love Lounge" as indicated by the color changing neon arrow an the wall and settled in to watch the end of the Michigan/Maryland game (Maryland won). The place is very cozy with dimmed lighting. The tables along the wall have padded benches and chairs with backs. The tall tables are barrels (if I remember right) with stools with no backs. There is a small menu, I had the Cuban sandwich which was very good. The bartender seems to be the only one on duty but he came around as much as he could, there was a shift change and the second bartender was also attentive. The beer list was extensive and the staff was always ready to explain things and give you ideas of what might be good. It was a Sunday afternoon and their Bloody Mary, do it yourself, bar was open. Pretty generous Vodka pour and he didn't blink at giving it a shot of Stout to hearty it up. The fixings were a little meager, it could have used some bacon or sausage, but I thought the pearl onions were unique. We had a good time with friends, they have games and puzzles at the bar but we had brought our own. Boys against the girls (girls 2, boys 1), See you there.

Had some beers there this last weekend. All outside table were full so we were banished to the city tent. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Great biz for Dexter!

What started as a walk down the street to check out "downtown" Dexter turned into seeing a sign that included the word "Beer". To the wife: what is that? Opens the door to the Beer Grotto. Leaves 2 hours later. Pretty Decent tap lineup. Craft beer accessories such as growlers and howlers Food? Snacks. But don't miss the Grilled Cheese or the Truffle Popcorn. Good stuff! Atmosphere? Way cool. Place filled up quickly by the time we left. We'll be back!!

This place totally exceeded my expectations! Really really cool place! The merchandise is really cool, I'm definitely going to pick up some clay mugs and a Beer Grotto shirt or 2. The beers come in a few different sizes, I got 1 pint sized draft and 8 3oz samples of the stuff I've never had. I ended up walking out with a Growler as well. The food is very underrated I had the mini grilled cheese and was expected toast and melted cheddar! This was much different! Definitely give it a try! So excited for the Ann Arbor opening.

Loved this place. Fantastic, friendly staff who are knowledgeable about the product they're selling. The menu is perfect for this little establishment - the cheese plate was HUGE, delicious and, at only $12, a total steal. We ended up buying some t-shirts to take back to NYC with us, so we could represent Michigan beer, and the Grotto at home. Will definitely return.

So. Much. Beer. Very knowledgeable staff. Fantastic grilled cheese (aged cheddar with basil and pesto). Get the truffle popcorn as your starter! You won't be disappointed.

Great place to stop in and have a beer or a few. Tasters and knowledgable bar tenders make this a great friendly stop.

One of the best beer bars around. Terrific selection, great to chill and relax or take out in a growler (or a howler).

Omg thIs is the best place ever it's in the middle of town and I it so comfortable in there they are so welcoming and everyone is sUper like amazing staff

Love this place! Great craft beer selection and the staff does a great job! No complaints except for the place could be a little bigger, which really isn't that big of a deal. Keep doing what you're doing!

Cool place. 40 + local beers on draught with options to take a growler home. Dart boards and overall cool atmosphere to hang for hours. They have a few snacks or you can bring in your own take out or call for delivery.

Don't make the mistake of thinking this place is connected to the Beer Grotto in Ann Arbor. Service is inattentive and unfriendly here. The staff make it clear that it's just a job to them, and they would be happy if you went away.

This place is totally unexpected and a welcome addition to dexter and ann arbor. Small food offerings but lots to choose from for drinks. Can't wait to go back!

What is not to like about this place? Walk in and try some delicious Michigan made brews for free. If you like them, go ahead and buy a pint, howler, or growler. They also serve wine buy the glass and mixed cocktails, which in my opinion is a nice addition that other tap/tasting rooms sometimes don't offer (ahem wolverine!) didn't try the food, which is pretty limited, however I definitely will once the pandemonium of opening week settles down. Not sure how I like the back seating area being so dark, but I am willing to sacrifice light for good beer!

Craft beers are good, but sometimes it feels like you need to take a second mortgage on your house to afford them. That's why I really liked the Beer Grotto in Dexter. For happy hour they had nearly every beer for only $4. I sampled a pair of red ales - they seemed to have a lot of ales, porters and saisons in addition to the typical IPA's. It was a unique selection and not the same three Michigan beers you see everywhere (Soft Parade, Oberon, Ghettoblaster). Atmosphere was solid too - it was like a giant tasting room but with a big popcorn machine that stares at you lovingly as your blood sugar drops because of all the alcohol you are drinking. The Grotto doesn't have a ton of food - and the popcorn machine knows this. But you can also get $1 off any beer for bringing food in from a neighboring restaurant - so that's cool too - just a bit of work. Definitely worth a try if you are in the area. They also have wines too!

Only stopped in to sample a few beers but was highly impressed. The decor is fun, the layout (seating area in back) is well thought out and the service (Logan and Jamie) friendly and cheerful. The beers we sampled were great. Can't wait to go back again soon!

Each visit, the service has been spread-thin and slow. We have always had to find an employee in order to be helped/served. Pretzel bites were "eh". Don't think I'd order them again.

Such a cool complex, never have seen a place like it but would love to see more of them start popping up. The store in front had an a wide assortment of Michigan made products, and awesome selection of growlers. The beers on tap made it hard to chose one, so I had three. We also got popcorn and pretzels the pretzels with that delicious mustard sauce keep me up at night. Can't wait to go back!!

I visited on a Thursday night for the first time. I love the idea of a place like this especially in a small town like Dexter. The Beer Grotto is still fairly new, was this the reason it was slammed? It was hard to know where to stand-there was so much product for sale in the front (taking up space) and a lot of people. I didn't really care for the ambiance. I wanted to sample a few beers and enjoy a glass with friends but I didn't feel comfortable. The ambiance was strange, I couldn't tell what they were going for. There was a lot of natural wood, metal and glass but also neon and night-clubby ceiling fixtures in the back seating area. I did sample a few different beers but I stood vying for the attention of the server and couldn't relax and enjoy what I was drinking. The staff seemed friendly although not particularly helpful with questions or suggestions. I'm going to give it another go but my first experience was certainly lacking. Ok, this is an add-on to my previous review. I visited again and my experience was Much better. The staff was more attentive, very helpful and friendly. Maybe my last review was an off night(?) 'm really happy to change my score!

Cozy beer on tap and wine to go. Towne kind of atmosphere - great for watching the uofm game.

This is one of my favorite places in Dexter. My husband loves it for the beer selection, I love it for the laid-back atmosphere. (Sorry...just not a beer drinker.)

Love this place! Great beers on tap, good bar food. The Cuban sandwich was very tasty. Pretzel was excellent. On a sat or sun football afternoon, this is the place to go.

Super cute. Not what I was expecting to find in Dexter at all. Beer and wine by the taste, small pour, glass, etc.. Now if only they get a liquor license, then they'll be five stars (also, limited food options, but good!).

This place was very cool and highly recommended!!! We would frequent if we lived closer! Loved the beer selection, food, games, and atmosphere! Highly recommended! ! Staff was really cool too!