Wolverine State Brewing Co. voted best brewery; this week, vote for best place for a burger
Wolverine State Brewing Co. has been named the best brewery in Washtenaw County by voters in AnnArbor.com's BestOf contest, edging out Arbor Brewing Co. with 262 votes to Arbor Brewing's 251 votes.
Best brewery voting began last Sunday and ended at 11:59 p.m. Saturday.
As the week progressed, it became a two-way contest between the well-established Arbor Brewing Co. and the upstart Wolverine state, which opened last November. As recently as Friday morning, the two front-runners were only four votes apart.
Third place went to downtown Ann Arbor's Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery, with 139 votes.
This week’s contest for best burger will give readers something to chew on, given the recent surge of new burger places opening in the past year. Stalwarts like Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger and Casey’s Tavern will square off against newer arrivals like Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
The community can suggest contenders for any upcoming contest by going to http://www.annarbor.com/bestof/#bestof_schedule.
And don't forget, everyone who votes will be entered into a drawing each week to win a prize. This week's prize is for a $50 gift card to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
Comments
David Martel
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 4:02 p.m.
truenorth - It is interesting to watch the voting throughout the week and to look forward to the final outcome. As we developed the BestOf polling technology, we've implemented safeguards to address potential ballot stuffing. We have set up the program so that voting is tied to individual user accounts. You must be logged in to vote, can only vote once and can always change your vote throughout the period while voting is live for each category. A user must verify their email address after signing up for a new account and prior to voting. This will insure that only one vote can be cast per user account and that users cannot sign up for new, or multiple accounts, with an invalid email address.
truenorth
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
Wow- the outcomes are so different then expected for Washtenaw- So Far Pizza House, Bearclaw and Wolverine. I expected so much more. Can't believe Wolverine could even come close to Arbor and Grizzly Peak- places that have been around for so long and have so many fans. Sounds like it is pretty easy to just have multiple email addresses to vote away. Kinda a shame.
Hot Sam
Mon, Mar 14, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
The answer is "peanuts". The question was best brewery...not best restaurant with beer, or bet particular beer. I have never understood why some can't have a pub and a restaurant. I've been told that if they offer snacks, they feel they won't sell food. Doesn't show much confidence in the food.
Jim Pryce
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 : 3:19 a.m.
I voted, but now that the voting has started on the best burger, I wasn't able to make my suggestion of Famous Hamburger. They have a 1 lb'er that is fantastic.
David Martel
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 10:41 p.m.
DBH and Cynic2 - Thank you for your inquiry regarding the safeguards pertaining to our voting technology. It's a great question. We have set up the program so that voting is tied to individual user accounts. You must be logged in to vote, can only vote once and can always change your vote throughout the period while voting is live for each category. A user must verify their email address after signing up for a new account and prior to voting. This will insure that only one vote can be cast per user account and that users cannot sign up for new, or multiple accounts, with an invalid email address.
CynicA2
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 5:05 a.m.
Fair enough... but if a given establishment was so inclined, I guess they could offer a free beer to any patron who would fire up their laptop or other capable device, and vote for their brews! A bit OCD, perhaps, but could be effective!.
DBH
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
Thanks for your reply, Mr. Martel. It sounds absolutely foolproof!
DBH
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.
Would someone on the annarbor.com staff address the question as to whether or not there are safeguards in place in the voting process to prevent "stuffing the ballot box" on these "Best Of" votes? This came up before with the vote on best coffee house. Thanks.
CynicA2
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
I'm not the most technically advanced user around, but isn't it relatively easy to stuff the ballot box on this type of survey, if you have a mind to, and completely alter the results?! Multiple people with multiple email addies voting multiple times for the same choice... kind of like an old-time Chicago city election - vote early and often! - ya' know?
proudtobeme
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
I was only able to vote once. You would have to have multiple email adresses and multiple usernames but who would want to go to all that trouble?
Hot Sam
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
The Wolverine has become a great addition to our beer community. One can argue who has the best beer, and that is a matter of taste. I personally believe the Cask Conditioned IPA competition on Washington St has created two of the best brews in Michigan. With that said, the beer at Wolverine is superb. What I really believe sets it apart is the fact that it is actually a "public house". A comfortable place for conversation, beer and snacks. It is not a restaurant with beer. One can actually get some peanuts or popcorn with your beer! Peanuts and beer! What a concept! Keep up the good work you guys!! (And Gal!)
David Briegel
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 7:30 p.m.
I agree. Very nice, comfortable, unpretentious, inviting environment with great beer!
1bigbud
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
Can you turn in the GC for RR and get one for Casey's even a $25.00 one would be better than