Beer Bar That Forgot Wine Exists
Downtown · Scranton · Gastropub
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Backyard Ale House’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Backyard Ale House is, at its core, a beer bar — and the wine list makes no effort to pretend otherwise. What you get is a short roster of grocery store staples priced like they're doing you a favor. This is a place where the taps are the star and wine is an afterthought for whoever in the group doesn't drink beer.
The list reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at the local wholesale club and slapped a 2-3x markup on it. Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Meiomi Pinot Noir, Apothic Red, Barefoot Pinot Grigio — we've seen this exact lineup at airport bars and chain restaurants across America. There's no regional focus, no small producer, no attempt at curation. The closest thing to a conversation starter here is whether you want your mass-market red or your mass-market white.
We're working from a list that appears to be entirely by-the-glass pours, which tracks for a casual bar environment. The selection doesn't rotate — these bottles have been on the menu long enough to collect dust. If you need wine, you have options; if you want wine, look elsewhere.
Meiomi Pinot Noir — $30
It's the least offensive markup on the list at 50% over retail — still not great, but in this lineup it's the closest thing to a fair shake. At least Meiomi is a recognizable, drinkable bottle.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
In a list this thin, 'hidden gem' is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Meiomi is at least a step above the Barefoot tier and the markup is the most reasonable here — so if you're stuck, this is your move.
Barefoot Pinot Grigio
A $7 retail bottle marked up to $22 is a 214% premium for one of the least interesting wines on the market. You can buy four bottles at the grocery store for what they're charging here. Hard pass.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Burger
Backyard Ale House is a gastropub and burgers are the safe bet. Meiomi's soft, fruit-forward profile won't clash with anything coming off the kitchen — it's inoffensive enough to work, which is about the highest praise we can offer this list.
❌ The Bottom Line
Backyard Ale House is a solid beer destination that treats wine like a legal obligation rather than an opportunity. Order a craft beer, enjoy the bar scene, and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Downtown · Scranton · Italian-American Pizzeria and Restaurant
Alfredo's isn't a wine destination, but it's a pizza place with a functional, fairly priced list and one of the better midweek wine promotions we've seen in northeastern Pennsylvania. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Bonanza Cab at half price, and get a large pie — there are worse ways to spend a weeknight.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Scranton · New American
POSH isn't a destination wine list — it's a safe, slightly overpriced selection that leans on brand recognition over discovery. Come on a Wednesday, grab the Colombo rosé at half price, and you'll leave happy; show up any other night and you're paying full markup for wines you could find at the corner store.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Scranton · Italian
Sambucca is a perfectly decent Italian restaurant where wine is clearly an afterthought — steep markups on recognizable grocery store labels, no specials, no depth. Order the pasta, maybe a glass of something bubbly to start, and don't look at the wine list too hard.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Scranton · Scranton · American, Bar, Seafood, Soups
Cooper's earns its reputation on the seafood — the wine list is purely an afterthought, with steep markups on grocery-store staples. Come for the food and the atmosphere; if it's Wednesday, at least the half-price bottles make the math less painful.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Scranton · Italian (wood-fired pizza and pasta)
Bar Pazzo won't win any awards for list length, but the seven bottles they chose punch well above their weight for a casual Italian spot in downtown Scranton. If you're willing to let go of the familiar and trust the list, there's a genuinely good night of wine drinking here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Bethlehem · Bethlehem · Gastropub
The Goosemen is a perfectly decent place to eat a burger and drink a beer — but the wine list is a cash grab dressed up as a menu. The Wednesday half-price bottle promotion is the only reason to think about wine here at all; on any other night, order something from the tap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown / Near the Square · Georgetown · Gastropub
Hard Count is a solid neighborhood pour for Georgetown — fair prices, recognizable labels, and just enough range to keep everyone at the table happy. Don't expect a deep dive, but don't expect to suffer either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Champaign · Champaign · Gastropub
Seven Saints is a genuinely fun downtown bar that simply doesn't care about wine, and that's fine — but you should know going in. Come for the whiskey, come for the burger, and if you're drinking wine, come on a Monday.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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