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 · Wine Bar
The Loft earns its Wild Card badge by doing something genuinely uncommon in Scranton: building a wine bar with a real point of view, even if the public-facing details don't yet let us verify every bottle or price. If you're in downtown Scranton and want wine over cocktails, this is your best legitimate option — just go in curious, ask the staff what's open, and be willing to try something you wouldn't normally order.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Scranton · New American / Wine Bar
Warney is doing something legitimately weird and committed for a mid-sized Pennsylvania city — an aperitif-forward, cocktail-wine hybrid program that rewards curiosity and doesn't punish your wallet for it. Send your most adventurous friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown fringe · Scranton · Brewery/Taproom with Pizza and Pub Fare
Mutant Brewing isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the all-Pennsylvania lineup from Maiolatesi is a genuinely thoughtful move for a taproom in Scranton. Come for the beer and the pizza, stay curious about the Sparkling Traminette.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scranton Area · Scranton · Farm-to-Table / Wine Bar
Harvest isn't a destination wine list, but Wine Wednesday — 50% off every bottle — turns a steep-markup, crowd-pleaser program into a genuinely good deal worth planning around. Come hungry on a Wednesday and order the Rombauer without guilt.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Scranton Area · Scranton · Italian / Brewpub
Marzoni's is a brewpub that's very good at being a brewpub — order a house beer and enjoy the pizza. The wine list exists to serve guests who won't drink beer, not to give anyone a reason to seek it out.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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 Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Gastropub
A short wine list at a craft beer and cocktail bar: nine wines, two price tiers, no regions or vintages. Order the Meiomi Pinot Noir with the You Gouda Try This! mac and cheese, or stay on the house wines at $8 and $30; the page is undated, so confirm current wines and ask which price is the glass before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks menu, not service, storage or markups.
· McMinnville · Gastropub
For a ten-bottle list at a McMinnville gastropub, this is punching well above its weight class. The Corollary Sparkling Rosé, Soter Origins, and that Oddero Dolcetto alone justify a look. We don't have pricing to confirm the value story end-to-end, but the selection philosophy is clearly not phoning it in — and in wine country, that's the baseline we should all be holding everyone to.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Riverside · Gastropub
Brickwood isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely fair deal — honest prices, lots of glass options, and a list that doesn't try to squeeze you. Send a friend here if they want a decent pour without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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