Beer First, But Wine Shows Up
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The name says Beer Baron and the list confirms that beer is running this show — but flip to the wine section and it's not an afterthought. Thirteen labels, all California-focused, priced in a range that won't make you wince. This is a wine list built for people who want wine with their burger, not people hunting for a Barolo.
The list leans hard into reliable California names — Macmurray, Cannonball, St. Francis, Dry Creek — and that's fine, because they've picked decent representatives rather than the cheapest bin options. There's a Union Sacré Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles that hints at someone making an actual decision here, and a Zickefoose Zinfandel from Russian River that earns its spot. Gaps are obvious: no rosé, no sparkling beyond Korbel and a Prosecco, and zero representation outside California and Italy. Red-heavy, crowd-friendly, and intentionally uncomplicated.
Nine pours by the glass running $10–$13 is a respectable setup for a gastropub. Happy hour Monday through Friday from 2–5pm knocks select wines down to unknown-but-discounted pricing — the Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Union Sacré Cabernet Franc, and Carmel Road Pinot Noir all rotate through that deal. The BTG range covers the bases without any real stars, but at these prices, you're not expecting stars.
Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc — $10/glass
Dry Creek makes a genuinely good Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc and it's likely the cheapest glass on the list. Grab it during happy hour and it's an even better deal — crisp, citrus-forward, and one of the more honest pours here.
Union Sacré Cabernet Franc
Paso Robles Cab Franc is not what most people expect at a place called Beer Baron, and that's exactly why you should order it. Union Sacré makes a serious, earthy wine that sits apart from the Cab Sauv crowd on this list — and it makes the happy hour rotation, so the timing can work in your favor.
Korbel Brut
At $10 a glass or $36 a bottle, you're paying restaurant markup on a supermarket sparkling wine. Korbel is fine for a mimosa at brunch, but there's no reason to spend real money on it here when the still wine options offer more for the same price.
Zickefoose Zinfandel + Burger
Russian River Zinfandel has the fruit weight and spice to hold up against a grilled burger without steamrolling it. It's the most interesting red on the list and the most obvious match for what a gastropub does best.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Beer Baron isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — but the list is priced fairly, skewed toward decent producers, and has just enough personality to keep wine drinkers from ordering a beer instead. Send a friend here for wine? Sure, if they're also ordering food and keeping their expectations calibrated to the room.
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · Italian, Seafood, Grill
Strizzi's isn't a wine destination, but it does right by its neighborhood with local Livermore pours at fair prices. Send your friend here if they want a solid Italian dinner with a decent glass — just point them toward the Cab Franc.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Livermore · Livermore · Mexican
Blue Agave Club is first and foremost a tequila destination, but the wine list earns its place by betting on local Livermore producers and sneaking in a wild card or two. If you're eating here and skipping the wine entirely, you're missing a cheap way to drink well in wine country.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Livermore / Airport Area · Livermore · Hotel Bar
If you are already staying here and do not feel like driving, the Caposaldo Prosecco or Mirabelle will get the job done without too much damage. But this is Livermore — there are actual wine destinations within ten minutes that make this lobby bar look like it is not even trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Livermore / Airport Area · Livermore · Hotel Restaurant
If you're staying at the hotel and can't make it out to an actual Livermore Valley winery, show up on Wine Wednesday, grab a half-price bottle, and keep your expectations calibrated accordingly. For anything resembling a real wine experience, get in the car.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
North Livermore / Airport Area · Livermore · Hotel Bistro
You're sitting in one of California's most storied wine valleys and drinking Australian grocery-store blends at hotel markup — that's the whole story. Grab a glass of Decoy if you must, then go find an actual Livermore Valley tasting room.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Livermore / I-580 Corridor · Livermore · Steakhouse / American
Cattlemens Livermore is exactly what it advertises — a solid steakhouse wine list that won't wow you but won't let you down either. Grab the Rodney Strong, order the ribeye, and leave the bottle hunting for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Flagstaff · American Gastropub
The McMillan is a genuinely fun bar in a beautiful old building, and the cocktail program is probably where your money should go. If wine is your thing, this list will not be your night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town Temecula · Temecula · American Gastropub
Crush & Brew is the right move if you want to drink local without doing a formal winery crawl — the list is honest, the prices don't insult you, and the setting makes a glass of Temecula Valley red feel earned. Don't come looking for Burgundy; do come knowing exactly where your wine grew up.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · American Gastropub
The Ravens Club isn't a wine destination — it's a late-night Ann Arbor institution that happens to have a functional wine list. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Gruet for $6, and let the spirits program do its real job.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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