Come for the Beer, Not the Wine
Gulf Shores · Gulf Shores · Brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Big Beach Brewing’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Big Beach Brewing is a brewery. The clue is in the name. The wine list reads like an afterthought—a handful of safe-bet bottles that probably haven't been updated since opening day, kept around for that one person in your group who doesn't drink beer.
This is the kind of list you'd find at a hotel minibar: a Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, maybe a Meiomi Pinot Noir, possibly a Simi Cabernet if you're lucky. We're talking a dozen bottles max, all recognizable from your local Publix wine aisle. No regional exploration, no interesting producers, no indication anyone on staff thinks about wine beyond "we should probably have some." It's functional in the way a vending machine is functional—it dispenses what you expect and nothing more.
The glass pour situation is likely limited to three or four workhorses: the obligatory Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigio for folks who "don't really like wine," and maybe a Cabernet and Pinot Noir to cover the red bases. Rotation isn't really a concept here. These pours stick around until the bottle kicks, then get replaced with the same thing.
Draft Beer Selection — $6-8
Not wine, but this is where your money should go—fresh, local, and actually what they care about
Any Bottle You BYOB
Alabama allows corkage at many establishments—call ahead and bring your own if you're serious about wine
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Overpriced everywhere, marked up even more here, tastes like grape soda—order literally anything else
Their Flagship IPA + Whatever fried appetizer sounds good
Hoppy bitterness cuts through breading and grease—this is the actual play here
The Bottom Line
Big Beach Brewing does what it says on the tin: brewing. The wine program is an obligatory checkbox, not a passion project. Order a flight, enjoy the Gulf coast vibes, and save your wine drinking for literally anywhere else.
Gulf Shores · Gulf Shores · Vineyard & Tasting Room
This isn't a conventional wine program, and that's the whole point. If you're curious about what Gulf Coast viticulture tastes like, Perdido delivers an honest, place-driven experience you won't find anywhere else.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Gulf Shores · Gulf Shores · Grocery Store Wine Shop
Rouses isn't where you'd go for wine education or rare finds, but for beach vacation provisioning, it's more than competent. Fair prices, decent selection, and it beats the hell out of the hotel gift shop.
Solid Range
Fair
Red Flag
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Gulf Shores · Gulf Shores · Market & Deli
Holland's Market won't blow your mind, but it'll keep your beach cooler stocked with smart picks at fair prices. Know what you're looking for, grab it, and head to the sand.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Stemless Casual
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gulf Shores · Gulf Shores · Seafood
Crab Claw does what it does well — casual Gulf seafood in a beach town setting. But the wine program is neglected, overpriced, and shows zero effort. Order the crabs, drink the beer, save wine for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Steep
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
Gulf Shores · Gulf Shores · Coastal Seafood
The Red Fish treats wine like a checkbox on a beach town restaurant checklist. Order a local beer instead and save your wine budget for a town that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Beachfront · Gulf Shores · Coastal American
Come for the sand and sunset, not the wine program. If you're ordering wine here, stick to something cold, simple, and under $50, and remember you're paying a beach tax. This is a beer-and-margarita spot that happens to have wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro · Brewpub
Blackhorse is a genuinely good brewpub, and you should absolutely order a pint. The wine list, though, is purely functional — it exists so the person at the table who doesn't drink beer has something to order, and it doesn't pretend to be anything more than that.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Springfield · Eugene · Brewpub
Plank Town is a genuinely good brewpub and you should absolutely go there — just order a beer. The wine list exists to accommodate the one person in a group who doesn't drink beer, and it does that job adequately and nothing more.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Des Moines · Des Moines · Brewpub
Barn Town Brewery is a genuinely solid craft beer destination, and we respect it for that — but the wine program is an afterthought dressed up as an option. Order a pint, save the wine for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Steep
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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