Beer House Wine List, And It Shows
Latham · Albany · American
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Albany’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're at a brewhouse, and the wine list makes sure you don't forget it. What lands on the table is essentially a greatest hits of grocery store endcaps — familiar labels, nothing challenging, nothing that suggests anyone in the building has spent real time thinking about wine. The beer program is clearly where the love goes.
The list reads like a shortcut: Apothic Red, Dark Horse Cab, Menage à Trois, Josh Cellars — these are checkout-aisle wines that exist because people recognize the bottle, not because they're good. California dominates, with a light nod toward Washington via Chateau Ste. Michelle and 14 Hands. Italy shows up exactly once with Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio and a Chloe Pinot Grigio, neither of which is going to make anyone reconsider their priorities. There are no producers here that signal curation, no regional surprises, no by-the-glass rotation worth tracking.
The by-the-glass program is essentially the whole list poured by the portion — which isn't a compliment when the list is this shallow. Pricing stays low enough that you won't feel robbed, but you're choosing between brands that coast on marketing budgets, not winemaking. If someone at your table insists on wine, it's fine; just don't expect a conversation starter.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $15
Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Riesling consistently punches above its price point — it's crisp, has actual character, and costs less than a craft cocktail here. On a list this thin, it's the clearest win.
14 Hands Merlot
At $20, this Washington Merlot is quietly better than its neighbors on the list. 14 Hands works with solid Columbia Valley fruit and the Merlot has enough dark plum and structure to hold its own — easy to overlook when Apothic is shouting from the next line over.
Chloe Pinot Grigio
At $35, this is the most expensive bottle on the list and it's a mass-market Italian Pinot Grigio with a pretty label. You're paying a premium for nothing but positioning — the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling at less than half the price is a more honest drink.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Avocado Egg Rolls
BJ's Avocado Egg Rolls are sweet, fried, and come with a tamarind dipping sauce — that residual sugar in the Ste. Michelle Riesling cuts right through the richness and plays off the sweet-savory sauce without a fight.
The Bottom Line
BJ's is a brewhouse first, and the wine list is an afterthought that confirms it. Come for the craft beers, order a Riesling if you must, and don't let anyone talk you into that $35 Chloe.
Loudonville · Albany · New American Steakhouse
A steakhouse wine page with a long glass list and a Coravin group for bigger names, but no prices online, so judge it by phone or at the table. For a steak, try the Jordan Cabernet or the Caymus from the Sommelier Selections; for something different, the Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling. Confirm what is pouring and the prices before you order, since the page is undated and says selections may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted wine page, not service, storage or markups.
West End · Albany · British Pub
A short pub wine list where every one of the 15 wines has both a glass and a bottle price. Order the $27 Gionelli Pinot Grigio, or the $45 Tarani Malbec for a red; both are also poured by the glass, at $9 and $13. Confirm current availability and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Delmar · Albany · American
Normanside's posted drink menu is short and glass-friendly, with 23 wines carrying a glass price from $9 to $15. Order The Wine for Pizza with the $16 pepperoni Detroit-style pie, or take the $12 Pessimist by Daou for a darker red. Confirm current availability and prices before you go; this unrated guide covers the posted drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Albany · Seafood
Jack's is an oyster house first, and its wine lists back that up with French whites by the glass and the bottle. Start with a half dozen oysters and a glass of the Antoine de la Farge Menetou-Salon at 18, or go for the bottle of Reverdy Ducroux Sancerre at 84; for red, the $14 Catena Malbec is the lowest-priced glass. Confirm current lists and prices when you book; this unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Italian
Cafe Capriccio's glass list is short and Italian-led. Try the Scaia Corvina or the Castello di Bossi Chianti before the usual Pinot Grigio, and put the Barolo with the Pork Osso Buco. The posted list shows no prices, so ask what each glass costs and confirm what is open. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
Western Ave · Albany · Mediterranean
Barcelona's bar menu posts more Spanish and Italian range than you might expect, from Rioja Crianza to a $125 Brunello. Try the Albariño at $9 $35 with seafood, or the Juan Gil red blend at $11 $40 if you want something fuller. Most wines show two prices with no unit labels and the page is undated, so confirm which is glass and which is bottle, and today's availability, when you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Roswell · Roswell · American
Canton St. Social is a solid neighborhood restaurant in historic downtown Roswell, and the wine program appears to be built for exactly that — supporting a good night out without overcomplicating things. We don't have enough sourced wine data to tell you what to order, which means your best move is to ask your server what's pouring well that night and go from there. Worth a visit for the food and atmosphere; the wine list is a work in progress as far as our research goes.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American
The Boynton is a great neighborhood spot for a cold beer, a burger, and a game — and that's exactly what it should be. The wine program is along for the ride, not driving the car. If wine matters to you tonight, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the food and the vibe, order a beer and enjoy it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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