Great Beer, Wine Clearly An Afterthought
Downtown · Columbus · American Brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Gordon Biersch feels like it was built by someone who Googled 'popular California wines' and stopped there. It's short, safe, and clearly not the point — the beers are the draw here, and the wine section knows it. Nothing on this list is going to make you put down your Märzen.
Fifteen-plus labels sounds like a start, but when the entire list is California-only and anchored by names like Canyon Road and Murphy-Goode, you're not looking at a wine program — you're looking at a grocery store shelf with a restaurant markup. There's no old-world representation, no interesting producers, and zero evidence that anyone curating this list has strong opinions about wine. Black Stallion and La Crema are perfectly drinkable, but they're also the wine equivalent of a chain hotel breakfast — reliable, forgettable, and priced just a little higher than it should be.
Ten-plus by-the-glass options sounds generous until you realize they're all pulling from the same shallow California pool. At $12–$14 a glass, you're paying mid-tier restaurant prices for entry-level supermarket juice. There's no rotation, no seasonal thinking, and no sense that anyone is actively tending this program.
La Crema Chardonnay, Monterey — $14/glass
La Crema is a legitimate producer and Monterey Chardonnay is a step above the rest of the list — less oak-bombed than Napa, more food-friendly. It's still priced high for what it is, but it's the most credible glass on the menu.
Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma
Most people here are drinking lagers, which means this Sauvignon Blanc sits largely ignored. Sonoma SB tends to be crisper and brighter than the Chardonnays dominating this list — it's a better call with lighter dishes and probably the most refreshing thing they're pouring.
Z Alexander Brown Cabernet Sauvignon, California
A catch-all California Cab at brewpub prices is exactly as uninspiring as it sounds. Z Alexander Brown is a mass-market brand, and you're paying a significant markup over retail for the privilege of drinking it in a loud dining room. Order a Märzen instead.
Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma + Garlic Fries
The bright acidity in a Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the richness of Gordon Biersch's famous garlic fries better than anything else on this list. It won't change your life, but it's the most functional wine-food matchup they've got going.
The Bottom Line
Gordon Biersch is a beer destination — full stop. The wine list exists to check a box, not to excite anyone, and the pricing doesn't do it any favors. Come for the lagers, and if you must have wine, keep your expectations as low as the list's ambition.
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Surprising Depth
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · Spanish, Catalan
Barcelona has been earning its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2005, and the list holds up — serious Spanish producers, fair prices, and enough glass pours to drink well across a full tapas spread. For Columbus, this is genuinely the best Spanish wine program in the room.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Columbus · Columbus · French, Seasonal
The Refectory has been doing this quietly and correctly since 2003, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence held that long doesn't happen by accident. If you're in Columbus and serious about wine, this is the room — full stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Easton Town Center · Columbus · Steak House
Mastro's Columbus is a trophy-wine steakhouse doing what trophy-wine steakhouses do — and doing it well enough to earn a Wine Spectator credential in its first year. If you're celebrating something, drinking California cab with a great steak, and not particularly interested in venturing off the map, this list will absolutely deliver.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · American, Asian
Agni is the best wine list in Columbus most people haven't had a reason to talk about yet — until now. With two sommeliers, a 300–500 bottle program, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence already in its first year, send your friends here and tell them to skip the Caymus.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Old Steese Highway North · Fairbanks · American Brewpub
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Massachusetts Street · Lawrence · American Brewpub
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newberry Road / Oaks Mall · Gainesville · American Brewpub
BJ's is a brewhouse, full stop — the wine program is an afterthought wearing a price tag. Come for the beer, stay for the Pizookie, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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