Alaska's Friendliest Beer Bar Has Wine Too
Old Steese Highway North · Fairbanks · American Brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Banks Alehouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Let's be clear: The Banks Alehouse is a beer bar first, second, and third. The wine list feels like it was assembled to make sure nobody at the table feels left out — and honestly, that's fine. At $8–$10 a glass, nobody's getting gouged in the process.
The list runs 16-20 options and sticks firmly to the greatest hits of approachable American wine retail. California and Washington carry the bulk of the weight, with a cameo from France via a Pouilly-Fuissé that has absolutely no business being this interesting on a brewpub menu. Argentina shows up through what is almost certainly a Kaiken Malbec, which adds a small flash of global personality. Don't come here hunting for grower Champagne or anything aged — this is a functional list built for burgers and cold weather comfort, not cellar exploration.
The entire list appears to be poured by the glass, which is actually the right move for a place where most people are on their second IPA before they glance at the wine section. Around 16-20 options at $8–$10 is a fair spread for Fairbanks — this isn't a city drowning in wine bars. Rotation doesn't seem to be a priority; what you see is what you get, visit after visit.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling — $8
Charles Smith's Kung Fu Girl is a legitimately well-made Washington Riesling — bright, a touch off-dry, high acid — and at $8 a glass in a Fairbanks alehouse, it's punching well above its surroundings. Order it with something spicy off the menu and you'll be quietly pleased with yourself.
Pouilly-Fuissé
A white Burgundy on a brewpub wine list in interior Alaska is genuinely unexpected. Most people will walk right past it for something familiar, but Pouilly-Fuissé — with its creamy texture and Chardonnay restraint — is the most interesting pour on the menu. Worth the ask.
Woodwork Cabernet Sauvignon
The house Cab is fine in the way that tap water is fine — it does the job and costs you nothing emotionally. But Woodwork is a value-tier label positioned as the path of least resistance, and with Joel Gott 815 or the Cante Ridge Expedition Cab on the same menu for presumably the same price range, there's no reason to default to the house pour.
Kaiken Malbec + Gourmet Burger
Kaiken's Malbec brings dark fruit and enough structure to stand up to a juicy, char-edged brewpub burger without overwhelming it. Argentina and beef have a long history together for a reason, and it holds up even at this latitude.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Banks Alehouse isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't need to be — it's a dependable neighborhood alehouse where the wine list exists as a honest backup plan. If you're eating here and skipping the craft beer entirely, the Pouilly-Fuissé and Kung Fu Girl give you more to work with than you'd expect.
Chena River / University West · Fairbanks · American
The Edgewater isn't a destination for wine lovers, but it's a fair, no-nonsense list that doesn't punish you for being stuck at a resort. In Fairbanks, that's genuinely worth acknowledging.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Outside Fairbanks / Yukon Quest Trail · Fairbanks · New American
Borealis Basecamp deserves credit for maintaining a 51-bottle list this far off the grid, and the recognizable names will keep most guests happy. But the markups are steep, the list plays it safe, and the program feels like it was assembled to impress rather than to excite — if you're here for the aurora, order wine and enjoy the view; if you're here for the wine, temper your expectations.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Airport / Chena River · Fairbanks · Steakhouse
The Red Lantern is a perfectly nice place to eat a steak while watching the Chena River do its thing — but the wine list is purely functional, overpriced for what it is, and completely uncurious. Drink the cocktails, or bring your own bottle if corkage allows.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pioneer Park / Downtown · Fairbanks · American
Come for the salmon — it's the real reason anyone's here — and don't overthink the wine list. Grab the J Lohr or the Angeline, enjoy the Alaskan summer light, and save your serious wine energy for a different restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Fairbanks · Fine Cuban and Latin/Latino cuisine with tapas influences
Jazz Bistro On 4th is a genuinely charming spot that gets almost everything right except the wine list, which reads like it was assembled in ten minutes from a distributor's bargain shelf. Come for the music, the food, and maybe a cocktail — and hope they eventually hire someone to build a wine program worthy of the room.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pioneer Park / Downtown · Fairbanks · Alaskan Buffet & Grill
The Salmon Bake isn't a wine destination and never claimed to be — but fair prices, nearly everything available by the glass, and a list that at least covers its bases make it easy enough to drink well alongside some genuinely great fish. Come for the salmon, order the Pinot Noir, don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Massachusetts Street · Lawrence · American Brewpub
Free State is a Kansas institution and one of the best craft beer experiences in the Midwest — come for the beer, stay for the burger, and leave the wine to someone else. The list is fine in the way a gas station sandwich is fine: it exists, it won't hurt you, but it's not why you're here.
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
Downtown Jackson · Jackson Hole · American Brewpub
Come here for the craft beer — seriously, that's the move. If your table insists on wine, the Santa Margherita won't embarrass anyone, but there's no version of this wine list that earns a recommendation on its own merits.
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.