Beer Bar That Actually Thought About Wine
Old Town Lansing · Lansing · Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Zoobie's, the vibe is unmistakably beer-first — taps everywhere, a crowd that knows what they want, and a wine list that shows up quietly but without embarrassing itself. Seventeen labels isn't ambitious, but it's honest. This isn't a wine destination; it's a gastropub that made a reasonable effort.
The list leans heavily California with detours through Argentina, Spain, New Zealand, and a single Michigan local. You'll find familiar, approachable labels — Banshee, Chronic Cellars, Plungerhead — that play to the crowd without demanding anything of them. There's no real old-world depth to speak of, and the Italy and Spain representation is thin; the Montebuena Rioja is doing all the heavy lifting on that front. Gaps in Burgundy, Rhône, or anything remotely adventurous make it clear no one's losing sleep over the wine program here, but what they've chosen, they've chosen competently.
Fifteen of the seventeen bottles are available by the glass, which is genuinely impressive for a place like this and one of the list's real strengths. Prices run $9 to $14, keeping it accessible for a casual Tuesday dinner without a second thought. There's no visible rotation or seasonal glass program — what you see is what you get, month after month.
Llama Malbec Argentina 2022 — $11/glass, $42/bottle
Llama consistently punches above its price point as a straightforward, fruit-forward Argentine Malbec. At $11 a glass in a gastropub setting, this is the move if you want something drinkable without stress-testing your wallet.
Mawby Sex Dry Rose Michigan NV
L. Mawby is one of Michigan's most serious sparkling wine producers, and their 'Sex' rosé is genuinely fun and made with real craft. Most people at Zoobie's are reaching for a Cab or a Malbec — don't sleep on the one local bottle on the list that actually has a story behind it.
Banshee Cabernet Sauvignon California 2022
At $65 a bottle, Banshee Cab is the priciest thing on the list and retails for around $18-20 at your local shop. That's a steep markup for a solid-but-unremarkable Sonoma County Cab you can grab on the way home for a fraction of the price.
Montebuena Rioja Spain 2020 + Tavern Burger
Rioja's tempranillo-driven earthiness and medium tannins cut through a beefy, well-seasoned burger without overwhelming it — and at a gastropub that takes its kitchen seriously, this is the kind of pairing that makes the whole table smarter.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Zoobie's isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but if you're meeting friends for dinner in Old Town and someone at the table insists on a glass, you won't be stuck with regret. Grab the Malbec or the Mawby rosé, let everyone else argue about the beer list.
Okemos · Lansing · Seafood and American
Real Seafood Company Okemos is a dependable neighborhood anchor where the wine list won't embarrass you or excite you — fair prices and familiar faces make it easy, just don't come expecting discovery. Order the La Marca with the oysters and leave the wine nerd hat at home.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Lansing · Lansing · Casual American / Tex-Mex
Chili's is a perfectly good place to eat a burger and drink a margarita — we mean that sincerely. But if wine is your thing, this list will let you down every single time, and you deserve better than a $8 Barefoot pour.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Lansing · Lansing · Steakhouse / Roadhouse
Logan's Roadhouse in Lansing is here for the steaks and the bucket of peanuts, not the wine. Order a cocktail or a beer, and save your wine ambitions for a restaurant that's saving some for you.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lansing · Lansing · Steakhouse / Grill
Black Rock is here for the sizzling steak theater, and the wine list is clearly an afterthought that nobody's bothered to revisit. Order a cocktail, spring for the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need wine, and save your serious bottle budget for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greater Lansing · Lansing · Steakhouse
Morton's Lansing is a safe, well-executed steakhouse wine list that will satisfy a client dinner without anyone raising an eyebrow — or an eyebrow in excitement. Send a friend here if they want familiar names done properly; send them somewhere else if they want to actually discover something.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Lansing · Lansing · American hotel bistro
This is a wine list for people who aren't really thinking about wine — and that's fine for a hotel lobby bar, but it means you shouldn't be thinking about it either. Order a cocktail, or grab a bottle from a nearby shop and pay the corkage.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Frontera · Round Rock · Gastropub
The Brass Tap Round Rock isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the wine list reflects that with complete honesty. Order the beer, or if you're committed to wine, grab the Oyster Bay and make peace with your surroundings.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Toyota Music Factory / Las Colinas · Irving · Gastropub
Thirsty Lion isn't a wine destination — it's a pre-show pit stop with a decent enough list and markups that won't insult you. Come on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Meiomi at half price, eat a burger, and catch your show. That's the move.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Worcester · Gastropub
Armsby Abbey is not a wine destination — it's a world-class beer bar that stocks a wine list so no one at the table feels left out. Respect it for what it is, lean into the Garnacha or the Prosecco, and spend the rest of your mental energy on the tap list.
Crowd Pleasers
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.