Restaurant
Unclaimed profileRiver Birch Lodge
Winston-Salem, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
River Birch Lodge runs a full beverage program: ten signature cocktails, a dedicated martini list, over 40 wines by the glass, up to 16 craft drafts, and a spirits list with premium Scotch and bourbon. A four-option mocktail menu and non-alcoholic beers widen the reach. Cocktails and mocktails are uniformly $14.00, with a $10.00 house martini.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Nashville Reunion, a bourbon, sweet vermouth, maple, and bitters cocktail that balances spirit and sweetness. For a clean gin option, the Birch Gimlet pairs Hendrick's with cucumber and lime. Wine drinkers can explore over 40 by-the-glass pours, including Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone wanting a broad beverage menu with something for every taste. Cocktail enthusiasts can work through ten signatures and a martini list; wine lovers get over 40 by-the-glass options; beer fans find local drafts; and non-drinkers have four craft mocktails plus alcohol-free beer.
- When should I go?
- Tuesday offers a bottle special with half off bottles, making it a value day for beer or wine. Evenings suit sipping cocktails in the cozy bar or a glass of wine on the patio.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails and mocktails are $14.00, with a $10.00 house martini. Wine by the glass runs $9.00 to $26.00; bottles from $27.00 to $350.00. Spirit pours range from $11.00 to $47.00.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The program's breadth is notable: a ten-cocktail signature list plus a separate martini section, over 40 wines by the glass, up to 16 craft drafts including local breweries, and a spirits menu served as 2 oz neat pours over an ice sphere. A dedicated mocktail menu and non-alcoholic beers round it out.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Ten signature cocktails and a separate martini section show range and craft. All cocktails are uniformly priced at $14.00.
Menu strengths
- — Ten signature cocktails with distinct profiles, from bourbon-forward Nashville Reunion to gin-based Birch Gimlet.
- — Dedicated martini section including Nutty Irishman and Lavender Martini, with a $10.00 house martini feature.
- — Creative syrup work appears in the Lodge Mule's kaffir-agave and the Lavender Martini's blueberry syrup.
Standout selections
- — Nashville Reunion: Knob Creek Bourbon, sweet vermouth, maple, bitters, orange peel.
- — Smoky Maple Margarita: Don Julio Blanco, Cointreau, mezcal, maple, lime, cinnamon sugar rim.
- — Lodge Mule: Kill Devil Pecan Rum, Fever Tree Ginger Beer, kaffir-agave syrup, lime.
Pricing: $14.00 each; house martini $10.00
Wine
Over 40 wines by the glass, spanning sparkling, white, red, and dessert categories. Regions include Italy, France, California, and New Zealand. Premium bottles like Dom Perignon and Caymus sit alongside accessible pours.
Menu strengths
- — More than 40 wines available by the glass, an unusually broad by-the-glass program.
- — Deep bottle list ranges from Avissi Prosecco at $27.00 to Dom Perignon at $350.00.
- — Dessert wine section includes Taylor Fladgate 20 Yr Tawny Port and Sandeman Madeira.
Standout selections
- — Dom Perignon Prestige Cuvée, Champagne, France – $350.00 per bottle.
- — Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – $26.00 glass / $135.00 bottle.
- — Taylor Fladgate 20 Yr Tawny Port – $12.00 per 3 oz pour.
Pricing: $9.00–$26.00 by the glass; $27.00–$350.00 per bottle
Beer
Up to 16 craft-brewed drafts include local breweries like Foothills, Wise Man, and Fiddlin' Fish. A gluten-free option is available, as are non-alcoholic beers. A Tuesday bottle special offers value.
Menu strengths
- — Up to 16 craft draft lines, featuring local breweries Foothills Brewing and Wise Man Brewing.
- — Includes gluten-free Armored Cow Brewing Miss Rosie GF Amber Lager.
Standout selections
- — Foothills Brewing Jade IPA – local draft.; Wise Man Brewing Mountain Calling – local draft.
Pricing: Draft and bottle prices not listed
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated craft mocktail menu with four options, each $14.00, using non-alcoholic spirits and house-made syrups. Non-alcoholic beers from Heineken and Guinness are also offered.
Menu strengths
- — Four craft mocktails priced at $14.00, mirroring the cocktail list's creativity.
- — Each mocktail uses non-alcoholic spirits (gin, tequila, whiskey) and house-made syrups.
- — Non-alcoholic beer options include Heineken 0.0 and Guinness 0.0.
Standout selections
- — NA Lavender Blue – non-alcoholic gin, muddled blueberries, lavender syrup, lemon.
- — Hibiscus Agave Mule – non-alcoholic tequila, lime, agave, hibiscus ginger beer.
- — Temperate Berry – non-alcoholic whiskey, housemade sour mix, wildberry, soda.
Pricing: $14.00 each
Spirits
A deep spirits list covering Scotch, bourbon, rye, tequila, rum, and cognac, all served as 2 oz neat pours over an ice sphere. Premium labels like Macallan and Clase Azul sit beside Buffalo Trace and Blanton's.
Menu strengths
- — Categories span Scotch, bourbon, rye, tequila, rum, and cognac, each with multiple labels.
- — All spirits served as 2 oz neat pours over an ice sphere, a consistent presentation.
- — Range includes rare pours like Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Hennessy XO.
Standout selections
- — Blanton's Bourbon – $18.00.; Macallan 12 Year Scotch – $35.00.
- — Clase Azul Reposado Tequila – $36.00.; Hennessy XO Cognac – $47.00.
Pricing: $11.00–$47.00 per 2 oz neat pour
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.