Restaurant
Unclaimed profileSt. Burch Tavern
Iowa City, IA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
St. Burch Tavern runs a beverage program with unusual reach for a restaurant. The cocktail list alone carries 11 classics and 10 craft drinks, priced $10-$15, plus a separate brunch roster of Bloody Mary variations and spritzes. Wine by the glass spans 13 selections across bubbles, rosé, white, and red, with bottles from $38 to $90. Seven craft drafts lean on Iowa breweries, and four zero-proof cocktails cost $6 each. Daily happy hour discounts select wine, draft beer, and craft cocktails.
- What should I order?
- Start with the El Camino, a craft cocktail built on mezcal, Drambuie, sweet vermouth, cynar, and a hazelnut and tobacco mist, priced $15. For a classic, the Manhattan uses rye, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters at $14. At brunch, the Burch Bloody Mary comes with housemade mix, vodka, pickle, olive, cheese curd, shrimp, and celery for $14.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone who wants a full bar program without choosing between classics and modern drinks. The list accommodates groups ordering rounds of Manhattans or French 75s alongside craft options like the Sakura or El Camino. Beer drinkers find Iowa drafts, and non-drinkers get four zero-proof cocktails rather than a single token option.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour runs every day with discounts on select wine, draft beer, and craft cocktails. Brunch brings a dedicated cocktail menu with Bloody Mary variations and spritzes. The regular cocktail and wine lists are available beyond those windows.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Classic cocktails are $10-$15, craft cocktails $11-$15, and brunch cocktails $9-$65 depending on format. Wine by the glass runs $9-$15, bottles $38-$90. Draft beer is $6-$9, bottles and cans $4-$6. Zero-proof cocktails are $6 each.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail list separates 11 classics from 10 craft drinks, then adds a brunch-specific roster with Bloody Mary variations and spritzes. Happy hour runs every day across wine, draft beer, and craft cocktails. The beer list favors Iowa breweries, and the zero-proof section offers four dedicated cocktails rather than a single afterthought.
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
A deep list split between 11 classics and 10 craft drinks, plus a separate brunch menu of Bloody Mary variations and spritzes. Daily happy hour discounts craft cocktails. Prices stay in the $10-$15 range for the core lists, with brunch formats running higher.
Menu strengths
- — 11 classic cocktails and 10 craft cocktails give the list unusual range for a restaurant program.
- — A dedicated brunch cocktail menu adds Bloody Mary variations and spritzes beyond the standard list.
- — Daily happy hour offers discounts on craft cocktails.
Standout selections
- — El Camino: mezcal, Drambuie, sweet vermouth, cynar, hazelnut and tobacco mist, $15.
- — Nitro Espresso Martini: vodka, espresso, cynar, kahlua, $14.
- — Burch Bloody Mary: housemade mix, vodka, pickle, olive, cheese curd, shrimp, celery, $14.
- — The Quartermaster: housemade Bloody Mary mix, vodka, pickle, olive, cheese curd, shrimp, celery, lobster claw, oyster, Easy Eddy beer back, $23.
Pricing: Classic cocktails $10-$15; craft cocktails $11-$15; brunch cocktails $9-$65
Wine
13 wines by the glass cover bubbles, rosé, white, and red, with bottles spanning the same range. Prices run $9-$15 by the glass and $38-$90 by the bottle. Daily happy hour discounts select wine. The list draws from Italy, New Zealand, Washington, Argentina, Spain, and California.
Menu strengths
- — 13 by-the-glass selections across bubbles, rosé, white, and red.
- — Bottle list covers red, white, sparkling, and rosé from $38 to $90.
- — Daily happy hour offers discounts on select wine.
Standout selections
- — Ruffino Pinot Grigio, Italy 2022, $10.50 by the glass or $45 by the bottle.
- — Stolpman Grenache/Syrah/Sangiovese, Ballard Canyon, CA 2018, $64 by the bottle.
- — Chandon Champagne Brut, Napa Valley, CA, $61 by the bottle.
- — Segura Viudas Cava Brut, Spain, $9 by the glass or $38 by the bottle.
Pricing: Glass $9-$15; bottles $38-$90
Beer
Seven craft drafts emphasize Iowa and regional breweries, with Confluence, Big Grove, and Field Day represented. The bottle and can list adds domestic lagers and an Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic option. Draft beers run $6-$9, bottles and cans $4-$6. Happy hour discounts select draft beer.
Menu strengths
- — Seven craft drafts from Iowa and regional breweries, including Confluence, Big Grove, and Field Day.
- — Bottle and can list spans domestic lagers and includes a non-alcoholic option.
- — Daily happy hour offers discounts on select draft beer.
Standout selections
- — Confluence Extinction Event, New England Hazy IPA, 6.2%, Des Moines, IA, $9.
- — Big Grove Easy Eddy, Hazy IPA, 6%, IA, $8.
- — Field Day Dark Czech, Lager, 4.6%, North Liberty, IA, $7.
Pricing: Draft $6-$9; bottles and cans $4-$6
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated zero-proof cocktail section lists Baya, Jalapeno Fresco, Nimbus, and Luna Rosa at $6 each. Soft drinks include Pepsi products, Millstream soda, iced black tea, Council Oak coffee, and Rishi tea. Athletic Brewing Mexican-Style Copper non-alcoholic beer is also available.
Menu strengths
- — Four dedicated zero-proof cocktails, each priced at $6.
- — Soft drink, tea, and coffee options include Millstream soda, Council Oak coffee, and Rishi tea.
Standout selections
- — Baya: berry simple, tonic, lemon, raspberries, $6.; Jalapeno Fresco: jalapeno, simple, lime, mint, soda, $6.
- — Nimbus: cucumber simple, lime, mint, ginger beer, $6.
- — Luna Rosa: cucumber syrup, lemon, cranberry, thyme, $6.
Pricing: Zero-proof cocktails $6 each
How it sits with the food
The Quartermaster Bloody Mary includes a lobster claw, oyster, and Easy Eddy beer back, making it a substantial brunch order on its own. The Burch Bloody Mary adds shrimp and cheese curd to the mix. These are the only food-adjacent details supported for pairing context.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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.