Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Yard: Sports Bar & Hatchet House
Albany, NY · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
A hatchet house that swings a wide beverage program. Cocktails span signature, rotating, and greenhouse-exclusive lists, from The Lumberjack to The Polar Bear. Beer bucket deals and a deep spirits rail cover the basics, while six-dollar wines and NA mocktails keep the sidelines populated. The bar's own greenhouse exclusives add a distinctive twist.
- What should I order?
- Start with The Campfire, a bourbon cocktail with lemon, maple, ginger beer, and marshmallow garnish, or Berry the Hatchet, blending strawberries with lime, St. Germaine, and tequila. For a lighter sip, the Seasonal Sangria at happy hour is $6. Greenhouse exclusive The Polar Bear offers a coconut-rum option.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Groups splitting a bucket of five beers for $20 will feel at home, as will cocktail drinkers exploring the rotating and greenhouse-exclusive lists. The non-alcoholic mocktails and NA beers also make it easy for designated drivers to join in.
- When should I go?
- Happy hour brings the Seasonal Sangria down to $6, making it a budget-friendly time for cocktails.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $10-$13, wines are $6 a glass, drafts $6-$9, and well spirits $6. Top-shelf pours reach $15. A bucket of five beers costs $20.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The greenhouse-exclusive cocktail menu sets the bar apart, with options like The Polar Bear, Igloo Sue, and Lavender Lush available only there. The hatchet house theme adds a playful, active edge to the drinking experience.
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
Cocktails span signature, rotating, and greenhouse-exclusive menus, with creative ingredients like hibiscus jalapeño syrup and marshmallow garnish. A staff-curated rotation keeps the list fresh, and a Blackberry Margarita has supported a local charity.
Menu strengths
- — Three distinct cocktail lists: signature, rotating, and greenhouse-exclusive, showing range and creativity.
- — Descriptive cocktails like Berry the Hatchet and Complicated Goddess use fresh fruit and house-made syrups.
- — Seasonal and charity features, such as the October Blackberry Margarita, add variety and community ties.
Standout selections
- — The Campfire: bourbon, lemon, maple syrup, ginger beer, and a marshmallow garnish.
- — Berry the Hatchet: blended strawberries with lime, St. Germaine, and tequila.
- — Complicated Goddess: hibiscus jalapeño syrup, pineapple, blood orange liqueur, and tequila.
- — The Polar Bear: coconut rum, blue curacao, Sprite, and orange garnish.
Pricing: $10-$13 signature; $12 greenhouse; $6 happy hour sangria
Wine
A compact wine list covers sparkling, rosé, red, and white, all priced at $6. House Prosecco and Sweet Walter Rosé offer easy-drinking options, while AJ varietals fill out the basics.
Menu strengths
- — Uniform $6 per-glass pricing keeps wine approachable and predictable.
- — Sparkling, rosé, and multiple red and white varietals provide decent range for the price.
Standout selections
- — House Prosecco — 6 — Sparkling wine; Sweet Walter Rosé — 6 — Rosé wine
Pricing: $6 per glass
Beer
A robust beer list spans drafts like Fiddlehead and Ommegang Neon Rainbow IPA, cans from PBR to Switchback, and Nine Pin ciders. The mix-and-match bucket deal is a standout value.
Menu strengths
- — Broad selection covering drafts, cans, bottles, ciders, and ready-to-drink options.
- — Bucket deal allows mixing five beers for $20, encouraging group sharing.
- — Local and regional touches like Fiddlehead and Nine Pin ciders.
Standout selections
- — Ommegang Neon Rainbow IPA (draft); Nine Pin Original cider
Pricing: Draft $6-$9; cans $5-$9; bucket 5 for $20
Nonalcoholic
Non-alcoholic options include mocktail versions of signature cocktails, such as NA Berry The Hatchet and NA Pineapple Margarita, plus NA beers from Brooklyn Brewery and Corona. All are priced affordably.
Menu strengths
- — NA mocktails mirror popular cocktails, letting non-drinkers join the cocktail experience.
- — Five NA beer options, including Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects, provide variety.
- — Low price point of $5-$6 makes NA choices accessible.
Standout selections
- — NA Berry The Hatchet — 6 — Non-alcoholic mocktail
Pricing: Mocktails $6; NA beers $5
Spirits
A deep spirits list spans well, call, and top-shelf tiers, including bourbons like Maker's Mark and Woodford Reserve, tequilas like Patron, and scotches like Lagavulin. Featured Blazin' Vodka adds a cannabis-infused novelty.
Menu strengths
- — Three-tier pricing structure from $6 wells to $15 top-shelf pours.
- — Top-shelf range includes premium bourbons, tequilas, and scotches like Lagavulin.
- — Featured Blazin' Vodka with cannabis aroma and flavor offers a distinctive option.
Standout selections
- — Lagavulin Scotch; Maker's Mark bourbon; Patron Silver tequila
Pricing: Well $6; call $7-$10; top shelf $10-$15
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