Buffalo Wild Wings offers a broad drink menu designed to support its wings-and-TV dining concept, with an emphasis on beers on tap and in bottles, a rotating selection of cocktails, and standard soft drinks, coffee, and tea options. The menu is structured around beer, craft cocktails, wines, and nonalcoholic choices, though exact offerings vary by location due to regional alcohol regulations and franchise discretion. Guests can generally expect mainstream lagers and ales, flavored malt beverages, and a modest bar lineup that often includes a classic margarita, beer-based cocktails, and simple highballs. Below is a detailed breakdown of what drinks are commonly available and how to think about ordering them.
Core Drink Categories at Buffalo Wild Wings
The menu is organized into a few predictable buckets: beer, craft cocktails, simplified bar classics, wines and coolers, and nonalcoholic drinks. This structure makes it straightforward to anticipate what you will find regardless of which location you visit, while understanding that availability is always location-dependent.
Beer and Draft Options
Buffalo Wild Wings typically features several taps offering a mix of national and regional beers, with an emphasis on easily recognizable brands for broad appeal. Common draft choices often include a light lager, an amber or pale ale, and sometimes a wheat beer or a seasonal option. Bottled selections expand the range further, including familiar mass-market and value-oriented brands across several flavor profiles. The focus is on accessibility and speed of service rather than rare or small-batch offerings, aligning with the venue’s casual, high-turnover model.
Standard Cocktails and Bar Specials
The cocktail menu is usually concise and built for efficiency, featuring a handful of well-known drinks that are quick to prepare. You will generally find a classic margarita (on the rocks and frozen), a basic piña colada, a daiquiri, and one or two beer-based mixed drinks such as a hard iced tea or a lemon drop. Seasonal or rotating specials may appear from time to time, but they are not always available nationwide. These cocktails are designed to pair with the wings and fries experience rather than to showcase mixology, so flavors tend to be sweet and approachable.
Wine, Cooler, and Low-ABV Choices
Wine offerings are typically limited to a few varietals—often a chardonnay, a merlot, and a rosé—available by the glass or bottle in regions where wine licenses are permitted. Similarly, coolers and low-ABV flavored malt beverages are frequently on tap or in fridges, giving guests lighter alternatives if they prefer something less potent. These options help the menu serve a wider range of preferences without complicating operations.
Soft Drinks, Coffee, and Tea
Nonalcoholic options are extensive and focused on convenience, featuring fountain soft drinks in multiple sizes, bottled waters, and basic coffee and tea service. Iced tea is often unsweetened by default, with sweet tea available as an option in many locations, reflecting the chain’s broad-audience approach. Diet, caffeine-free, and lemonades are generally available, though the depth of the cooler lineup can differ by market.
Menu Variation Across Locations
Because Buffalo Wild Wings is a franchise model, drink menus are not identical in every market. State and local alcohol laws, as well as individual franchisee decisions, influence whether wine is served, which beers are tapped, and whether certain cocktails are offered. Some locations may emphasize beer selections, while others highlight margaritas or specialty drinks. Checking the in-store menu or the brand’s digital platforms is the most reliable way to confirm what is available at a specific site.
Dietary and Pricing Considerations
For guests with dietary preferences, alcoholic drinks at Buffalo Wild Wings are generally not certified gluten-free due to shared equipment and serving environments, though some beers may be naturally gluten-free in ingredient profile. Sugar-conscious guests can opt for light beer, select cocktails made with diet mixers when available, or choose unsweetened iced tea and soft drinks. Pricing follows bar averages for the casual dining segment, with draft pours and well cocktails positioned as affordable add-ons to an order of wings and fries. These attributes make the menu suitable for groups with varied expectations around taste, budget, and moderation.
Quick Reference: Typical Drink Menu At a Glance
| Category | Typical Item Examples | Availability Note |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (Draft) | Light lager, amber ale, wheat | Common at most locations; brands vary |
| Beer (Bottled) | Mass-market and value brands, flavored malt beverages | Wide selection, location-dependent |
| Craft Cocktails | Classic margarita, piña colada, daiquiri, lemon drop | Often available; some may be seasonal |
| Wine | Chardonnay, merlot, rosé (by the glass) | Region-dependent; not offered in all markets |
| Nonalcoholic | Iced tea, soft drinks, coffee, tea, bottled water | Generally available everywhere |
How to Make the Most of the Menu
To navigate the menu efficiently, start by deciding whether you want beer, a crafted cocktail, or a simple highball, then confirm availability at your specific location. If wings are the main event, a light lager or a citrus-forward cocktail often cuts through richness nicely. For a crowd, ordering a mix of beer and one or two shared cocktails can cover different preferences without overcomplicating the order. Because the menu is designed for speed and familiarity, focusing on a few tried-and-true combinations usually yields the best experience.
Bottom Line on Buffalo Wild Wings Drinks
Buffalo Wild Wings provides a dependable, midscale drink menu centered on beer, straightforward cocktails, and reliable nonalcoholic choices. It is optimized for convenience, group dining, and fast service rather than for rare ingredients or intricate techniques. While exact selections vary by location, the core categories remain consistent, making it easy to know what to expect and how to order with confidence the next time you visit.