Watch a great flick, drink a cold craft beer. These theaters unite two of life’s best activities—but please, no beer-reviewing during the movie.
by Jenny Adams
FLIX BREWHOUSE | Round Rock, Texas
At brewery-movie theater Flix, would-be Siskels watch first-run films and sip from six beers brewed on-premise (or 40 other drafts). The food’s also thumbs up: Try fired-to-order pizzas or entrees like Louisiana-style mac ’n’ cheese with sautéed crawfish. KICK BACK: As if beer brewed behind the big screen wasn’t enough, six dine-in auditoriums are filled with luxe seating that features glide-out tables and tiny buttons to silently summon servers. DRINK: One of Hale’s and Great Divide alum Justin Rizza’s creations, like Satellite Ale, a dark amber brewed with Belgian yeast.
THE LIVINGROOM THEATER | Portland, Ore.
Craft beer flows as freely at Portland theaters as fake butter does at the megaplex, but we like Livingroom’s selection: On the screens, there’s a mix of mainstream, arthouse and foreign films; on the taps, it’s the best of Oakshire, Hopworks, Ninkasi and more. KICK BACK: Six small screening rooms boast extra-wide chairs for loungers and table-and-chair setups for eaters. The sleek, artfully paneled bar (and outdoor café, when it’s warm) rivals the coolest cocktail bars out there. DRINK: A pint of Desolation IPA from the local brew-geniuses at Amnesia Brewing.
ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE | Kalamazoo, Mich.
The craft beer cinema that started it all opened its newest location in Kalamazoo, where Bell’s was born. The theater has current releases on 10 big screens, 32 taps (19 of them local), and all the charm of the Austin, Texas, original. KICK BACK: Beer-savvy servers bring your pint and your dinner to your chair. And you’ll never be distracted by blips and blinks: Alamo’s strict no cell phone policy is so ironclad, even Madonna got banned for texting. DRINK: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, or Red Beard’s Imperial Red from Latitude 42 Brewing in nearby Portage.
NITEHAWK CINEMA | Brooklyn, N.Y.
Leave it to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to create a place where you can beer-geek-out over reshowings of classics like “Star Wars” and “Army of Darkness” (plus current indies and blockbusters, too). KICK BACK: Ultracomfy seats for the show have tiny, fold-out personal tables for brews and munchies like truffle popcorn. There are two bars; the downstairs one turns into a high-energy hot spot after the credits roll thanks to bumpin’ music and cheap drinks. DRINK: Something from Brooklyn Brewing: Radius or—if you’re lucky—one of the brewery’s Pilot Series beers.
