Summertime is a tough time here in Texas.  The sun outside glares angrily and punches us in the face repeatedly with a burning iron.  Walk outside to get the mail and come back looking like you were tossed in a pool.  It's hot outside.  We're also in a drought, so there is little respite.  During the heat of the day, it's best to hole up somewhere dark that has air conditioning.

Luckily, the summer movie season is upon us and there is no lack of blockbusters this year.  Movies like Star Trek, Up!, Drag Me to Hell and The Hangover have gathered rave reviews and even less critically acclaimed blockbusters like Transformers 2 and Terminator Salvation are completely fun distractions.  The summer movie season is also the time where the studios throw out extraordinary amounts of money into terrible projects since people will still come out in droves to the cinema to escape the heat.  I’ve actually enjoyed seeing overhyped movies that disappoint, as long as I go in to them knowing that they will.  It’s like the old skit, “Lowered Expectations.”  When you look at this summer’s flops, a certain recent remake of a silly 70s show comes to mind.  Still, there are lots of good and a few truly great movies out today.  What’s better than a tub of hot buttered popcorn and a cold soda while checking out a movie on the big screen?  Well, if you’re reading this, we both know the answer:  beer.

There’s a fantastic trend taking place throughout the US:  Drafthouse cinemas are providing the movie-going public with a whole new way to take in the summer blockbuster.  Many of these theatres are serving beer, so we can watch the newest cinematic innovations while sipping our favorite beverage.  Some of these drafthouse cinemas have taken the additional step of adapting the theater to include a railing to set your food and drinks on and allow room for waiters and waitresses to slip silently among us during the movie.  They’ve essentially removed every other row of seats in a banked theatre.  To order, we just write what we want on a piece of paper and place it on the ledge where the server can see it.  They slip by, pick up the order and return with drinks and food.  It’s a slick setup.

I decided to check out one of these theatres firsthand:  the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in downtown Austin, TX.  The Alamo Drafthouse is a famous for their exquisite menu, ample beer selection, and unique movie-related events.  The menu here is created by Executive Chef Trish Eichelberger, and includes custom culinary creations for each movie. 

Some of the unique events shown at the Alamo Drafthouse are quote-alongs sing-alongs and Master Pancake.  At quote-alongs, the audience is actually encouraged to shout out their mastery of the script.  We’ve all seen Caddyshack or Airplane! hundreds of times and this venue gives the chance to let the quotes fly.  Master Pancake Theatre is an event designed after the old MST3K tv show, a cult hit.  During Master Pancake, movies are openly criticized by comedians in front of and among the audience, who revel in pointing out the humorous flaws and fallacies of movies like Rocky IV or Sixth Sense.    

The Alamo also hosts movie-specific events, like a showing an outdoor version of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure where everyone rides bikes in to watch and Team America:  World Police (culminating with a march down Austin’s 6th street on the 4th of July singing the theme song, “America, F@ck Yeah!”  Mondays are music nights and anything from The Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus (one of my personal favorites flicks of all time) to Bjork’s Voltaic draw packed crowds from the music-loving Austinites.  The Alamo is also famed for hosting the World Air Sex championships, which is worth mentioning, but probably merits its own column.

In May, Star Trek premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse to a surprised audience expecting a Star Trek II, The Wrath of Kahn showing.  Instead, Leonard Nimoy stood up from his seat among the crowd and produced a canister containing the then unreleased new Star Trek movie.  The crowd was delighted at the switch, by Nimoy’s presence, and by being the first to see the new movie.  Granted, these were pretty diehard Trekkies, but it was a stunning event for the audience. 

So I went to check out Star Trek here.  Why not go to the source?  It was a breeze to get in and grab a beer while purchasing tickets or waiting in line.  Once in the theatre, it’s easy to order from the menu and the servers are responsive.  Chef Eichelberger’s menu for Star Trek included Klingon Blood Wine (sangria with Grand Marnier), Plomeek Soup (rich carrot-parsnip curry soup wih multi-seeded “Vulcan bread”), and Kirk’s Iowa Ego Booster (flat grilled 10 oz T-bone with caramelized mushrooms, shallots, roasted corn and McCoy’s bourbon baked beans).  I settled on the Roasted Turkey sandwich, served with havarti, rosemary aioli, field greens, red onions and tomatoes on ciabatta (which turned out to be an excellent choice – not just delicious, but easy to eat and still watch the movie) and washed it down with a few Rogue Dead Guy Ales and Arrogant Bastard Ales.

I hate watching movies in a crowded theatre and hearing people talk around me.  It’s a pet peeve of mine and I went into this expecting to be frustrated.  Sure enough, a loud-mouthed jerk sat two seats over for me.  It was the guy who thinks he knows everything about the previews and wanted everyone in the theatre to know it.  However, just before the movie started, he shut up on cue and I was able to focus on the movie in pleasant quiet. I had been concerned about the design of the theatre interfering with the ability to enjoy the movie, but those concerns faded away when the house lights fell.  The movie was great fun and the delicious beer and food made for a perfection combination.

The Drafthouse is a blast, but it’s the hard working employees who make it such a success.  It’s easy to tell when people are passionate about what they do and being around passionate individuals enhances the experience.  The folks behind the scenes at the Alamo Drafthouse are passionate about movies, food, and beer. 

Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX provides 18 beers on draft, brought to you by a server with a smile throughout the movie including:

512 Pale
Ace Pear Cider
Anchor Steam
Arrogant Bastard
Austin Amber
Bass Ale
Dos Equis Special Lager
Drafthouse ESB
Guiness
Hoegaarden
Independence Bootlegger Brown
Lagunitas IPA
Live Oak Big Bark
Live Oak HefeweizenDrafthouse Taps
Magic Hat #9
Real Ale Fireman’s #4
Shiner Bock
Stella Artois

Bottled beers include:
Amstel Light
Blue Moon Wheat
Bud Light
Corona
Full Session Lager
Lindeman’s Framboise
Lone Star
Miller Lite
Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale
Negra Modelo
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Stone Pale Ale
Tecate (in cans)

If only every theatre served such excellent beers!  The Alamo is currently showing The Hangover, but the upcoming Bruno presents some wild combinations on the menu.  Take a look at this pdf of a recent July menu.  So the Alamo Drafthouse isn’t just a movie theatre; it’s an event.  Come prepared to join in on the fun (and keep out of the summer heat)! 

Raise your glass to theatres bold enough to pour us a frosty one in the dark!

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

320 E. 6th St.

Austin, TX 78701

(512) 476-1320

Cheers,

T. Dodson

tdodson@beerconnoisseur.com

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