New Flix Brewhouse offers dinner and a show

Cutline: Flix Brewhouse brings dinner and a movie in a one-stop shop to Merle Hay Mall.

How many times have you gone out on a date with your partner only to argue about where to get dinner and whose turn it is to pick the movie? Flix Brewhouse is eliminating at least the first problem with Iowa’s first movie theater to incorporate a fully functioning microbrewery and restaurant into its services.

Flix Brewhouse brings dinner and a movie in a one-stop shop to Merle Hay Mall.

Flix opened its eight theaters to the public on Dec. 17, 2014. The theaters consist of wall-to-wall curved screens for optimal viewing for both regular and 3D movies. Stadium seating allows for cushy chairs with higher backs — all the better for settling in to watch a long movie. Moveable tables add the finishing touch.

The theater brews nine of its own beers at the microbrewery, but it also offers 38 draft options, wine and a variety of non-alcoholic specialty drinks. The food menu resembles that of a sports bar (and prices to match), with classic appetizers like spicy fried pickles, and more cinema-inspired options like hot buttered popcorn and gourmet flavored popcorn — gourmet flavors include loaded baked potato, buffalo bleu cheese and cinnamon roll.

For the main course, choose from salads, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and a several other entrees. And if two courses isn’t enough, Flix also has a sizeable dessert menu, which includes pie, fried ice cream, cookies and build-your-own shakes.

It’s the perfect solution if you’re heading to a movie after work and don’t have the time to sit through dinner and a 2.5-hour movie. And the experience allows visitors to feel more relaxed, as if they’re watching a brand new movie from the comfort of their own home. Admittedly, this might cause a problem for those audiences who tend to get sleepy after a big meal or a drink — that’s one expensive nap.

The servers weaving in and out of theaters to check on their tables might get a little distracting, but the convenience of never actually having to leave the movie to refill the popcorn bowl will likely make any minor distractions worth it. There is also a call button at each table to quietly call for service without disrupting the rest of the theater’s viewing experience.

Like a regular bar, Flix Brewhouse offers specials on certain nights, including Made in Iowa Mondays, where all pints of Iowa beers are $3, and Pick Your Pint Tuesday, when the six Core Flix Brewhouse beers are $2.

Visitors will soon be able to tour the Flix brewery during sessions of Beer 101, which offers guests a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes, a tour featuring the making of one of the beers, a food and beer pairing session and four 12-ounce pours. Tour guests will also take home goodies.

The brewery is led by Mike Gauthier, who has been part of the Midwest craft beer scene for 15 years and was most recently part of El Bait Shop’s management team. Flix’s signature beers include the Saison de Walt, Satellite Red Ale, Lupulus IPA, Luna Rosa Wit, Flix Golden Ale, 10 Day Scottish Ale and Beer of the Dead.

The Flix Mix lobby bar and café is open every day to the public, even without a ticket.

Flix Brewhouse
Merle Hay Mall
3800 Merle Hay Road
Des Moines
515-612-9200
http://www.flixbrewhouse.com/des-moines