Declan Nixon is known as many things in the Irish beer scene. To simply call him a brewer is so beyond the realms of an understatement it’s criminal. Add in adjectives such as alchemist, legend, genius, wizard and gentleman – you’re getting closer to the mark.
If the name doesn’t ring a bell with you, his Otterbank Brewing in Muff, County Donegal might do. And not content with owning and running one of the most respected breweries on the island of Ireland, Declan is now opening Flight, a beer-led restaurant at Strand Road in Derry city centre. If you know the city, it’s the former site of Pyke ‘n’ Pommes.
With the opening of Flight imminent, I caught up with Declan last week amid a flurry of hammers, half opened boxes of beer and unconnected brewing tanks. Despite being up to his eyes with a million things that needed doing, as soon as I walked in, the main man flashed that smile that could cut diamond and began explaining the ethos of Flight.
It’s a beer led-restaurant but alongside that, there’ll be speciality coffees rotating every month, an initial range of 60 whiskies with plans to increase to 100, a super-sized cocktail bar and a new range of fresh, tank-to-tap, brewed-onsite Derry City Brewing Company beers including an IPA, session IPA, pilsner and strawberry sour.
Add to that, 9 taps on the bar which will include Otterbank, Heaney, Tilt & Pour, Beamish, Moretti and a few rotationals. If that doesn’t whet yer whistle, (what the hell is wrong with you?) there will also be fridges stocking a range of Belgian, Irish, gluten free and non-alcoholic beer.
Declan tells me he wants you, the customer, to have a visual experience as soon as you enter the building. Plenty to see, plenty to drink and plenty to eat. Those eats include smash burgers, sharing steaks and modern Irish gastro food.
There are Meet the Maker nights planned before Christmas, with top quality local food and drink being paired and complemented. To start off, expect Mike’s Fancy Cheese, Monto Chocolates and Ardara Distillery – cheese, chocolate and whiskey is an exceptional way to begin anything, eh?
Good luck to all the team. Flight opens fully to the public on Sunday 18th October.
