We enjoyed ourselves so much at The Staggs aka The Volunteer Arms on our last visit we promised ourselves a return. Nigel, Mein Host, evidently appreciates all that is currently splendid about British Ale. ‘Tell me when you are next coming through and I’ll get you in whatever you want.’ He knows his customers will also lap up the finest of Ales. We had missed his Festival weekend by one week, unfortunately Hector was in München last weekend.
Howard had been in contact and the man was as good as his word. Ales from Thornbridge (Bakewell, Derbyshire), especially Kipling, have been high on our favourite list for some time. Jaipur has had its day, Thornbridge it appears, can no longer reproduce the tart, grapefruit juice bitterness of yesteryear. Those who were at the Troon Beerfest this year raved about a new release from the Tempest Brewery (Kelso, Scottish Borders). Their Long White Cloud was asked for, unfortunately it could not be guaranteed.
Yvonne had taken on the role of hector today. We were to assemble at Queen St Station at 10.40 for the 11.00 to Edinburgh. Why we were so early was never ascertained. The eight of us purchased two group tickets to Edinburgh. The saving was significant. Not as perfect as a Deutsche Landeskarte, but a start. Our railway companies have much to learn.
?Stan!, Robin and Jonathan took the bus for the last part of the journey to Musselburgh. Mags, Howard, Craig, Yvonne and Hector took the train and rolled down the hill from Musselburgh Station. Somehow, despite taking an hour, we arrived first.
Hector was first at the bar: ‘ A pint of Long White Cloud please.’ Four more were poured. The rearguard arrived, only ?Stan! opted for something different, he had the very last pint of Oakham’s JHB. Normally Robin and Hector would start the day on something less demanding. The Tempest Ale at 5.6% is a good way to get the party off to a fine start. For Mags, Jonathan and myself, this was our first experience of this much talked about Ale. It is not too shabby.
Tempest’s Long White Cloud – an excellent Ale!
Craig held his glass up to the light. The yellow nectar looked perfect. ‘This is excellent!’ he exclaimed. I was disinclined to agree, ‘Its all right I suppose.’ was my reply. The Long White Cloud is a truly superb ale. The powerful citrus is perfectly balanced by the dry hops. This is a Bier brewed exactly to our requirements. ‘This Bier is excellent!’ Craig assured us once again.
Craig had not finished his first pint when he mooted the possibility of relocating our group to Leith.
Hector had to question this. ‘Surely we are going nowhere until this ‘Excellent Ale’ is finished?’
Craig I believe was missing Kipling, I think. A few moments later Craig was once again extolling the virtues of the Long White Cloud. Once the second pint arrived there was another reason to remark on the excellence of the Ale. Indeed, we were soon in double figures now, I was running out of toes. We think Craig liked the Bier? We had some more, just for quality control purposes.
‘This has always been my favourite Bier.’ I announced just to see if Craig still thought the Long White Cloud to be less than excellent.
Craig is in Heaven
‘I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.’ so Craig decided to inform us. This must have been something to do with the Ale being excellent, so he told us again.
Mein Host, Nigel appeared. He told us he had put Kipling on the previous evening and it had ‘evaporated’. There was another in the cellar which would go on later. It soon made its appearance. Hector made a complaint: ‘We are all too happy.’
Currently on offer: Long White Cloud and Kipling. The Jaipur has not even rated a mention!
Another Ale was announced, Oakham’s Citra. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire). At 4.2% this Ale packs as much flavour as most Ales in the 5+% range. Once the sublimely excellent Long White Cloud had been polished off this was the obvious replacement, except for those who moved on to Kipling. Given the photographic record, this flew out the tap…
The locals were by now engaging us in conversation when we took the required rest breaks. They were loving the range on offer too and could not believe that there was not a single pub in Glasgow who can can supply their customers to this level of satisfaction.
The new battle-cry
‘We must come through here once a month!’ Craig announced with his customary conviction.
It would be difficult to decide if the number of times the excellence of the Bier was announced matched the intensity of the desire to make our trips to Musselburgh a monthly event.
Hector has not been to Leith in some ten years. Whatever happened to Leith?
The time was coming for us to take our leave. The afternoon had been perfect, sorry, excellent.
The final service
As we stood up a new Ale was presented: Dark Star’s American Pale Ale (Partridge, West Sussex). This is yet another Ale on our current jungle drums list. Why did we go through to Musselburgh so early? The party was really getting under way.
It was a very relaxing journey back to Glasgow. Craig, Yvonne, Mags and Howard caught an earlier train. Howard had to make a speech. Good luck. I had to wait with the other ticket for the bus crew. Robin went straight home, ?Stan! headed west with Jonathan and Hector to Partick. ?Stan! Went to the Three Judges, Jonathan and Hector made a long overdue return to Papa Gill’s for a Curry-Heute.
By default, the first Glasgow pub to be mentioned in these humble pages is The Three Judges. With nine Ales on offer it was a typical scene, nothing much to choose from. I selected the best of a bad bunch and waited for Marg who fortunately arrived soon from her own Saturday rituals.
Musselburgh, once a month? Excellent!
The Pubs Visited today:
The Staggs – Volunteer Arms – 81 North High Street, Musselburgh, Scotland EH21 6JE
The Three Judges – 141 Dumbarton Road, G11 6PR