Since our last visit to the wonderful Staggs in Musselburgh the majority of the group have been to Berlin, Prague, Ceske Budejovice, Passau, Nürnberg and München. That was Hector’s Heroic Homecoming, today the feet were itchy again. Nigel was once again challenged by Howard to supply an array of Ale which ticks our boxes. Top of the request list was Magic Rock (Huddersfield) Highwire at a superb 5.5%. This is the Ale that some have been fortunate to sample in Manchester, Staveley and other places that Hector has missed out on. Today, finally.
Ten of us assembled at Glasgow Queen St where First Scotrail are unable to announce the platform a train will depart from until some five minutes or so before its departure. (Deutsche Bahn manage to supply this for every train on every platform in every station in Germany a year in advance.) The Edinburgh Festival is in full swing, the train would be mobbed. Last year we had to stand, not today. It is obvious which train is the Edinburgh train, it is simple to work out that when a train from Edinburgh arrives at Queen St it will leave from the same platform – duuh… We were on the train in a nanosecond after the last passenger alighted. We had seats. Then the sheep came on to the platform, some waited for the next train. Once again the thought of doubling the size of the train at this time of year had not dawned on the railway management. Dozens stood in each carriage, and for how much? Waverley remains a mess, though there are signs of the south side nearing completion.
Hector may well have a downer on the UK rail network, this at a time when DB have confirmed a refund for seven tickets from Nürnberg to Berlin that Hector had to buy when he discovered his tickets were for the wrong day. There’s only one Deutsche Bahn…
Graeme and Dear Katie were at The Staggs to greet us. The Magic Rock was on. Craig, Yvonne, Mark, Howard, Euan, Alan (with new boots) were served with amazing efficiency. Those who took the bus arrived soon after, there was plenty of Ale left for Robin, Jonathan and The Duke of Hamilton. We all had Magic Rock except Alan who quickly devoured Hurricane Jack (Fyne Ales, Cairndow, Argyll and Bute), a 4.4% Light Ale in comparison.
The Magic Rock was everything as it was described to Hector – a very pale, gold colour, full bodied yet deceptively quaffable, hoppy, and so full of citrus the cheeks were sucked in. Superb, this is how the majority of us like our Ale. We had more.
The only break for Hector was a brief re-acquaintance with the aforementioned Hurricane Jack, still very enjoyable and indeed the first Ale that Fyne Ales brewed which made me take note. Another note, Hector has sampled twelve different Ales from Fyne Ales since the turn of the year, this brewery is going places.
The photographs today were minimal. Katie remarked that that if we keep taking photos every time we come through it will simply be a record of her aging. What she worry? She is a long way from the Bus Pass, some of us have one already. Nigel was apparently in a flippant mood this afternoon, the constant ringing of the cash register may have helped.
Ten Chaps and Chapattis though from The West where no single Pub comes anywhere close to supplying this quality of Ale on a consistent basis. Indeed, if we were to graze the board on every Glasgow Pub added together we still wouldn’t come up with the choices available here. As I insist on remarking every time I come through to Musselburgh – Fancy giving the customers what they want, and when they want it.
Today I ventured out back for the first time to see the Bier Garden, pleasant for those who have a nasty habit. Indoors is so healthy these days in comparison.
Late afternoon there was the feeding ritual. Euan appeared first with the classic Fish and Chips. Somehow I ended up with a Chip on my Shoulder, but not for long, Yvonne saw to that.
Mags arrived after her football festivity. Hector has no interest in so-called top flight Scottish Football this season, or for the next two, and heaven forbid maybe longer. The Honourable League shall be my focus of interest instead. At least we were able to watch some quality stuff from Dan Sath.
We leave before the train to Waverley become hourly. We left with dignity, as always.