Musselburgh – The Staggs – POTY

Today was another in the regular monthly visits to the Staggs in Musselburgh by The Weegies as were are called locally, or The Company as Hector prefers. It was also the Edinburgh CAMRA Branch’s AGM. Hopefully they would not be hypnotised by Hanging Baskets and would award Nigel, Mein Host in the Staggs, his rightful prize. It is about time the Glasgow Branch of CAMRA was able to make an Official Award this far east, we did present an informal one a couple of months back. This is on display behind the gantry.  POTY outside Our Area?

Five arrived by Train and Taxi Andy (Farewell, Rab, enjoy your retirement!), The Faither came later by Bus. Hugh and Willie were already in situ, the start of a Crawl. How could they leave? Look at The Board!
Neil and Hector kicked off with Bishops’s Farewell (Oakham, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire) at 4.7%. Dry, Blond and Hoppy, in – The Style – favoured by both The Company and Mein Host who always has an array of the Finest Pale, Hoppy Ales. White Light at 4.7% (Tempest, Scottish Borders) has been enjoyed on these premises previously. The Little Brother of Long White Cloud and featuring New Zealand Hops, this had to be revisited. On our last visit to Staggs it was suggested that Long White Cloud was returning towards the magnificent standard achieved some three years ago. Long White Cloud was tried at the Helensburgh Ale Fest last night, it wasn’t. My records also have White Light at 5.0% on my last visit. This set Nigel the task of finding an old pump clip. My records cannot be inaccurate, surely? White Light is way better than its Big Brother.
Craig had Diablo (Summer Wine, Holmfirth, Yorkshire) at a Session Ale strength of 6%. We enjoyed this at Source at New Year 2014. Full bodied, Dry and Hoppy, Sensational. These are the Ales we like.
The Main Event was another Oakham, Green Devil, again at 6.0% Along with Hawkshead’s (Staveley, Cumbria) NZPA, surely one of the Two Supreme Ales on offer at this time. Ironically, Green Devil has been on sale around Glasgow every day bar one for the past two weeks. Unheard of. The Peterborough Ale Festival will be covered in these pages in August. Hector will have all the time required to keep this Blog up to date by then. The Green Devil was in Excellent Condition. Again, Full Bodied with a dominance of Citra, or – Grapefruit – as The Duke insists.

I note The Company was here in greater force for this day last year. Dr. Stan and Chairman Howard were at Kilcreggan today. Euan now resides in Aberdoom, The Bier Desert.  The Duke is in Kent. Still, there were some well-kent faces here today. George aka – Doddie – was down from Aberdoom. Jim Lawrie, with proofs of his latest book, sat with us. Eddie, our Favourite Local, sat with Craig for an Ale or two. Ron, who runs Eddie close, also joined us for an interminable time.

Nigel was happy to receive his award – Lothians Pub of The Year.  What about Scotland’s POTY?

I shall introduce no more as my description of one featured Chap caused hilarity once upon a time. Forth Valley, I shall say no more.

Seven weeks to go?  To what?  I hope it is less than than that.  28 Working Days to go.

Taxi Andy took us back to Waverley. The now preferred Cross Country Train took us back to Glasgow Central which is much nearer the New Karahi Palace. Four for Curry-Heute.

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