As a family we decided to go on a little city break over the Easter mid term and we eventually agreed to go to Glasgow. I requested recommendations, as I always do, on social media. The Epicure Festival had been mentioned to me last year and by pure chance it was on in Stirling the day we landed. A quick train journey and a brisk walk in the rain later and I was at the venue, a rugby club. There was quite the queue for this sold out event but I got in eventually and was able to savour Lupo Pils from Dookit as my first of the day. I stayed on the lager for my next – a lovely Rustic Lager from Mains Brewing with the witty tagline: It’s spelt lager. After that I tried Wasted Degrees Amber Rye which was nice and chewy. Then it was on to Holy Goat’s Supa Scoopa, which was a juicy hazy pale ale. I tried some of their other beers over the weekend and they brew a wide variety of styles, and they do it well. I was impressed with Sinister Brew’s Rouge, an old ale – he had a cool barrel set up as his bar, really should’ve taken a picture! In a rare diversion from beer I have to say that Thistly Cross made a delicious Rum Cask Cider. Then I made a break for the hills before the storm got too bad. Nice work on organising the event Greig!
The next evening I found myself close to Shilling Brewing which came highly recommended. This beautiful old bank is bright and airy, they have their own beers which are poured straight from the brite tanks apparently as well as a good variety of other craft beers. And Tennents. The staff were sound and the location was very central so I found myself back here a few times. Machine Gun Lager is quality and Stouty McStoutface is hilarious.
After dinner (Dishoom, always good!) I set off for Stereo followed by Scotia. Both are worth visiting but I think I’d enjoy Stereo more if I was going to a gig and I’d say Scotia would be good craic if you had a few companions. I had high hopes for WEST Brewery, which has a Germanic feel to it, down to the pretzels. Unfortunately it was nearly last orders so I didn’t get to stay too long. The Munich Red went down nicely with a wee dram alongside.
The following evening after a hard day of looking at art, stuffed animals and outmoded forms of transport it was definitely time for a few beers. I started the evening in Koelschip Yard. What a glorious place it is. I spent a little while with a beautiful beer from The Kernel – East India Pale Ale London 1897. Siren’s Shattered Mirror was also delicious. One of my favourite pubs on this trip. After that I strolled to Phillies of Shawlands. This rather big place was fairly quiet – but then it was the tail end of the Easter weekend. I had a Hofbrau Session Lager that clocked in at 3.3% which tasted very light, perhaps unsurprisingly, after some of the more full bodied beers I had been drinking, still, my curiosity sated, I think I’ll stick to the Original version!
The next day brought a train trip to Edinburgh and a visit to the Camera Obscura. Afterwards I followed a sign down an alley to the Jolly Judge where I procured a pint of Newbarns Midnights Stout. The bar man said that they also had Guinness but I was in search of a more local brew. It’s a good spot to escape the hordes on the Royal Mile.
As a fan of Ian Rankin’s John Rebus a stop in The Oxford Bar was in order. I had to have a pint of Stewart’s 80/- (80 shilling, a wee heavy, malty Scotch Ale). The great author even sent me a virtual cheers on Bluesky!
Then I hopped on a bus heading for Leith in search of the fabled Pilot brewery. It does exist for the benefit of those of you who were in any doubt. Sadly they don’t have a taproom so you can just buy beers to take away. Happily they’ve recently opened a bar in the centre of Edinburgh, which I will have to check out the next time I’m in the area. I was given helpful directions to some local pubs pouring their beer though. Along the way I spotted Campervan Brewing. Even though they weren’t open they sorted me out with a lovely cold can of Leith Juice. I was glad of it as the afternoon was warming up.
The first recommendation was spot on. And I had a grand time in Malt and Hops supping a pint of Pilot Blond American Pale Ale. Afterwards I visited The Mother Superior where I was invited to join Jack and Megan, they’d been at Pilot at the same time as me earlier in the afternoon. There I was able to enjoy Leith Juice – on draught!
That evening I got fierce touristy altogether with my dinner of haggis, neeps and tatties in Babbity Bowster’s. Very traditional, and very tasty.
Another spot that came highly recommended was Grunting Growler. They have a small but well curated selection of taps and a great array of cans and bottles. And you can get a growler filled as the name would suggest. This place should be on every beer fan’s agenda.
The Old Toll Bar is a far more traditional pub and I finished my evening there with a Running Porter from Kernel.
I found myself with some time to kill before the evening flight home and headed to The State Bar where I had a fine pint of Thornbridge Jaipur and an Azaca Mosaic from Two by Two. The State Bar is a proper pub and a great place to conclude the adventure. Sláinte!
