Ailments, Ales and Aliens
Ailments, Ales and Aliens
Michael Hogg
4 retired old guys (plus the occasional guest contributor) discuss their latest health issues, hot topics, TV/Films and Hearts football news/reviews - oh and sample the worlds finest ales in various Edinburgh pubs.
Forth Valley Ale Trail - Episode 45
We use the train to explore a few of the pubs suggested by Forth Valley CAMRA. Taking in Dunblane, Stirling, Larbert & Linlithgow hostelries. A focus on the pubs and beer in this episode as we attempt to save any football season ending discussions for as long as possible. Its difficult. The pubs we visited were The Tappit Hen, The Village Inn (both Dunblane), Nicky Tams and No. 2 Baker Street (both Stirling), Station Hotel in Larbert and finally Platform 3 in Linlithgow. &nbsp...
May 28
1 hr 13 min
Carriers Quarters - Leith - Episode 44
We should note that this was recorded on the Thursday before Hearts played Rangers at Tynecastle. A "live" beer tasting down Leith. Cracking afternoon in Leith...we also went to Diggers Leith - excellent beer in both. Only 3 of us at this podcast recording (Graham practising with his band HONK) but we our supplemented by our Podcast Consultant, Colin Lambie. All good in Health this month - apart from the stress the football is causing us all - we are desperate for the season to end! &n...
May 11
44 min
The Grey Horse at Balerno - Episode 43
A return to a pub we did way back in 2023 (Episode 12) - it's under new ownership and has been given a nice refurbish. 3 beers were on cask - we tried 2 - including Landlord and Jarl. We cover our health, football and TV and Movies as usual. Plus we explore James Bond. thanks to the LRT 44 bus for an epic bus journey! Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram
Apr 4
59 min
The Golden Rule - Episode 42
We return to an old favourite - a regular post match venue in the Scottish Cup winning year of 1998 - The Golden Rule in Yeaman Place, Edinburgh. Great beer - Jarl (Fine Ales) and Birds and Bees (Williams Brothers) in fine fettle - and service in this traditional Edinburgh tenement pub. We discuss our health (physical and mental) issues and have a deep analysis of Hearts chances of maintaining their lead of the SPFL and....(gulp) winning it with 9 games to go. Not much current movie chat but ...
Mar 5
1 hr 14 min
The Stockbridge Tap - Episode 41
We return again after we did episode 3... 4 years (Yes, FOUR!) on. Time flies! We are joined by our podcasting consultant - Mr Colin Lambie, too. Lots of beer chat and great ale choices were available at this long established pub. Have you thought about your own happiness? We did and discuss it (in depth!) - it's a question you generally never ask your friends. Usual football (we are still top of the league!) chat and TV recommendations. Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram
Jan 23
1 hr 1 min
Our Pub of the Year Christmas Special - The Volunteer Arms (Staggs) in Musselburgh - Ep 40
We return to one of our favourites - in fact a CAMRA National Pub award is in the offing for this great pub. It is Christmas, so we fully back a major NHS supported campaign to help mitigate the risk of Prostate issues in males - more (daily!) masturbation/wanking. This creates some detailed discussion, but it is a fact. Well done the NHS! We fully support this. This was discussed. Good ad, catchy tune. https://youtu.be/mg0MMqKBbyw?si=6YNZA0dKmnMbc2_n Garry...
Dec 24, 2025
1 hr 9 min
The Guildford Arms and the Abbotsford Bar - Episode 39
Sobriety has returned for the production of this podcast! We visit 2 of Edinburgh's most famous pubs, both in the City Centre and both owned by the DM Stewart Group. (a longstanding old pub group for the city) We cover our most pressing injuries and health complaints, the recent magnificent Scotland performance that sends (for the first time since 1998) us to the 2026 World Cup next summer! What a dramatic fin ish to that match. One of us has been to the movies to see the latest P...
Nov 21, 2025
45 min
To York!
We make a day of it in York. Some fantastic pubs and decent beer. The trains were on time & we were joined by our Old Firm Podcast consultant, Colin Lambie & Ian Brown, consultant to no-one, ever. We introduce our new section..."What's pissed you off this month?". Controversial. Targets were the Glasgow Media, Scotland National Team, Donald Trump (regular topic in A,A & A), USA fans at the Ryder Cup Shout out to York Tap, Lendal Cellars, The Three Tuns, The Blue Bell, ...
Oct 25, 2025
55 min
Cloisters and the Blue Blazer - Episode 37
We return to a couple of pubs that we have been before - oddly the beer was better in one than the other, Health, football and TV all well covered. We discuss 'adult' magazines found in fields...what were their origins?? Enjoy Follow us on Instagram
Oct 8, 2025
1 hr 5 min
Linlithgow - Platform 3 - Episode 36
A day trip 20 miles west of Edinburgh to explore Linlithgow's two cask ale pubs. We ate in The Four Mary's for lunch, but were very impressed with the Ales and warm welcome in the small pub where we recorded this podcast - Platform 3. (Thank you Stefanie!) Donald Ford was born here! We discover a Forth Valley Ale Trail - one we will try later... Health - we are all in a great place mentally and long may it continue... The season so far is reviewed and we highlight our current viewing pleasure...
Aug 21, 2025
50 min
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