AN NBSS 4 GREENE KING IPA (HONEST). THE MASONS ARMS, BURY ST EDMUNDS

September 2025. Bury St. Edmunds.

T’other Bury, the one without black pudding, is a beguiling place (as is the real one, obvs).

Two new Beer Guide entries, a new Tap in an old building for Nethergate, and an unexpected debut for the overlooked Masons Arms.

At least, I think it’s a debut; I’ve completed Suffolk every year for 3 decades. In Bury you’d normally go for the Dove, Rose & Crown and Nutshell,

but the Masons is on gorgeous Whiting Street,

and if there’s one place you ought to try Greene King’s much maligned beer it’s yards from the brewery.

The Masons is still a surprise entry, old fashioned cask range, old fashioned decor,

and a menu of basket meals under a tenner for some local trade under the beams.

And a far from ringing endorsement from the generally reliable CAMRA pint pot system,

a lone glass signifying “a reliable pint”.

Reader, it was a majestic pint, starting cool and chewy before a “Bass from the glass” style softness kicked in late on (NBSS 4).

Which is “You MUST stay for a second” territory, but as you see I’d already got my half of Abbot ready to tip into my pot.

A throwback to a time when Greene King was a beer worth seeking out.

Perhaps, it still might be.

Unknown's avatar

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

9 thoughts on “AN NBSS 4 GREENE KING IPA (HONEST). THE MASONS ARMS, BURY ST EDMUNDS”

  2. Wow! A GBG newcomer with only one beer glass on display on the CAMRA website. I’m glad you found the beer so much better than those anti-Greene King previous beer scorers marked theirs.

    Are you doing a separate blog about the half of Abbot? It certainly looks the part, but maybe tipping it into your empty pint glass will knock all the condition out of it. Can’t wait to find out.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Greene King IPA isn’t always so well appreciated.
    The official report of my branch’s trip to Stone sixteen days ago states that “Sheer noise precluded most people entering the Red Lion (as well as only beer was Greene King ‘IPA’)”.
    The large rear Bar was indeed noisy but the small front Lounge was quiet enough for a normal conversation between the two of us who used it while appreciating the Champion 2004 Session Bitter of Britain in that Proper “one beer is plenty” Pub.

    Like

    Reply

  4. “Bury St. Edmunds”

    Every time I see that as a town name I start to think, Bury St. Edmunds… what? His trousers? His body? (without his trousers obvs) and so on.

    “in an old building for Nethergate”

    (must, show, restraint)

    “for the overlooked Masons Arms”

    I’d think, as a Mason, their arms would be hard to overlook!

    “and if there’s one place you ought to try Greene King’s much maligned beer it’s yards from the brewery.”

    They say the same thing about Guinness. Tastes better the closer you are to where it’s brewed.

    “The Masons is still a surprise entry, old fashioned cask range, old fashioned decor,”

    (looks at pic below)

    Is that another 16th century fireplace?

    “and a menu of basket meals under a tenner for some local trade under the beams.”

    One could, of course, misconstrue that as bartering the basket meal for something else, all occurring, all taking place under the beams, which are supported by a tenner (name for a big wooden brace?).

    “And a far from ringing endorsement from the generally reliable CAMRA pint pot system”

    It would seem CAMRA is outgrowing their britches, so to speak?

    “Which is “You MUST stay for a second” territory, but as you see I’d already got my half of Abbot ready to tip into my pot.”

    I know you’re a big fan of the dimpled, handled glass, but I’m a fan of the pint glass in the pic above. I’m having a beer in one right now (it’s scaled down to 16oz, but it has my name on it!)

    “Perhaps, it still might be.”

    Everything is cyclical; clothing, beers, civilizations etc.

    Cheers

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment