fix: Refinery queue uses beads MQ as source of truth (hq-eggh5)

The refinery was checking git branches instead of the beads merge queue.
This caused MRs to pile up when branches were deleted but MR beads remained.

- manager.go: Queue() now queries beads for type=merge-request issues
- refinery.md.tmpl: Updated queue-scan to use gt mq list
- mol-refinery-patrol.formula.toml: Updated queue-scan step instructions

.beads/formulas/mol-refinery-patrol.formula.toml

@@ -99,27 +99,28 @@ id = "queue-scan"
 title = "Scan merge queue"
 needs = ["inbox-check"]
 description = """
-Review the queue built from MERGE_READY messages in inbox-check.
+Check the beads merge queue - this is the SOURCE OF TRUTH for pending merges.
 
 ```bash
-# Always fetch with prune to clean stale tracking refs:
 git fetch --prune origin
-
+gt mq list <rig>
-# For each queued merge request, verify the branch exists:
-git branch -r | grep <branch>
-
-# IMPORTANT: Before queuing, verify branch has unmerged commits:
-git log origin/main..origin/<branch> --oneline | head -1
-# If empty → branch already merged. Archive MERGE_READY, don't queue.
 ```
 
+The beads MQ tracks all pending merge requests. Do NOT rely on `git branch -r | grep polecat`
+as branches may exist without MR beads, or MR beads may exist for already-merged work.
+
 If queue empty, skip to context-check step.
 
-If branch doesn't exist for a queued item:
+For each MR in the queue, verify the branch still exists:
-- Mail witness: Branch not found, cannot merge
+```bash
-- Remove from queue
+git branch -r | grep <branch>
+```
 
-Track verified branch list for this cycle."""
+If branch doesn't exist for a queued MR:
+- Close the MR bead: `bd close <mr-id> --reason "Branch no longer exists"`
+- Remove from processing queue
+
+Track verified MR list for this cycle."""
 
 [[steps]]
 id = "process-branch"

internal/refinery/manager.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/claude"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/config"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/events"
@@ -239,14 +240,21 @@ func (m *Manager) Stop() error {
 }
 
 // Queue returns the current merge queue.
+// Uses beads merge-request issues as the source of truth (not git branches).
 func (m *Manager) Queue() ([]QueueItem, error) {
-	// Discover branches that look like polecat work branches
+	// Query beads for open merge-request type issues
-	branches, err := m.discoverWorkBranches()
+	// BeadsPath() returns the git-synced beads location
+	b := beads.New(m.rig.BeadsPath())
+	issues, err := b.List(beads.ListOptions{
+		Type:     "merge-request",
+		Status:   "open",
+		Priority: -1, // No priority filter
+	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("querying merge queue from beads: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Load any pending MRs from state
+	// Load any current processing state
 	ref, err := m.loadState()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -265,10 +273,14 @@ func (m *Manager) Queue() ([]QueueItem, error) {
 		})
 	}
 
-	// Add discovered branches as pending
+	// Convert beads issues to queue items
-	for _, branch := range branches {
+	for _, issue := range issues {
-		mr := m.branchToMR(branch)
+		mr := m.issueToBead(issue)
 		if mr != nil {
+			// Skip if this is the currently processing MR
+			if ref.CurrentMR != nil && ref.CurrentMR.ID == mr.ID {
+				continue
+			}
 			items = append(items, QueueItem{
 				Position: pos,
 				MR:       mr,
@@ -281,6 +293,44 @@ func (m *Manager) Queue() ([]QueueItem, error) {
 	return items, nil
 }
 
+// issueToBead converts a beads issue to a MergeRequest.
+func (m *Manager) issueToBead(issue *beads.Issue) *MergeRequest {
+	if issue == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	fields := beads.ParseMRFields(issue)
+	if fields == nil {
+		// No MR fields in description, construct from title/ID
+		return &MergeRequest{
+			ID:           issue.ID,
+			IssueID:      issue.ID,
+			Status:       MROpen,
+			CreatedAt:    parseTime(issue.CreatedAt),
+			TargetBranch: "main",
+		}
+	}
+
+	return &MergeRequest{
+		ID:           issue.ID,
+		Branch:       fields.Branch,
+		Worker:       fields.Worker,
+		IssueID:      fields.SourceIssue,
+		TargetBranch: fields.Target,
+		Status:       MROpen,
+		CreatedAt:    parseTime(issue.CreatedAt),
+	}
+}
+
+// parseTime parses a time string, returning zero time on error.
+func parseTime(s string) time.Time {
+	t, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, s)
+	if err != nil {
+		t, _ = time.Parse("2006-01-02T15:04:05Z", s)
+	}
+	return t
+}
+
 // discoverWorkBranches finds branches that look like polecat work.
 func (m *Manager) discoverWorkBranches() ([]string, error) {
 	cmd := exec.Command("git", "branch", "-r", "--list", "origin/polecat/*")

internal/templates/roles/refinery.md.tmpl

@@ -198,12 +198,12 @@ gt mail inbox
 # Process each message: lifecycle requests, escalations
 ```
 
-**queue-scan**: Fetch remote and identify branches
+**queue-scan**: Check beads merge queue (source of truth)
 ```bash
-git fetch origin
+git fetch --prune origin
-git branch -r | grep polecat
+gt mq list {{ .RigName }}
-gt refinery queue {{ .RigName }}
 ```
+The beads MQ is the source of truth for pending merges, not git branches.
 If queue empty, skip to context-check step.
 
 **process-branch**: Pick next branch, rebase on main